Glendale Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Whether commuting to and from work on a bicycle to avoid the overcrowded Southern California roadways or taking a relaxing ride for leisure or exercise, riding a bike can be dangerous. In the matter of seconds, a driver’s negligence can cause a collision that leaves the bicyclist with severe injuries. From head, neck and back injuries to broken bones, the consequences resulting from a bicycle accident can be life-altering. Knowing what to do in the moments, weeks and months following an accident is crucial.

Minutes After the Accident

A crash between a motor vehicle and a bicyclist is terrifying and chaotic, leaving the bicyclist stunned and unsure of the next steps. You will most assuredly see damage to your bicycle and feel pain. Your first step should be to call the local Glendale police, regardless of your pain level or immediate assessment of your injuries. Filing a report, including all damages, is essential, especially since your injuries and pain may grow more serious over time. As you wait for the police, begin to document the accident with photos and notes if you are capable.

Once the local police have arrived, you will want to speak with them directly if possible to ensure that your side of the story is included in the police report. This is also the time to gather the contact information of witnesses and the driver involved with the accident.

Days After the Accident

Write down any physical symptoms on paper along with times and dates, then call a lawyer. Your memory of the events is most reliable immediately following the accident. The personal injury attorneys at Duque Law Group may recommend that you seek medical attention as evidence of the damage caused. Documenting your injuries, no matter how small you think they are, is a crucial step.

save as much physical evidence as possible. Do not fix your bike, leave it in the same condition as it was when you left the accident. If you have any other damaged property from the accident (including clothing or a helmet), keep that available as well; your lawyer may request photos of the pieces.

Weeks After the Accident

By this time, you will likely have met with your attorney and discussed the details of the accident. You have probably already discovered the circumstances that will allow you to earn the compensation that you deserve.

If an insurance company contacts you, direct them to your lawyer to discuss the issue. Your attorney may wish to hire an independent expert to step in and analyze the situation before you communicate with insurance agents.

Talking to a Lawyer about Your Case

Personal injury cases are daunting and require a skilled attorney. Do not try to take on the insurance company lawyers by yourself. The Glendale lawyers at Duque Law Group want to get to the bottom of the case and help you receive any compensation for injuries, damage or pain and suffering that you may deserve.

Contact our Los Angeles County Personal Injury Attorneys at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.

FAQs About Working with a Glendale Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Do you need a bicycle accident attorney? Glendale residents often find themselves in need of help because someone was negligent enough to cause serious injuries. In fact, deadly bike accidents are prevalent throughout the nation, and it’s crucial to get help from a reputable law team. The Law Offices of Brent A. Duque is here for injured cyclists!

Hiring a personal injury lawyer for bicycle accident cases is a huge deal, and you may contact us at 877.241.9554 for a free consultation. However, we realize you might have questions and offer a list of FAQs to help you. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that 2019 led to 846 cyclists dying in bike accidents. Head injuries are the most common for death. The most common causes of bicycle accidents come from these situations:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol
• Dooring (striking a cyclist with an open door)
• Left-turn accidents
• Failing to follow traffic signals and signs
• Dangerous road conditions
• Side-swiping cyclists while changing lanes

No, you should focus on first hiring a bike accident lawyer. Glendale
bike accident victims shouldn’t speak to the other party’s insurance company without an attorney present. Overall, insurance companies want to record your statement and use that against you in your bicycle accident claim.

You are allowed to politely decline to speak to the insurance agent and refer them to your
bicycle accidents attorney. Glendale victims must represent their own best interests first.
Glendale bicycle accident lawyers are there to help you after an incident occurs. Bikes don’t provide protection to riders, and injuries can range from cuts and sprains to severe traumas, such as head injuries and broken bones. If you collide with a motor vehicle, your bicycle might be too damaged, and you may face medical bills and time off work while you recover.

You need someone knowledgeable about bicycle accidents, which requires hiring a bicycle accidents lawyer. Glendale residents will feel confident because the legal team will determine if your injuries were caused by a negligent party and deal with insurance companies on your behalf. Likewise, they can help you recover compensation after the bicycle accident.

Likewise, a Glendale bicycle accidents lawyer can maximize your settlement amount. Our legal team knows the bicycle laws in California and will use them to build your case. Plus, we gather evidence and offer a free consultation. Victims of bike accidents can be sure that we are there to assist.
Most bicycle accidents involve many factors, and it’s crucial to preserve as much evidence as possible. This includes:

• Your Bicycle – Damage to your bike could indicate that someone struck you from a truck or passenger car. Make sure you photograph the bike and store it safely. In fact, you shouldn’t get them repaired without speaking to an expert. You may also want to save your helmet and elbow/knee pads.
• Clothing – The clothes you were wearing during the accident involving a bicycle could have paint residue from the vehicle that hit you. Secure clothes in air-tight bags and avoid washing them.
• GoPro Footage – Cyclists often record their routes with GoPros on their helmets or chests. That footage might outline the cause of your bicycle accident and determine driver negligence.
• Fitbit and Smartwatch Data – Fitness data can demonstrate your injuries, and the Glendale bicycle accident attorney could use those past records to show that you were active before the accident but not now because of your injuries.
• Police Report – The police report will provide plenty of information that can be used to prove fault in a bicycle accident. Try to get a copy from local law enforcement. If you can’t, we can do this for you.

A bicycle accident can be highly dangerous and lead to death. Without protection from a vehicle to absorb the impact, riders might have to deal with life-changing injuries. However, if your loved one died because of a negligent driver, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person if you are the:

• Spouse
• Children
• Life partner
• Parents
• Brother/sister
• Financial dependent
• Grandparent

Cyclists often sustain serious injuries because there’s no protection around them. Even wearing protective gear might not be enough against heavy trucks or cars. Therefore, the damages could be catastrophic and require years of recovery and medical attention.

Injured cyclists may never fully recover, and that means they won’t return to work for years or weeks. Therefore, victims and their families will struggle to handle the financial hardships.

A lawsuit won’t undo all the problems you’ll deal with, but it can ease the burden of paying for the costs associated with your accident. You can get these types of compensation:

• Immediate medical treatment
• Ongoing medical treatment, such as physical therapy
• Medical equipment (ramps and wheelchairs)
• Pain management medications and programs
• Lost wages or income
• Lost earning capability (temporary or permanent)
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Decreased life quality

Bike riders face the same rules of the road as drivers of motor vehicles. Therefore, if they violated any traffic laws, they’re at fault for their injuries. However, there could be multiple people at fault, including the cyclist. Therefore, these are complicated situations that require professional help from a reputable bicycle accident lawyer. Glendale residents must seek legal counsel.

California law uses comparative negligence, which allows the partially at-fault victim to sue the other party. Liability is shared between both, depending on the contribution percentage.

For example, an injured cyclist might be awarded compensation of $100,000, but they were 50 percent at fault. Therefore, they only get $50,000 of that. It’s possible to seek compensation against negligent drivers, even if you were partially at fault. Work with an experienced attorney for the best results. Calling a law firm will ensure that you get fair compensation.