Top Legal Resources for Bicycle Accidents in Orange County

Top Legal Resources for Bicycle Accidents in Orange County

Bicycle accident victims may struggle to seek compensation for a claim alone. How do injured cyclists learn about personal injury law to know their legal rights?

Bicycle accident cases are complex, often involving severe injuries. Learn more about bike crashes and your options to pursue compensation for your injuries from a negligent driver in the paragraphs below.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

Most bicyclist deaths occur during the months of June through September. In California, 1,394 bicyclists died between 2011 and 2020. These statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) exclude any bicycle crash fatality that did not involve motor vehicles.

What Causes Bicycle Crashes?

Several factors can contribute to collisions between a motor vehicle and a bicycle. Even though motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists are supposed to follow the same rules and share the road, not everyone knows when to yield the right of way or how to avoid hitting cyclists with their cars. Common factors that contribute to bicycle accidents include:

  • Failing to yield at stop signs or red lights
  • Bicyclists falling out of the bike lane
  • A driver or passenger opening a door into the bicycle lane
  • Failing to yield during left turns
  • Drivers or bicyclists swerving to avoid other drivers, pedestrians, or obstructions
  • Driving or biking under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Sometimes riders suffer injuries that don’t involve another driver, such as colliding with a fixed object like a road sign or tree. In these cases, they would need to file a claim through their insurance company rather than the negligent driver’s insurance policy.

How Bike Riders Can Reduce Their Risk

Bicycle safety should be your top priority when riding a bike in Southern California. Some easy tips that cyclists can follow to reduce their risk include:

  • Wear bright clothing
  • Use or wear reflective gear
  • Choose routes that have less traffic
  • Obey all traffic laws and street signs
  • Ride in bike lanes and not on the street or the wrong way
  • Ride in the same direction as the street traffic

Most bike crashes occur in urban areas with higher speeds, more traffic, and several hidden commercial driveways that drivers constantly turn into and out of across bike lanes. Choosing routes that avoid dangerous areas can reduce the likelihood that a crash occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 27% of rider deaths occur at intersections, while 64% occur away from intersections where higher speeds could be a factor. As a bike rider, don’t assume that a motor vehicle driver sees you or knows when to yield the right of way.

What If You Have to Go to Court for Your Bike Crash?

Whether you file your claim through the other driver’s insurance policy or your own, you should know that insurance companies will do everything in their power to devalue your bicycle accident claim. If a negligent driver caused your bicycle accident injuries, you might have to bring a personal injury claim against them in court to recover damages.

While your best option is to contact an accident lawyer at a reputable personal injury law firm, California offers several self-help services for your bicycle accident case.

Court-Based Self-Help Services

All California courts have a free Self-Help Center. Staff includes attorneys, paralegals, law students, and other individuals with legal experience and knowledge who can help you find more information for your case, including:

  • Regulatory information like statutes of limitations and court dates
  • Form assistance to file your claim or additional documentation
  • Explaining your legal options

Self-help staff may not represent you or offer legal advice for your case. Your local Self-Help Center may not include staff familiar with personal injury or bicycle accident law.

County Law Libraries

Public law libraries in Orange County and across California offer free access to law books, online resources, and form templates you can use in your case for your bicycle injuries. Some also offer assistance from a law librarian as well as legal workshops.

How a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help with Your Personal Injury Claim

When catastrophic injuries lead to high medical expenses and lost wages, finding an experienced bicycle accident lawyer for your case is essential. You need help to ensure the other driver is held liable for your bike accident injuries.

Knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyers can help you gather evidence for your claim, especially if you need immediate medical attention and can’t take pictures or get witness information. Bicycle accident attorneys know how to:

  • Get security footage from nearby businesses.
  • Calculate appropriate compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
  • Work closely with an accident recreation specialist who can reconstruct bike accidents from photos and video of the scene.
  • Find witnesses and collect witness statements.
  • Speak with the insurance company on your behalf to give only legally pertinent information.

But how do you find your bike accident lawyer among all the bicycle accident attorneys in Orange County? 

How to Find a Bicycle Accident Attorney for Your Case

When you look for “bicycle accident lawyers in Orange County,” how do you choose which is the best fit for your case? Consider these factors when choosing a law firm for bike accidents:

  • Does the law firm have good reviews on Google, Yelp, Avvo, and other sites?
  • Is the law firm transparent about the process, fees, and setting expectations?
  • Does the firm work on a contingency basis?

Contact a Bike Accident Attorney in Orange County, CA 

For help with your case involving bicycle accident injuries, turn to the experienced legal team at our law firm. At Khalil Law Group, we’re personal injury attorneys focusing on bicycle accidents, car accidents, worker’s compensation, wrongful death, and other areas of personal injury in Orange County, CA. Call us at (714) 617-7870 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with a bike accident attorney.