Dedicated San Diego Bicycle Accident Attorney
Bicycling is a wonderful way to explore San Diego. The city’s beautiful weather and views welcome cyclists of all kinds to get around. With over 1,700 miles of bikeways across San Diego, it’s no surprise that cycling is a favored option for transportation and recreation.
Whether you’re on a regular bike or e-bike, it’s crucial to stay alert on the road to avoid an accident. If you’re injured in a crash by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation. As a skilled bicycle accident lawyer, I built my practice at the Law Offices of Barbara B. Savaglio around one goal – holding negligent drivers accountable.
Helping Bicyclists Seek Compensation After A Crash
While bicycling is a great mode of transportation, cyclists are often at higher risk of a crash when on the road. On average, San Diego sees around 500 bicycle accidents each year – and the consequences are almost always felt by the cyclist. About 25 of those crashes cause serious injuries, 300 result in visible harm like cuts and broken bones and roughly 150 leave cyclists dealing with pain and other minor injuries.
The common causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Drunk driving
- Unsafe passing
- Poor visibility due to blind spots
- Left or right turn accidents
- Dooring, which refers to people opening their car doors in the way of oncoming cyclists in the bike lane
Any of these negligent behaviors by drivers can result in a serious accident and injuries for bicyclists. As e-bicyclists become more popular as well, their injuries are often more severe due to the weight of the bicycle.
Steps To Take After A Bike Accident In San Diego
A bike accident can happen in an instant, but the decisions you make right after can have a lasting impact on your health and your legal claim. Here are the key steps to take after a bike accident:
- Get to safety and call 911: Move out of traffic if you can do so safely, and report the accident immediately. Police will document the scene and create an official report, which can be important evidence later.
- Seek medical attention: Some injuries do not make themselves known right away, and a medical professional can catch what you might miss.
- Gather information: Collect the driver’s name, contact details and insurance information. If there are witnesses, get their contact information as well.
- Keep detailed records: Save all medical bills, receipts and any other documents related to your accident and recovery.
Taking these steps right after a crash puts you in a stronger position as you move forward with your recovery and any potential legal claim. The more thorough you are, the better prepared you will be.
Comparative Fault In California Bicycle Accident Cases
California follows a comparative negligence rule when it comes to bicycle accidents. This means you can still get compensation, but it may be reduced by the percentage of how much you were at fault. For example, if you were 10% at fault in the accident, your compensation may be reduced by 10%.
Understanding comparative negligence laws can be complicated. As an experienced accident lawyer, I’m familiar with the rules and know how to navigate them so you can recover as much compensation as possible.
Whether you’re partially at fault or not, you can seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Property damage
As your personal injury attorney, I will fight on your behalf against the other party and negotiate a positive resolution that everyone will be satisfied with.
Contact The Law Offices of Barbara B. Savaglio To Discuss Your Case
Cyclists deserve to be on the road as much as drivers. If you’re injured by a negligent driver after a bike crash, I can help you take action against them.
Call today for a consultation at 619-696-9111 or send an email through the online form.