Anaheim Bicycle Accident Attorney
Anaheim Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Bicycles are a common sight throughout the Anaheim, CA area. Many Anaheim residents enjoy riding bikes for exercise or leisure while others choose to use them to get to and from work or to cut down on fuel emissions from motor vehicles. As a result, there are many reasons to own and use a bicycle in California—everyone who does so should understand the risks they face when they take their bikes on the road. A bicycle accident with a motor vehicle can result in devastating injuries, some of which may entail life-changing complications. If you or someone you love recently sustained serious injuries in a bicycle accident and you believe another party is responsible, it is essential to know your rights. Your rights can inform your options for legal recourse to recover your losses.
At Easton & Easton, our attorneys know exactly how devastating a bicycle accident can be. When a car or other motor vehicle collides with a bicycle, or when a driver’s negligence causes a bicyclist to crash, the bicyclist can suffer extensive injuries that lead to physical pain and financial strain. If you or a loved one believe another party is to blame for your recent bicycle accident, it is vital to speak with an Anaheim bicycle accident lawyer to determine your legal options and begin your case as soon as possible.
Why Do I Need a Bike Accident Attorney?
A bicycle accident can easily cause severe or even fatal injuries. Unfortunately, victims and their families may not know how to hold the responsible party accountable for the injuries and economic damages they created. An experienced Anaheim bicycle accident attorney can provide legal guidance during this challenging time. Legal representation allows the victim to focus on recovery instead of attempting to manage their legal affairs while also dealing with the aftermath of their accident.
While it is technically possible to pursue a personal injury claim for a bike accident without an attorney, doing so is incredibly difficult. This is especially true for victims who do not have prior legal training or experience with the California civil court system. If you attempt to handle your case on your own, missing one court filing deadline or making a single procedural error with your claim could result in losing your only chance to secure compensation for your losses. Even if you successfully reach the settlement negotiation phase on your own, you risk settling for much less than you deserve.
An experienced Anaheim bicycle accident lawyer can carefully review all aspects of your claim to ensure you are treated fairly throughout your legal proceedings. An attorney can help you ensure you recover as much compensation as California law allows, effectively managing your legal affairs so you can recover with peace of mind. Hiring an attorney will also significantly cut down on the time you must wait between your accident and receiving the compensation you need to recover.
Claimable Damages in a Bike Accident Suit
A bicycle provides little physical protection to its rider in a crash. All bicyclists should wear appropriate safety equipment, especially helmets, but even the best safety equipment can only offer minimal protection in an accident with a motor vehicle. When a motor vehicle collides with a bicycle, the bicyclist will almost certainly suffer injury. It is also possible for a motor vehicle driver to cause a bicycle to hit a parked car, building, or other object in the process of reckless driving or a moving violation.
California state law allows the victim of a bike accident to claim compensation for any and all damages resulting from the incident. The severity of the bicyclist’s physical injuries typically depends on the speed at which the accident occurred and the angle of impact from the defendant’s vehicle. Severe bicycle accidents can easily cause life-threatening injuries like severe bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, damage to internal organs, and crushing injuries. A bicycle accident victim is likely to incur significant medical expenses from this kind of incident, and their medical expenses can create further economic problems for the victim and their family.
When a person is severely injured, they not only face expensive medical bills but also lost income due to an inability to work. Depending on how severe their injuries are, it may be several months before they can begin working and earning income again. This can make it difficult for them to afford their regular bills, and the economic strain can quickly compound into extensive debt unless the victim and their family can secure a swift settlement or case award from a personal injury claim.
Potential Recovery for Your Bicycle Accident
Many people who suffer personal injuries due to the negligence of others are unaware of the multiple types of compensation they can collect from a successful personal injury claim. An experienced Anaheim bicycle accident lawyer can ensure you maximize the compensation you receive after filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused your accident. A successful personal injury suit can potentially yield many forms of compensation, including:
- Immediate and future medical expenses. If someone else injured you due to negligence or intentionally harmful actions, you have the right to hold them responsible for the medical expenses their actions caused. Expenses include immediate medical costs like an ambulance fee, hospital bills, and prescription medications costs as well as the cost of ongoing treatment. For example, a compound leg fracture may leave you unable to walk for months, and you may need to undergo extensive physical therapy before you can walk unassisted again. You can claim the initial treatment costs you incurred at the hospital as well as the cost of the physical therapy you need.
- Lost income, both immediate and future. When you are injured by another party’s negligence and left unable to work and earn income, you can claim wages lost during your recovery period in your lawsuit. Additionally, if your accident has left you disabled and you cannot return to work at all, your attorney can consult a financial expert to determine your lost future earning capacity. Loss of future earning capacity can be added to your claim.
- Property damage. When a motor vehicle hits a bicycle, the bicycle will almost certainly be damaged beyond repair. The plaintiff in a personal injury claim can pursue repair or replacement costs of any personal property damaged or destroyed by a defendant’s negligence.
- Pain and suffering. California allows personal injury plaintiffs to recover noneconomic damages including physical pain, psychological distress, and emotional suffering resulting from a defendant’s negligence. Your attorney can help you determine an appropriate amount to claim based on the total amount of your other damages and the severity of your injuries.
Some plaintiffs in bicycle accident claims may also receive punitive damages at the discretion of the judge. Judges can award punitive damages to punish a defendant who was egregiously or criminally negligent, or those who were engaged in criminal activity when they caused the accident in question.
Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Drivers must always exercise care and caution when navigating around bicyclists on California roads. California law allows bicyclists to operate their bikes on all roads unless the rules of the road indicate otherwise, such as with highways and freeways. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in the Anaheim, CA area include:
- Distracted driving. Every driver must pay attention to the road and always focus on the operation of their vehicle. Distracted driving is the leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Distracting behaviors such as cell phone use, eating while driving, and looking away from the road ahead should be avoided by all drivers.
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. Intoxicated drivers have diminished reaction speed and impaired judgment. They may be unable to react in time to avoid hitting a bicyclist and have the potential to cause a severe accident. Drivers who injure others because of DUI will face criminal prosecution in addition to civil liability for victims’ damages.
- Poor visibility. Poor visibility can occur during inclement weather and at night. Bicyclists can make themselves more visible to nearby drivers by using reflectors, and drivers should engage their headlights when driving in poor visibility.
- Product defects. It is possible for a defective bike to cause a serious accident. If a bicyclist suffers an injury due to a defective bike or other product, the manufacturer is liable under product liability laws. Your attorney can help you determine the best approach to this type of personal injury case.
- Moving violations. Drivers who speed, turn without signaling, or fail to stop when required put all others nearby at risk, including other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
If you believe your recent bicycle accident happened due to these or any other examples of negligence on the part of another driver, speak with an Anaheim bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible.
Proving Negligence in a Bicycle Accident Case Claim
If another party caused a bike accident and you intend to file a personal injury claim to recover your losses, it is necessary to establish the defendant’s negligence to succeed with your claim. “Negligence” refers to a party’s failure to exercise reasonable care in a given situation. For example, if a driver were speeding and hit your bicycle, this breaches the driver’s duty of care to follow traffic laws and posted speed limits. There are four elements of negligence a plaintiff must establish in any personal injury claim:
- Damage. The plaintiff can only take legal action if they suffered actual harm, or some amount of measurable damage or loss.
- Duty. The plaintiff must prove the defendant owed them a duty of care in the given situation.
- Breach. The plaintiff must demonstrate how the defendant breached or violated their duty of care.
- Causation. The plaintiff must provide sufficient evidence to prove their claimed damages resulted from the defendant’s breach of duty and not some other cause.
If you and your Anaheim bicycle accident lawyer can successfully prove these four components of negligence, success in your personal injury claim is likely. However, you must remember that California upholds a pure comparative negligence law. This means that if the plaintiff bears any responsibility for causing the accident, they can lose a percentage of their case award equal to the percentage they were at fault for the accident. For example, if you are claiming $50,000 in damages and the judge determines you were 10% at fault for causing the accident in question, you lose 10% of the case award ($5,000) resulting in a case award of $45,000 instead.
How An Orange County Bicycle Accident Attorney Can Help
When you sustain injuries and other damages due to the negligence of another party, an experienced Anaheim bicycle accident attorney is your best asset to hold the other party accountable for your losses. The right bicycle accident attorney will handle the administrative side of your case and ensure it proceeds through the civil court system uninterrupted. They can also ensure you maximize your recovery by exploring every available channel of compensation in your case.
If your bicycle accident claim involves complex technical questions or unclear liability, your attorney may consult with expert witnesses to support you. For example, an accident reconstruction expert may provide the court with a clearer understanding of how your accident took place. A medical expert can explain the full extent of your injuries and/or the future medical complications you will experience in a way a jury can easily understand. You stand the best chance of succeeding in your claim and maximizing your recovery when you choose an experienced Anaheim bicycle accident attorney to handle your case.
If you are ready to take legal action for your recent bicycle accident in Anaheim, CA, the attorneys at Easton & Easton are ready to assist you. Our team has helped many area clients recover their damages from a wide range of motor vehicle accident claims, and we will put our experience to work for you and your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a compassionate and responsive Anaheim bicycle accident lawyer.
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The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.
Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.
Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.
Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.
Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.
Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!