Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Many people living in the Los Angeles area ride bikes for exercise, for leisure, and for accessible and environmentally friendly alternative transportation. Whatever reasons you may have for riding your bike in Los Angeles, it is crucial to know your rights and responsibilities when sharing the road with motor vehicle drivers and what to do when another driver causes an accident.

Any time a motor vehicle hits a bicycle, the bicyclist is likely to suffer severe injuries, even if the accident occurs at low to moderate speed. The highest-quality helmets and safety gear can only minimize the injuries the victim will suffer, not prevent them entirely. If you recently experienced a bicycle accident due to the negligence or misconduct of another driver, you will need the help of a seasoned Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney to help hold them accountable.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton regularly provide compassionate and responsive legal representation to victims of all types of personal injuries in the Los Angeles area. Our team knows the various legal challenges you are likely to face as you seek compensation for losses inflicted by another party, and we know how to help maximize the results of your own recovery efforts. Time is a crucial concern whenever you plan to file any type of civil suit for damages in Los Angeles, and connecting with an attorney you can trust as soon as possible after your accident significantly improves your chances of maximizing your recovery.

It’s technically possible to pursue recompense for your recent bicycle accident without hiring an attorney, but doing so would be tremendously difficult for the average person. They would need to meet strict procedural demands while managing their medical needs, and bicycle accidents often cause serious injuries that demand ongoing care. They could also make unintentional errors that put their claims in jeopardy or encounter legal issues they do not know how to address on their own. Finally, even if they manage to succeed in holding a defendant accountable, they could mistakenly settle for much less compensation than they legally deserve.

Hiring legal counsel you can trust eliminates these risks in your bicycle accident claim. You will be able to rest and focus on your medical needs with peace of mind as your attorney handles your legal affairs. When you choose Easton & Easton to represent you in a bicycle accident claim, you will have a readily available legal advocate who can answer questions, address concerns, and ultimately guide you to the most positive outcome to your impending civil suit.

Your attorney can not only improve your chances of success with your claim, but they may also potentially uncover avenues of compensation you did not know were available to you. The attorneys at Easton & Easton are often able to exceed our client’s expectations for their recovery efforts, and we always seek the swiftest route to compensation in every case we accept.

Before you can obtain any type of compensation for the losses you suffered from your recent bicycle accident, you must prove how the accident happened and identify the party who caused it. Most of the bicycle accidents reported in Los Angeles result from negligence or failure to use reasonable care behind the wheel. However, it is also possible for illegal misconduct to result in severe injuries to a bicyclist. A few of the most commonly cited causes of bicycle accidents in Los Angeles include:

• Dooring. This occurs whenever a parked driver opens their vehicle door directly in the path of a bicyclist without giving them time to slow down or stop. For example, if a driver parks along the curb next to a bike lane, they should use caution when opening their door to avoid injury to a passing bicyclist.
• Speeding. Whenever a motor vehicle driver exceeds the speed limit, they reduce the time they have to react to changes in traffic patterns, such as a bicyclist that comes into their direction of travel. Speeding not only increases the chances of a driver causing an accident but also the severity of resulting injuries and property damage.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. This is a criminal offense punishable by fines, jail time, driver’s license suspension, and other penalties assigned on a case-by-case basis. A defendant facing a DUI conviction will incur more severe penalties when their actions caused bodily injury or death.
• Distracted driving. Throughout the United States, distracted driving is consistently cited as the top cause of all motor vehicle accidents reported each year. In addition, even momentary distractions while driving can potentially cause a bicycle accident.
• Reckless driving. Unfortunately, some motor vehicle drivers engage in willfully dangerous behavior behind the wheel. Excessive speeding, tailgating, and swerving to intimidate other drivers are just a few examples of how reckless driving can potentially cause an accident. In addition, the at-fault driver is likely to face criminal charges for their actions, especially when they have caused bodily injury or death to a bicyclist.

Regardless of how your bicycle accident happened, your Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney can help gather whatever evidence you will need to prove liability for the incident and hold the at-fault driver accountable for the losses they inflicted on you. Evidence you may require might include physical evidence from the scene of the crash, eyewitness testimony from those who saw the accident happen, and digital evidence like the at-fault driver’s cell phone records.

A good attorney can also secure footage from any nearby traffic cameras that may have captured the accident as it occurred, and they may also consult expert witnesses if a case involves complex technical details or disputes regarding liability for the plaintiff’s claimed damages. When you choose Easton & Easton to represent you, we will work quickly to gather the evidence needed to substantiate your claim for compensation.

A bicycle accident is technically a vehicle accident under the law, and all drivers in the state must have auto insurance. This means that if you are hurt by a motor vehicle driver while riding your bike, you have the right to file a claim against their auto insurance policy and seek recompense for your damages. While state law requires all drivers to have $15,000 or more in bodily injury liability coverage, $30,000 or more in total accident liability coverage, and $5,000 or more in property damage liability coverage, these amounts may not be enough to fully compensate your losses from a serious bicycle accident.

Your Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney can help file your claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, resolving any disputes that happen to arise between you and their insurance carrier. Once your attorney confirms that the insurance carrier has handled your claim in good faith and you have secured as much compensation as possible for your damages, you can proceed with filing a personal injury suit to recover any losses their insurance cannot repay.

Under California law, the plaintiff in a personal injury case has the right to seek compensation for:

• Property damage, such as the expense of replacing their bicycle and any other personal property lost in the accident.
• Any and all medical expenses they incur for treatment of their injuries. If you suffered broken bones, traumatic brain injury, or any other physical harm in your bicycle accident, the at-fault driver is liable for any immediate and future medical treatment costs you incur as you work toward maximum medical improvement from your injury.
• Lost wages. You could be left unable to work until you recover from your injuries. In this case, the defendant must repay you for the money you cannot earn. The same rule applies if you have been permanently disabled by the accident and cannot work. The defendant is liable for the income you will lose in the future as well.
• Pain and suffering. Nothing limits the amount of compensation for pain and suffering the plaintiff in a bicycle accident claim can seek from the defendant who injured them. Your Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney can help determine a fair amount to reflect the physical pain and psychological trauma you experienced from your accident. Depending on the severity of your injuries, this could form the bulk of your total case award.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton strive to help each of our clients approach their case proceedings with confidence, prove liability for their damages beyond any doubt through effective leveraging of evidence, and accurately prove the full scope of their claimable damages. Whatever legal complications your bicycle accident claim may entail, our firm is ready to provide the ongoing support and guidance you will need to maximize the outcome of your recovery efforts.

Q: How Do I Prove Liability for a Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles?

A: It is possible for a bicycle accident to occur because of negligence or intentional misconduct. If you were severely injured in your bicycle accident, you may have little to no recollection of how the accident happened or who is responsible. Ultimately, every bicycle accident victim will face a unique series of legal challenges as they seek compensation for their damages. Working with an experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney offers the highest chances of successfully proving fault and securing appropriate recompense for your damages.

Q: Can a Bicyclist Be Responsible for Their Accident?

A: Yes, it is possible for a bicyclist to bear fault for the accident that injured them. The state enforces the pure comparative fault rule, so a plaintiff can still recover recompense for the losses even when they are partially responsible for them. However, they lose a portion of their total award reflecting shared fault. For example, if a bicyclist is found to be 25% at fault for the accident, they lose 25% of the total compensation won from the defendant.

Q: What Happens if a Bicyclist Dies in an Accident?

A: If you are mourning the loss of a loved one who recently died in a bicycle accident, your family likely has grounds to file a wrongful death claim against the driver who caused the accident. A wrongful death claim is similar to a personal injury action in some procedural respects, but state law dictates who may file a wrongful death claim, and there are also specific rules regarding the damages available from a defendant. A wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the losses suffered by the victim’s family.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles?

A: It’s understandable to worry about whether you will be able to recover suitable compensation for the damages you suffered from your accident, and hiring an experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney will significantly improve your chances of reaching a positive result. Under California law, the party responsible for the accident is liable for all economic losses they inflict on the victim, and they must compensate the victim for their pain and suffering.

Q: How Much Does a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Attorney Cost?

A: Easton & Easton makes legal counsel accessible when you need it most with contingency fee billing. You will not be required to pay upfront or ongoing attorneys’ fees when you choose our team to represent you. We will instead take part of the total case award we secure on your behalf as our fee, but only if we succeed in getting you compensation for your case. In addition, our firm will not charge you a fee if it cannot win you recompense for your damages, meaning you face no risk by hiring us to represent you.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have the skill and professional legal experience necessary to handle the most challenging civil claims for damages in Los Angeles, including those arising from bicycle accidents. We know the various legal challenges that you might face while you seek recompense for your damages, and we want to help you recover as fully as possible. Contact us today and schedule a conference with a Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney who can provide the guidance and support you need for your impending recovery efforts.