Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer
There are over 1,000 miles of bike paths and scenic trails in Orange County, from shared lanes, which are street bike routes shared by cars and other pedestrians, to off-street paved bike paths. Many routes are meant to accommodate both motor vehicles and bicyclists in the same travel lane. However, they also present the dangerous risk of a bicycle collision.
After a bike accident, you should speak to a Newport Beach bicycle accident lawyer. With so much going through your mind after an accident, you need the help and support of a compassionate Newport Beach attorney who will stand up to the insurance company for you and help you get the settlement that you deserve.
What is the most common bicycle injury?
There are 100 million bicycle owners in the U.S., and bicycle accidents result in approximately 800 deaths per year. In 2009 there were 418,700 emergency room visits due to bicycle accident injuries. Severe injuries after a Newport Beach bicycle accident can lead to steep medical bills because bicyclists have no exterior protection from impact with a car, truck, or asphalt.
Head Injuries
Some of the most common bicycle accident injuries are head injuries, which range from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Wearing a helmet can reduce the chances of suffering from the most severe forms of TBI. A brain injury can cause headaches, confusion, nausea, concussion, or coma, depending on the severity of the crash. Fractures of the facial bones and broken teeth are other common head injuries after a bicycle accident.
Back Injuries
A bicycle collision with a vehicle leaves bicyclists susceptible to spinal cord injuries resulting from the force of the impacts or any twisting of the muscles when bicyclists are flung into the air. The nerves that connect the brain to the rest of the body are bundled together in the spinal cord, which is housed within 33 stacked vertebrae that comprise the spinal canal. Once those nerves are injured or permanently severed, victims of bicycle accidents suffer whole or partial paralysis and an inability to control their bodies.
Broken Bones
Broken bones may require surgery and setting by a licensed doctor to heal properly. The most common fractures after a bicycle accident are:
- Broken distal radius, or the wrist joint
- Broken clavicle
- Broken scapula, also called the shoulder blade
- Broken humerus, the long bone that connects the shoulder to the elbow
How common are bicyclist accidents?
Every year, over 130,000 bicyclists are injured in crashes on US roads, and nearly 1,000 lose their lives in fatal collisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 27% of bike crashes occurred at intersections, and 9% occurred at other locations such as:
- Sidewalks
- Designated bicycle lanes
- Parking zones
- On shoulders or roadsides
The most common types of bicycle accidents in Newport Beach are due to a vehicle turning in front of a cyclist or when a driver pulls out of a driveway or parking lot and strikes a cyclist they didn’t see. Also known as a “right hook” accident, when a car turning right hits a bicyclist, the driver can be held liable for the injuries and damages that the cyclist suffers.
How do most bicycle accidents happen?
A Newport Beach bicycle accident lawyer will have to conduct an investigation to find the exact cause of your crash, but the most common causes of bicycle accidents, in general, are when drivers hit people who are riding bikes. Drivers who get behind bicyclists can get frustrated by their slow speed and try to pass them. Unfortunately, this puts the cyclist in the vulnerable position of being sideswiped or hit from behind, which can knock them off their bicycle.
Alcohol consumption by negligent drivers is often a factor in bicycle accident cases. The CDC reports that a third of fatal bicycle accidents involve a driver or a cyclist consuming alcohol. Alcohol affects a person’s judgment, eye-hand coordination, and reaction time. A driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol may not check before making a right turn, for example, which is a common way that drivers hit cyclists.
A Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Attorney Who Fights For Your Compensation
If you have been injured in a Newport Beach bicycle accident and want to pursue compensation for your medical bills and other damages, then a bicycle accident attorney from Roberts | Jeandron Law can help you. We are a long-established personal injury firm that represents clients who have suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents, including bicycle accidents, car accidents, and truck accidents.
Under California law, injured victims of bicycle accidents are entitled to compensation from the at-fault driver. In order to get the compensation that you deserve, you should hire an attorney who can gather evidence and prove fault on behalf of the driver of the motor vehicle that hit you or caused a loved one’s wrongful death. Our Newport Beach bicycle accident lawyers stand up for the injured against the insurance companies so that they get the settlement they deserve for their medical expenses, lost wages, future lost earning potential, and emotional distress.
If you were struck by a car in Newport Beach while riding a bike and suffered injuries in your bicycle accident, then call Roberts | Jeandron Law now at (949) 208-9854 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney. This meeting is completely free and will provide you with an opportunity to ask our bicycle accident lawyers any questions you have. To help you prepare for your meeting with an attorney, we recommend that you bring:
- Photos and videos you took at the scene of the accident or that a witness took for you
- The name and contact information for the at-fault driver
- Names and contact information for witnesses, if any
- Your medical records and medical bills
- The police report
- Receipts for other expenses related to your injury
We fight for you to get the fair and just settlement that you deserve and keep you informed throughout the personal injury claim process, so call now.