Downey Bicycle Accidents: Why Higher Bicyclist Injury Counts Change the Evidence You Should Gather
Bicycle accidents in and around Downey aren’t rare or isolated events. Across California (and in Los Angeles County specifically), bicycle accidents have increased rapidly in recent years. In 2023 alone, 145 bicyclists died in accidents in California. Whenever insurance companies see a higher-than-average number of bicycle accident claims coming in, it affects how they handle claims and what steps they take to protect their profit margins. That’s why we always recommend discussing your case with a California bicycle accident attorney.
At the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates, we know how stressful a bike accident can be. You have almost no protection compared to a vehicle occupant, but a surprising number of drivers either don’t care or don’t know how vulnerable bicyclists are. That’s why our teams fight so hard to advocate for injured victims. Attorney Salvador Sanchez has extensive experience representing car and pedestrian accident victims, giving him an in-depth knowledge of how insurance companies will try to pin the accident on anyone but their client. Call our bicycle accident law firm in Downey at 562-216-2944 to schedule a consultation now.
Why Bicycle Injury Rates Matter in Personal Injury Claims
In California, there’s a pure comparative negligence standard for personal injury claims. What this means for you: even if you are partially at fault for an accident, you can still recover compensation. This is true even if you are more than 50% at fault, which sets California apart from states that only allow victims to recover compensation if they are 50% or less to blame. When the court finds that someone is partially liable for their own collision, their compensation is reduced proportionately to their share of blame. If you are partially at fault, your bicycle accident lawyer can explain how your claim may be affected.
When insurance companies see a spike in a certain type of claim, they tend to scrutinize those claims carefully. They are losing money there, and they will go to great lengths to protect their profit margins. If they can prove that a bicyclist is partially at fault, they can decrease their offer. They may try to claim that:
- Bicyclist was riding too fast
- Bicyclist failed to yield
- Bicyclist was outside the allowed bike lane
- Bicyclist was not visible
Common Downey Bicycle Crash Scenarios
In Los Angeles County, serious and fatal bicycle accidents increased 21.5% between the two three-year periods—2014-2017 and 2021-2023. Where are these accidents coming from? Common scenarios we see as bicycle accident attorneys include:
- Dooring: Dooring can be incredibly dangerous for bicyclists. When someone opens their door in the path of a bicyclist, the bicyclist may run into the door or be thrown off their bike into traffic.
- Unsafe passing: In California, the law requires that drivers leave at least three feet of clearance when passing bike riders. Many drivers don’t even come close to following this law.
- Driveway and parking lot exits: Drivers pulling out of driveways and parking lots may only check in the direction where they expect vehicle traffic to come from. This often means missing a bicyclist approaching from the other direction.
Evidence to Gather After a Downey Bicycle Accident
Your bicycle accident lawyer will immediately begin gathering and protecting evidence to use in your claim. If insurance companies are going to look for reasons to deny you fair compensation, you want to come prepared. Valuable forms of evidence include:
- Detailed scene photos: Get photos of skid marks, vehicle damage, your injuries, lane markings, debris patterns, and anything that may have obstructed either party’s view.
- Video footage: Red light cameras, doorbell cameras, and business surveillance cameras may have footage of the accident, but this footage tends to be overwritten quickly, so you’ll need to reach out quickly to get a copy.
- Your bicycle and helmet: Damage patterns on your bike and helmet can provide information on the angle and speed of impact, force direction, and point of contact.
The more evidence you have, the harder it becomes for the insurance company to try to pin the crash on you.
Find Out How the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates Can Help
Our bicycle accident law firm is here to help you seek compensation after an accident. Schedule your consultation now by calling us at 562-216-2944 or send us a quick message online.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
