Ripon Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Ripon, California, is located in the San Joaquin Valley. Like much of the region, its economy is mainly agricultural. Jack Tone Road, a 30-mile stretch that begins in Ripon and ultimately crosses into Sacramento County, is not only home to the city's truck stops off Highway 99, such as the Flying J, but is a popular paved route for recreational bicyclists. Risks abound Whenever bicyclists are in the same area as vehicle motorists. In a collision between a motor vehicle and a bicycle, the cyclist clearly stands a significant chance of sustaining severe injuries. Many serious Ripon bicycle accidents have occurred over the past couple of years. This is not specific to this region - the number of bicycle accidents that injure or kill the rider is rising across the country.

Following a severe bicycle accident caused by a negligent motorist, the injured cyclist can seek compensation for medical bills, income loss, and pain and suffering. An experienced Ripon bicycle accident lawyer can help the process smoothly and ensure the cyclist receives a fair settlement.

Medical bills can pile up quickly following a serious bike crash that causes significant injuries. Additionally, the injured cyclist will likely need time off of work to recover. Sometimes, injuries are so severe that they prevent cyclists from returning to their usual careers or the workforce.

These factors can result in substantial financial difficulties for the injured person and their family. An experienced Ripon bicycle accident attorney can be a welcome guide through the complex legal landscape of filing a personal injury claim. Many issues may arise in such a case - for instance, the motorist may claim to have been without fault in the accident. The insurance company may vastly underestimate all the damages that the cyclist suffered. The experienced lawyers at AutoAccident.com have successfully handled numerous bicycle accident cases. We can protect your legal rights and ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.

Motor vehicle versus bicycle accidents have a wide variety of causes. The vehicle driver often is either not paying attention to the road or does not allow enough space to pass a bicyclist. Texting while driving is dangerous, as drivers have been known to swerve into the bike lane while looking at their phones.

Other causative factors in serious Ripon bicycle crashes include:

• Running a red light
• Running a stop sign
• Failing to yield to a bicyclist while turning
• Passing a bicyclist too closely
• Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol

When a cyclist is hit by a passenger vehicle, the injuries are often catastrophic. This makes sense, given the disparity in the weight of the two involved vehicles and the lack of external protection afforded to the cyclist. Below are some of the common injuries we have seen in our bicycle accident cases:

• Bone fractures
• Trauma to the spine
• Concussion/ traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Lacerations
• Damage to ligaments and tendons
• Nerve damage
• Limb amputation
• Deep abrasions, also known as road rash
• Wrongful death

Traumatic severe injuries are always life-altering. Sometimes permanently.

Immediately after a bicycle versus motor vehicle crash, the police should be contacted. This ensures that a preliminary investigation is done. If the driver is impaired or committed extreme negligence, this will be noted in the police report. Depending on the severity of the cyclist's injuries, they will give a statement to the police documenting their version of events.

Even if cyclists believe their injuries to be minor, there should always be a medical evaluation following a crash. Sometimes, because of adrenaline, significant injuries are not felt immediately.

Other things, such as getting photographs of the scene and the involved vehicle(s) and getting the driver's contact information, are essential but should be done only if the cyclist is well enough to do so or if they have an advocate at the scene. Contacting an experienced bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after the incident can help ensure that any evidence that needs to be gathered after the fact still exists.

Below is a clip highlighting a community bike ride in Ripon, California.

If you have suffered injuries or have endured the loss of a loved one due to a bicycle crash caused by a negligent motorist, please call our compassionate injury lawyers today at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. We can set up a no-obligation consultation to go over your potential case, or we can simply offer free and friendly advice.

Please take a moment to look at our past verdicts and settlements page.

^{Editor's Note: updated [cha 9.27.21] Photo by: Zhivko via Pixabay MM [cs 803] cha}