San Bernardino Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Thousands of people living in the San Bernardino area enjoy riding their bicycles for various reasons, from exercise and leisure to using them for accessible local transportation in lieu of driving. While riding a bicycle is healthy and environmentally friendly, it can also be dangerous, especially when you ride near motor vehicle traffic. California law allows bicyclists to ride on many of the roads that drivers use in San Bernardino. While there are some restrictions for bicycling, bicyclists generally have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers on the road.

While most bicyclists do their best to be cautious when riding around motor vehicle traffic, it is impossible for anyone to predict how others may behave on the road. When a driver hits a bicyclist, the bicyclist has a high chance of suffering catastrophic injuries. Serious harm may occur upon impact as well as when the bicyclist hits the ground. Many bicycle accident victims in San Bernardino suffer life-changing injuries and have lots of legal questions pertaining to how they might recover.

Easton & Easton can provide compassionate and detail-oriented legal representation when you need it most after a bicycle accident in San Bernardino. Throughout our firm’s years of operation, we have successfully handled many personal injury claims in San Bernardino on behalf of our clients, including those arising from bicycle accidents. When another party is liable for your recent accident, you have the right to seek accountability and compensation for the losses you suffered. You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery, and the sooner you connect with a San Bernardino bicycle accident attorney you can trust, the better your chances are of maximizing your compensation.

Before any bicycle accident victim in San Bernardino can recover any compensation for their losses, they must prove how their accident happened. This means you must identify the driver responsible for causing the accident and then show the full extent of the damages they inflicted with their negligence or intentional misconduct. Most of the bicycle accidents reported in the San Bernardino area happen because of negligence, which means a failure to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel. Speeding, moving violations, and distracted driving are a few common examples of this.

It is also possible for your accident to have occurred due to some illegal misconduct, such as driving under the influence (DUI) or aggressive driving. Whenever a defendant in a bicycle accident case or any other vehicle accident claim has caused the crash with illegal misconduct, they face criminal charges from the state as well as a personal injury suit filed in civil court by the victim.

Your San Bernardino bicycle accident attorney can help you obtain traffic camera video footage, cell phone records, witness statements, and other evidence you may need to firmly assert liability for the accident. Once fault is proven, you can proceed with seeking compensation for your damages.

Every driver in the state is legally required to have auto insurance that includes coverage for personal injury and property damage. A bicycle accident is technically a form of vehicle accident, so your first option for recovering your damages may be to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance. Once you have filed this claim, the insurance company will review it and determine the extent of coverage you are eligible to receive. Having an experienced San Bernardino bicycle accident attorney representing you can streamline the insurance claim filing process significantly and shorten the time it takes you to receive a settlement.

After you secure as much of a recovery as possible through insurance, you can claim compensation for any remaining damages with a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. If they do not have insurance, you will need to proceed directly to filing a personal injury claim as soon as possible after the accident.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton aim to help every one of our clients maximize their case awards in their personal injury claims. California law allows you to claim a wide range of compensatory damages to repay the losses you suffered:

• The defendant is liable for all medical expenses you incurred from the accident. This includes the cost of future medical care you will require to achieve maximum medical improvement from your injuries.
• If you cannot work and earn income because of your injuries, the defendant is responsible for your lost wages. You may also claim compensation for your lost future earning capacity if you have been left permanently disabled by your accident and you cannot return to work in the future.
• The defendant is liable for the cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle and any other personal belongings lost in the accident.
• State law allows the plaintiff to claim pain and suffering compensation, and there is no limit on this aspect of recovery in a bicycle accident. Your San Bernardino bicycle accident attorney can help determine a fair amount to reflect the severity of your experience.

Ultimately, every bicycle accident claim filed is unique, and every victim will face different challenges as they seek compensation for their damages. The right attorney on your side makes confronting these proceedings easier to manage and more likely to yield the outcome you hope to see.

When you choose Easton & Easton to represent your case, we can immediately get to work gathering any evidence you need to firmly establish liability for the accident. Once fault has been proven, we can then guide you through the insurance claim filing process if applicable to your case and help build a comprehensive personal injury claim against the defendant who caused your accident. Our goal in every civil suit we represent is to help our client recover as fully as possible from their damages.

Q: Can I Still Claim Compensation if I Partially Caused My Bicycle Accident?

A: Yes, under California’s pure comparative fault rule it is possible for a plaintiff to be found partially responsible for their damages and still recover compensation. The judge overseeing your case will assign you a percentage of total fault for the accident to reflect your level of liability. For example, they may decide that you are 10% at fault while the defendant bears 90% of the fault for the accident. In this situation, the comparative fault rule requires the plaintiff lose a percentage of their final case award equal to their fault percentage, so 10% fault would mean losing 10% of your total compensation claimed from the defendant.

Q: Why Should I Hire a San Bernardino Bicycle Accident Attorney?

A: Even if fault for your recent bicycle accident in San Bernardino seems perfectly clear to you, you should not assume that you can handle your case unassisted or that you can reach the same level of results you could expect from a seasoned attorney. If you tried to handle your case alone you would face challenging procedural demands with the court while contending with the medical effects of your accident. Having an attorney you trust manage your case allows you to focus on your recovery with peace of mind.

Q: How Much Is My Bicycle Accident Case Worth in San Bernardino?

A: The total potential value of your bicycle accident claim in San Bernardino depends on the severity of your damages. State law allows you to seek compensation for the cost of replacing your bike, your medical expenses, future medical bills, and your lost income. If you have been permanently disabled by your injuries, the defendant could be liable for the future income you are no longer able to earn. You can also seek as much compensation for your pain and suffering as you deem appropriate.

Q: Will the Defendant Go to Prison for Causing the Accident?

A: It is possible for a defendant in a personal injury case to also face criminal charges alongside their civil liability. If you were hurt by another party’s illegal misconduct, such as DUI or aggressive driving, the state may file criminal charges against the defendant. Your San Bernardino bicycle accident attorney can advise you as to how this might impact your recovery efforts. For example, you could be awarded punitive damages or restitution alongside the damages you claim with your civil suit.

Q: How Much Does a San Bernardino Bicycle Accident Attorney Cost to Hire?

A: It’s understandable to be concerned about the potential cost of your legal fees when you need to hire an attorney, but this is no cause for alarm when you choose Easton & Easton to represent your case. We take personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay a fee after we win the case, and your fee will be a predetermined percentage of the final case award. Even after accounting for your contingency fee, you are likely to secure much more compensation with an attorney’s help then you would have managed on your own.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of professional experience helping our San Bernardino area clients through a wide range of personal injury cases, including those arising from bicycle accidents. If you believe any other party is liable for your recent accident, we can help you hold them accountable and secure maximum compensation for your damages. Contact Easton & Easton today and schedule a consultation with a San Bernardino bicycle accident lawyer to learn more about the legal services we provide.