Pasadena Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycling through the beautiful streets of Pasadena on a warm, spring day is wonderful exercise and an amazing way of getting around the city, but a sudden bicycle accident can quickly become a serious and life changing event. If you were involved in a bicycle accident in the city of Pasadena, it’s crucial that you approach it with the same seriousness as you would any car accident.

The state of California offers protections for bicyclists. These protections give all cyclists the same rights on the road as any other motorist. Unfortunately, a majority of motorists don’t always look out for cyclists on the road, nor do they respect their right to share the road with them. When drivers fail to watch the road for bicyclists and do not respect their right of way, any resulting injuries will usually be rather disastrous.

Our team of Pasadena bicycle accident attorneys are here to assist you. The bicycle injury attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers have years of experience in helping bicycle accident victims. We will aggressively advocate to recover the financial compensation you deserve so that you can focus on your recovery and on the ones you care most about.

What Happens After A Bicycle Accident?

It’s practically impossible to predict if or when a cycling accident will happen, but you should always be prepared in the unfortunate event of such an accident occurring. Taking the appropriate steps after a bicycle accident will not only protect your legal rights, but will also help you obtain maximum compensation for all your injuries.

Our Pasadena bicycle injury attorneys are compassionate and caring professionals. We understand how insurance companies work, and we’re prepared for the difficulties in the challenges that lie ahead. In order to help protect your rights and increase the likelihood of achieving an optimal outcome in your bicycle injury case, below are seven steps you should take after a bicycle accident:

• Stay at the Scene. Safety should be your first priority after any accident, so stay where you are and make sure that anyone involved in the accident is alright. Whether anyone appears to be hurt or not, never leave the scene of an accident before the police arrive.
• Call 911 and Request an Ambulance. Call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt. Ask the police to make a report of the accident. Many law enforcement agencies have a policy of not taking reports unless injuries are involved, so it’s your responsibility to communicate the extent of your injuries to the police officers responding at the scene of the accident, no matter how minor they may seem. Finally, get the traffic accident information card with the accident report number. Our bicycle accident lawyers will need to secure a copy of the police report in order to build a strong case in your favor.
• Collect Driver and Witness Information. Make sure to gather the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the driver and any available witnesses. Don’t forget to collect driver’s license and insurance information from everyone involved, as well. Gathering all this information before leaving the scene of an accident is vital. Our bicycle accident lawyers and investigators may need to get in touch with witnesses, and their testimony may be invaluable to your case.
• Document Your Accident and Take Photographs. Write down everything you can about the accident. Include everything that happened, as well as times, locations, and weather and road conditions. Take as many photographs as you can of the accident scene, the damage to your property, and the vehicle(s) involved.
• Seek Medical Care. You need to be checked out at a hospital or by a doctor immediately after the accident, whether your injuries are serious or not. Some injuries don’t become apparent until days or even weeks after an accident. A doctor will need to complete a full medical report of all your injuries. A doctor’s medical report is a critical document proving that you were indeed hurt as a result of the accident.
• Do Not Talk. It’s perfectly reasonable to feel the flood of emotions after a bicycle accident, but watch what you say. Don’t apologize or even suggest who could be at fault for the accident. Any statements you make about the accident will potentially be used against you, and can only be detrimental to the strength of your claim.
• Consult a Lawyer. Handling a bicycle accident case on your own is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Accidents involving cyclists and motorists are best handled by an experienced Pasadena bicycle injury lawyer. Always speak with your lawyer before reporting the bicycle accident to your insurance provider. Finally, you should not make any statements to the other parties’ insurance provider for any reason, as they do not have your best interests in mind.

Were You Hit By An Uninsured or Underinsured Driver?

What happens if the driver who hit me was uninsured or underinsured? The number of uninsured or underinsured drivers is growing not only in the state of California, but throughout the city of Pasadena. This is a cause of even more stress for bicycle accident victims, as it severely limits victims’ sources of available compensation.

Your Pasadena bicycle injury lawyer has several options to resort to when dealing with an uninsured or underinsured driver, such as suing the driver and going after his or her assets. This is not usually a practical option, because individuals who are uninsured or underinsured generally don’t have many assets, which is usually the reason they don’t have enough insurance in the first place.

The best option for protecting yourself against uninsured or underinsured motorists is to acquire uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage from your insurance provider. This is referred to as UM/UIM coverage, which can help protect you if you are involved in an accident with an at fault driver who doesn’t have insurance or is underinsured.

Liability in Bicycle Accidents

How does a bicycle injury attorney determine liability in a bicycle accident? It’s entirely possible for either the cyclist or the driver to be found liable for the bicycle accident. It all all comes down to whether the cyclist or the driver failed to follow the rules of the road. In other words, who was negligent?  

Below are four key factors an experienced Pasadena bicycle injury lawyer will consider when determining who is at fault after a bicycle accident:

• Right of way: Traffic lights are indicators of who has the right of way. Whoever arrives first at a stop sign has the right of way. What happens if a driver and a bicyclist arrive at a stop sign at the same time? The person on the right side will have the right of way.
• Bicycle lanes: Bike lanes are meant for cyclists. Any vehicles blocking a bike lane or driving in a bike lane may be found liable.
• Not using appropriate lighting at night: Drivers and cyclists are both required to use adequate lighting while driving or riding at night to reduce the risk of an accident.
• Not signaling: The bicyclist or the driver who failed to signal could be found liable in a bicycle accident.

Contact us to find out how we can help

If you have sustained injuries as a result of a bicycle accident in the city of Pasadena, an attorney at our firm can help you recover financial compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call us today at 213 927 3700 or email info@westcoasttriallawyers.com. to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring and compassionate legal team.