Anaheim Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bicycle Accident Attorney

Cyclists who are involved in accidents in Anaheim, California, often suffer serious injuries. Unfortunately, those who suffer such injuries often face financial difficulties, including expensive medical bills and lost wages. If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident in Anaheim, California, you should contact an Anaheim, CA bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible. The bicycle accident attorneys at Glotzer & Leib, LLP, understand the challenges that accident victims face and we will do everything we can to ensure that those who caused your injuries are held accountable.

Around 16 cyclists are killed each year in accidents in Orange County, California. In addition, countless others are seriously injured every year following collisions with vehicles. Given these harrowing statistics, one thing is clear: Drivers continue to injure and kill cyclists at an alarming rate in the Anaheim area. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim?

If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident in Anaheim, California, you must file your claim quickly. Otherwise, you risk losing your opportunity to obtain financial compensation for your injuries. In California, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. So, if you’ve suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, you should contact us as soon as possible to begin the process.

Proving Your Bicycle Accident Case

After you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, it’s unlikely that the other party will immediately admit responsibility for causing the crash, so you and your Anaheim bicycle accident attorney will have to prove that the other party caused the accident. To do this, your attorney will start by reviewing the facts of your case. When analyzing your case, your attorney will attempt to determine:

• Who had the right of way
• Whether the other party breached his or her responsibility to drive safely
• Whether the other party violated any traffic laws

In order to win your case, your attorney must prove that:

• The other party owed you a duty of care
• The other party breached this duty
• The other party’s breach of this duty caused the accident
• Your injuries were directly caused by the accident

Proving Liability for Bicycle Manufacturing Defects

Although many bicycle accidents are caused by drivers on the road, some are the result of manufacturing defects. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident due to a manufacturing defect, you may be able to file a claim against the company that manufactured your bicycle. In order to succeed with such a claim, your bicycle accident lawyer in Anaheim must prove the following:

• Your bicycle (or a bicycle component) was unreasonably dangerous
• You were operating the bicycle appropriately at the time of the accident
• Your bicycle’s performance had not significantly changed since you first bought it

Product liability cases are very complicated, and they typically require the use of expert testimony to prove the above points. In addition, a key piece of evidence in any product liability case involving a bicycle is the bicycle itself, so it is important to store your bicycle safely until it can be examined by an expert.

How Drivers Cause Bicycle Accidents

When a bicycle is involved in a collision with a motor vehicle, the bicyclist rarely escapes unharmed. In fact, according to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately 800 bicyclists are killed in the U.S. each year on average. There are a number of ways that drivers cause bicycle accidents, including:

• Disobeying traffic laws
• Running traffic lights
• Running stop signs
• Making illegal turns
• Improperly switching lanes
• Reckless driving
• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving
• Backing out without checking for cyclists
• Failing to provide sufficient space for cyclists

Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries

Unfortunately, cyclists who collide with motor vehicles tend to suffer severe injuries. Common injuries sustained by cyclists include:

• Head injuries
• Internal injuries
• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Fractures
• Contusions

Financial Compensation for Bicycle Accidents

Financial compensation in a personal injury case, also called damages, is intended to help victims cope with the physical and financial consequences of their injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident in Anaheim, California, you may be entitled to one or more of the following damages:

• Medical bills: Following a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for emergency room charges, hospital expenses, surgery, prescription medication, rehab costs, assistive device costs, and other medical expenses related to your bicycle accident.
• Lost wages: If you were forced to miss work due to your bicycle accident, you may be entitled to recover wages you missed out on in your absence. Also, if your injuries are so severe that you are permanently unable to return to work, you may be entitled to compensation for future lost wages.
• Pain and suffering: If your accident caused you mental or physical pain, you may be able to obtain additional financial compensation for pain and suffering.
• Punitive damages: Finally, if the person who caused your injuries did so deliberately or maliciously, you may be entitled to punitive damages, which are damages designed to punish harmful behavior.

Why You Need an Attorney After a Bicycle Accident

Bicycle accident cases can be extraordinarily complex. Without deep knowledge of personal injury law and the California court system, your odds of obtaining fair compensation for your injuries are low. An experienced Anaheim personal injury attorney, however, can guide you through the legal system and help you obtain maximum compensation for your injuries. In addition to gathering evidence and witness statements following your accident, a bicycle accident lawyer in Anaheim can:

• Hire experts to review your medical records and prove your injuries
• Review the driving history of the driver who caused your accident
• Inspect and record all damage to your bicycle
• Hire an accident reconstruction expert to reconstruct the scene of your bicycle accident
• Review the official police report for your bicycle accident

Call an Anaheim Bicycle Accident Attorney Today

Remember: After you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident in Anaheim, California, you only have two years to file a lawsuit. Therefore, if you have suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, you should contact an experienced Anaheim bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible for assistance. At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, we will do everything in our power to maximize your award so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

How to Avoid Bicycle Accidents

Riding a bicycle provides both transportation and exercise. However, bicycling comes with its own risks. If you get into an accident caused by a motorist, you may want to talk to a bicycle accident lawyer Anaheim, CA residents highly recommend about filing a claim. There are also steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting into an accident in the first place.

• Use headlights at night. In the dark, your bicycle will be less visible to other motorists. They might not see you and crash into your bicycle. If you plan on riding your bicycle at night, it’s a wise move to install headlights. 
• Avoid wearing headphones. While listening to music on your headphones as you’re riding your bike can be fun and relaxing, it can also be dangerous. When you’re listening to music, you may not hear what’s going on around you, such as a vehicle that pulls out of nowhere. This can increase your risk of getting into an accident. As such, you should avoid wearing headphones while riding a bicycle. 
• Use the designated bike lanes. Many roads in big cities have designated bike lanes nowadays. They’re there for a good reason, so you should definitely use them. You can avoid getting hit by a vehicle. If there aren’t any designated bike lanes, always stay in the right lane.
• Obey traffic laws. Bicyclists are required to follow the same traffic laws as motorists. These include stopping at stop lights and stop signs, riding in the direction of traffic and stopping for school buses. It is also important to use the proper hand signals. For instance, if you are making a left turn, put out your left hand. Obeying these laws can reduce your risk of getting into a collision.
• Be extra cautious in bad weather. Ideally, it’s best to stay off your bicycle during bad weather, like rain. However, if you have to ride your bicycle to and from work, you may sometimes have to deal with bad weather. In this case, it’s important to ride slower than usual and pay extra attention to your surroundings. 
• Wear your helmet. While a helmet might not look very fashionable, it’s still important to wear one when you’re riding a bicycle. A helmet might not prevent you from getting into an accident, but it may reduce your risk of life-threatening head injuries.