Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Long Beach bicycle accident attorneys

Bicycle accidents happen every day in Long Beach, and victims can be left with long-term injuries that forever impact quality of life. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident due to someone else’s negligence or ill intent, you may be eligible for a substantial financial damages award. Dordulian Law Group is a fierce advocate for Southern California’s injured victims, fighting aggressively for their right to justice and financial compensation for over 20 years. We’ve secured more than $200 million in settlements and verdicts for injured victims like you, and are ready to fight to secure the justice you deserve. Contact us today to learn more.

Defining a Bicycle Accident

As a rider, a bicycle accident is any incident in which you are hurt through no fault of your own by another vehicle, bicyclist, pedestrian, or object. A bicycle accident can be the result of any number of scenarios – potholes in the road, cracks in the sidewalk, or improperly marked “bicycle-only” lanes are merely a few examples. Long Beach, California, is a popular vacation/beach community where bicycles mingle with cars and pedestrians as part of everyday traffic.

When you are involved in a bicycle accident and you believe that someone’s negligence, interference, or misconduct caused your injuries, speak to a Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer at Dordulian Law Group. Filing a personal injury claim is the first step to helping you get back on your feet and ensuring you make a full recovery – physically and financially.

Can Insurance Pay For Bicycle Accident Claims?

Insurance is generally not sufficient enough to handle the types of injuries and losses often sustained after a bicycle accident. Your health insurance company expects you to pay off your deductible, and your policy only covers in-network care. That means that even if you required lifesaving care after a bicycle accident, the insurance company will likely not cover such services undergone at an of network provider.

If you are struck by a car while riding a bicycle, the driver’s insurance only pays for so much. Insurance companies will do everything the can to get out of paying these claims, and the maximum allowable per accident may be a small amount (such as $25,00). In severe bike accident cases, this will likely not pay for any emergency care needed immediately afterward.

Our experienced attorneys can help you pursue a financial award for your personal injury case. Contact us online or by phone for a free consultation today.

At Dordulian Law Group, we advise our clients to not speak with insurance companies or their representatives before first completing a free consultation with one of our experienced bicycle accident attorneys. A Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer will handle all of the stressful details so you may focus on what’s most important – your health and recovery.

How Often Do Bicycle Accidents Occur in California?

California has seen a resurgence of interest in bicycling and fitness biking of late, and the increase in bicycles on the roads has increased the number of bicyclist deaths across the state. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more bicyclists died from 2016 to 2018 than in any other period after 1995. A total of 455 bicyclists were killed in California during this time, while 2516 bicyclists died nationwide. California accounts for nearly a fifth of all bicycle accident deaths in America.

Other factors that can impact the number of bicycle accidents and fatalities include: more Americans driving cars than ever before, distracted driving on the rise, and SUVs making up nearly 50% of all car sales in the U.S.

The Severity of Bicycle Accident Injuries

Bicycle accidents are naturally more severe than car accidents because the bicyclist is not protected by anything other than a helmet. After a bicycle accident, you may experience a range of injuries, including:

• Broken or shattered bones
• Compound fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Road rash
• Burns
• Spinal injuries

Due to the inherent severity of most bicycle accidents, victims are likely to spend some time in the hospital. Even if you are merely tapped by someone backing out of a parking space, you could experience serious injuries by falling to the ground.

If a bicyclist is thrown from their bike, they are more likely to sustain severe injuries. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute also notes that riders wearing helmets – while safer – can still be killed in these accidents. Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that of the 835 bicycle deaths in 2016, 16% of those killed wore a helmet.

Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert car accident attorneys.

Can You Sue After a Bicycle Accident?

If your Long Beach bicycle accident was the result of someone’s negligence or ill intent, you are more than likely eligible to file a claim and pursue recovery of any applicable financial damages. Your Dordulian Law Group Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer will be able to help you better understand your rights and legal options, and provide an estimate for how much your case may be worth.

When we file a Long Beach bicycle accident claim, our legal strategy and ultimate argument must demonstrate the following elements:

• The defendant had a duty of care
• The defendant violated that duty of care
• Your injury occurred on the day of the accident
• The defendant’s actions directly contributed to your accident and/or injuries

Our experienced team of Long Beach bicycle accident lawyers urges accident victims to seek medical attention immediately following an injury. This will help prove that you were hurt on the day of the accident. It is advisable that you share as much information as possible during a free consultation with one of our bike accident lawyers.

We also recommend that injured victims refrain from sharing details about any accident on social media. These posts can be easily misconstrued and potentially used against injured victims during the legal process. It is in your best interest to only share information with your DLG bicycle accident lawyer.

If you believe you have a personal injury case and wish to pursue a claim, don’t hesitate to contact our award-winning expert attorneys online or by phone today.

What is the Statute of Limitations for a Bicycle Accident Injury Civil Claim?

The statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit in California is two years from the date of the accident. If you must sue a government office, however, you only have six months from the date of the accident to file a claim. California Government Code section 905 and section 911.2 both relate to this statute of limitations.

Seek assistance from a Dordulian Law Group Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer before the statute of limitations expires. If you have questions about your accident or the deadline to bring a claim, please do not hesitate to reach out for a free consultation with one of our experienced bike accident attorneys. It’s better to know for certain that you don’t have a claim than to wonder whether or not financial compensation might be available. Failing to take action before the statute of limitations expires can leave you without legal recourse (and potentially facing mounting medical bills and miscellaneous expenses). Sadly, this is a frequent occurrence among bicycle accident victims, as they often feel the accident was their fault. However, even if you were partly to blame for a bicycle accident, you still may be eligible to recover damages.

California is a comparative fault law state, which means that as long as you were less than 100% responsible for an accident, you are eligible to recover financial compensation for the portion of the accident that was not your fault. In other words, if you were 5% at-fault for a bike accident, you would still be able to recover 95% of an awarded verdict or settlement.

In some cases, injuries may take time to develop. Many seemingly minor injuries eventually worsen over time. It is imperative that bicycle accident victims seek counsel from an experienced and dedicated lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Numerous variables exist that could negatively impact your claim if you hesitate or attempt to proceed on your own. That’s why we always offer free consultations for injured bicycle accident victims, ensuring our Long Beach clients have the answers they need.

Can Insurance Carriers Pay For Bicycle Accident Claims?

Insurance carriers do not typically play a major role in bicycle accidents because cyclists are not required to carry policies. Your health insurance could partially pay for your injuries, but the policy’s lifetime maximum could be exhausted, or you could be left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills that your insurance simply did not cover.

An errant driver’s insurance policy may not reach the level of your injuries or losses, and it often pays insignificant sums intended to cover minor accidents. Seeking compensation via a lawsuit is often the only way to collect all the money you need to improve your quality of life and obtain a complete recovery – financially, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

How Much Is My Long Beach Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Worth?

After an unfortunate bicycle accident, you may be facing significant financial hardship due to an inability to work. Additionally, you may be accumulating medical bills throughout your recovery. These losses may add to the value of your overall claim. It is advisable that you share all of your relevant medical records and any bills correlating to your injuries with your DLG bicycle accident lawyer.

A bicycle accident lawsuit may also include noneconomic damages, such as “pain and suffering” and “emotional turmoil.” At Dordulian Law Group, we help clients recover every possible ounce of financial compensation after an untimely bike accident. Whatever applicable losses or damages you have accrued as a result of your accident, we will fight to ensure you are properly compensated.

The ultimate settlement or verdict awarded in a bicycle accident will likely vary depending on the facts of the case and the extent of the injuries. Bicycle accident lawsuits can be worth tens of thousands of dollars to several million dollars depending on the severity of the incident. Recently, the City of Encinitas paid an $11 million settlement to a woman after she was struck by a pickup truck. The lawsuit alleged that the city did not do enough to protect bicyclists in a shared lane.

If the victim of a bicycle accident dies during or after the incident, the immediate family and dependents may file a wrongful death lawsuit. This type of lawsuit can help the family recover various damages, such as medical expenses, lost income, burial expenses, loss of moral support, or loss of companionship.

Legal Services For Bicycle Accident Victims in Long Beach, California

Dordulian Law Group is proud to serve bicycle accident victims in and around Long Beach. Call 562-502-8822 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We’re here to answer any questions you may have about your case 24/7.

Bicycle Accident Statistics – 2018-2022

• Over 20% of fatal bike accidents happen in the evening.
• There were over 1,000 cycling deaths in 2019.
• 25% of fatalities occurred between 6 p.m and 9 p.m.
• 377 bicyclist deaths in 2019 were a result of other incidents.
• Over 300,000 people in 2018 ended up in the emergency room for bicycle accidents.
• Males accounted for 88% of all bicycle deaths – over seven times the number of fatalities for females.
• The number of bicycle accidents is lower in rural areas (22%) than in cities (78%).
• Most at-risk groups of cycling accidents are 15- to 24-year-olds and 45-year-olds and older
• February had the lowest monthly bike accident death rate in 2019
• 37% of Accidents Involve Alcohol – Either the victim cyclist or the party at fault.
• 79% of Deadly Bike Accidents Happen in Urban Areas.
• New York, Houston, and Los Angeles are the deadliest cities in the US for cyclists.
• Helmets can prevent half of the cycling-related head injuries.
• Around 7% of brain injuries in the US occur due to bike crashes.
• Helmet use is obligatory in 22 US states.
• Severe head trauma accounts for approximately 60% of all bike deaths
• 81.8% of Impacts Happened with the Vehicle’s Front.
• National crash data from 2012 indicate that 31 percent of all bicycling injuries from motor vehicle collisions occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Bike accident statistics show that only 27% of accidents happen at intersections.

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