Most Common Causes of Bike Accidents—and What They Mean for Your Case
Bicycle accidents are increasingly common in Southern California and across the United States. While drivers have a legal and moral obligation to do what they can to keep bicyclists safe, too few drivers honor this obligation. In a crash, bicyclists are at serious risk of severe and fatal injuries. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, it’s important to work with an experienced bike accident attorney with extensive experience advocating for bicyclists and their rights in a car-centric country. The team at The Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates has an impressive record of securing fair compensation for injured victims. Call us at 562-216-2944 to set up a consultation now.
California is known for having many walkable cities and a strong public transportation system, so you might expect its accident numbers to be relatively low. Unfortunately, that is not the case. In fact, bicyclist fatalities have increased more than 60% since 2010, indicating a problem that is nowhere near being under control. In 2020, bike fatalities hit a 25-year high in California while fatality rates climbed across the country. Fatality rates in California are consistently significantly higher than they are across the country as a whole.
Distracted Driving and Its Prevalence in Bike Accidents
Distracted driving is a massive issue in California and the United States in general. It’s a factor in all types of accidents, from truck collisions to pedestrian accidents. The rise in popularity and accessibility of electronic devices has made it all too easy for drivers to stay entertained and distracted while behind the wheel. When drivers should be scanning the roads around them for bicyclists and other drivers, too many of them are instead scrolling through their feed or texting a friend. Bicyclists may also be distracted while riding, putting them at a disadvantage when a car is in their path.
When it comes to your case, proving distracted driving can help you fight for compensation. Your attorney may demand access to cell phone records, talk to eyewitnesses, or utilize video evidence that shows the other driver engaging in distracted driving.
Failing to Yield Right of Way
Failing to yield right of way is a leading cause of car accidents across the United States. Everyone’s in a hurry, and sometimes that leads drivers to claim right of way when it isn’t theirs to take. This can be disastrous in any type of collision, but it is especially dangerous in accidents involving bicyclists. When a driver fails to yield to a bicyclist, they could hit the bicyclist head-on and cause severe or fatal injuries. In some cases, drivers simply misjudge who has the right of way. In others, there are dangerous misunderstandings about a bicyclist’s rights on the road.
When you plan on seeking compensation from a driver that did not yield to you, there are many types of evidence that may be useful to you. Make sure you have photos of the intersection where the crash happened so you can establish who had the right of way. Find out if there are traffic cameras at that location that may show the driver failing to yield.
Poor Infrastructure and Road Design
While the roads may be open to bicyclists, they were not designed with bicyclists in mind—and there’s a big difference. Poorly maintained roads, a lack of bike lanes, poor or unclear signage, and limited lighting can all create an environment where bicycles are inherently at risk every single time they ride.
If poor road infrastructure is a factor in your crash, you may have a claim against the government. Claims against the government can be more complex than regular personal injury claims, so it’s important to work with an experienced bike accident attorney.
Reckless Driving Behavior
Speeding, driving while impaired, failing to use turn signals, and intentionally driving to irritate others are all incredibly dangerous driving behaviors. Reckless drivers are responsible for a substantial amount of accidents across Southern California, and they must be held accountable.
Your attorney will work hard to prove the at-fault driver’s recklessness and negligence. Driving records, police reports, and video footage are all useful forms of evidence.
Choose The Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates for Your Bike Accident Claim
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, don’t wait a moment longer to reach out to a bike accident lawyer at The Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates. We’ll help you demand the fair and full compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call us at 562-216-2944 to set up a consultation now.
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.
