As it becomes a hub for cultural sites, restaurants, and tourism, the city of Anaheim has become far more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly in recent years. Because bicycles are a far more cost-efficient and environmentally-conscious option, Anaheim has added bike trails and paths for those among its residents who rely on bikes as their primary mode of transportation. Unfortunately, increased traffic, both among bicycles and motor vehicles, has increased cyclists’ risk of being injured in an accident.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The Anaheim personal injury attorneys of OnderLaw are prepared to help you seek the restitution to which you’re entitled. Since 2002, we’ve been representing clients just like you in bicycle accident cases, reaching favorable settlements, and winning impressive awards.

If you’re ready to take the next step in seeking compensation, call OnderLaw today. We’ll schedule a free, confidential consultation with you so that you can discuss your situation with one of our attorneys and determine the best course of action for your bicycle accident case.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

It can be very stressful to independently build a winning bicycle accident case. Between the evidence you have to gather, dealing with insurance companies, and caring for the injuries you have, the process can be long and difficult. With the help of an OnderLaw attorney, you don’t have to worry about going through this process alone. Our team of personal injury attorneys has secured over $3 billion in settlements and awards since our firm opened and is dedicated to bringing the same hard work and attention to detail to your bicycle accident case.

When you work with OnderLaw , you’re choosing more than an ordinary law firm. OnderLaw comes with many tried-and-true legal strategies, a wide network of connections, and over nineteen years of successful experience in personal injury law. In addition, we’re committed to handling all communication on behalf of each client. This means that instead of leaving you to manage discussions with the insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, and third parties, possibly leaving yourself vulnerable to accidental self-incrimination, we will talk to them for you. This streamlines the process of building your case and allows you to focus on your health.

Why Choose OnderLaw ?

Since we opened our doors, OnderLaw has been achieving excellence. Our lawyers have been recognized for their achievements by such organizations as the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the National Trial Lawyers, The American Society of Legal Advocates, and The American Trial Lawyers Association.

This same level of excellence is evident in the hard work and results of each of our attorneys. Breanna L. Hunt, one of our top personal injury attorneys, has been committed to the pursuit of justice in each case she’s taken on since graduating from the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Having been a 2019 regional finalist for the American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition and completing over 350 hours of pro bono work, Hunt is an advocate for those who do not have a voice. Her legal knowledge and fight for equality make her an important member of the OnderLaw team.

Types of Bicycle Accidents

Because bicycles are not limited to using streets and roads as other vehicles are, they are prone to a wider range of accidents. Though bicyclists are certainly vulnerable to accidents involving one or more motor vehicle, many bicycle accidents involve a pedestrian or stationary object. The type of bicycle accident in which you are involved can have a significant bearing on each party’s level of liability and your expected compensation. You may sustain injuries in any of the following types of bicycle accidents:

  • Head-on collisions
  • Dooring accidents
  • Turning accidents
  • Wrong-way accidents
  • Rear-end collisions
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Stationary object accidents
  • Left-turn accidents

Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Cyclists do not enjoy the same level of security from outside elements or motorists that occupants of passenger cars do. They are far more exposed to environmental and situational hazards that may be present on roads or trails. In addition to these hazards, cyclists may be at risk if they engage in drugged, drunk, or distracted cycling. A few common causes of bicycle accidents are:

  • Distracted driving: Any time a driver fails to focus on the road, they are engaging in distracted driving. This may include zoning out, cell phone use, or becoming distracted by navigation apps. Distracted driving puts both the driver and any surrounding parties (including cyclists) at risk of injury.
  • Defective part/mechanical malfunction: When a vehicle has a defective part (brake malfunction, loss of power steering, flat tire), the driver puts themselves and others at risk of being involved in an accident. Such incidents can usually be avoided with the proper upkeep and vehicle maintenance.
  • Driving under the influence: If a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating a motor vehicle, they are putting both themselves and those around them in danger. Drugs and alcohol may significantly impair a driver’s depth perception, vision, and judgment, resulting in accidents and serious injury for those involved.
  • Outside factors: Another common cause of bicycle accidents is any outside factor over which a driver or cyclist has no control. This can be the weather, roadside construction, or reckless drivers.

Common Injuries Suffered in Bicycle Accidents

As you might expect, cyclists are often prone to more serious injuries, as they do not have the protection of seatbelts and airbags offered by a passenger vehicle. One way to significantly reduce the risk of serious injury from a bicycle accident is to wear a helmet, although cyclists may still suffer any of the following injuries after having been involved in a bicycle accident:

  • Paralysis
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Broken bones
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Neck trauma
  • Contusions
  • Lacerations
  • Burns
  • Road rash

Who Is Responsible?

There are several parties who may be at fault or partially at fault in a bicycle accident. These parties may include:

  • The driver of a motor vehicle involved in the accident
  • The manufacturer of a defective bicycle part that caused the accident
  • A vehicle driver whose actions caused the cyclist to crash into a nearby stationary object to avoid a collision with the vehicle
  • The manufacturer of a part on the vehicle that was defective because of its design, manufacture, or installation and led to the accident

In the state of California, liability is determined on the basis of negligence. For most purposes, negligence is when one party acts or fails to act in a way that causes harm to another party.

In a bicycle accident, examples of negligence may be a driver failing to see a cyclist in their blind spot failing to stop at a red light. There are many situations in which one of the above parties may be considered negligent and therefore be found by the court to be at fault or partially at fault for the accident.

Compensation for a Claim

For bicycle accident cases, you may be entitled to compensation for one or both types of the following damages, depending on your level of injury and any lasting psychological trauma.

Compensation for economic damages includes all of the financial costs of a bicycle accident, including medical expenses, property damage costs, and income lost as a result of recovery time or permanent disability.

Compensation for noneconomic damages refers to the intangible mental costs of pain and suffering you experience as a result of a bicycle accident. Examples of these damages may include loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of mobility, or emotional/psychological trauma.

Anaheim and California Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety, there were 101 people involved in bicycle accidents in Anaheim in 2016.

An article from the Orange County Register claims that there were 14 cyclists killed in bicycle accidents in the county during the year 2018.

455 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents in California between 2016 and 2018, according to a report from California Healthline.

Orange County is the ranks second highest in the state for its 4,570 bicycle collisions between 2015 and 2019, according to data from the University of California at Berkeley.

A 2018 report from the California Department of Public Health finds that out of all of the fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes in the state of California, 4 percent were caused by bicycle accidents.

Call OnderLaw Today

Dealing with the devastating effects of a bicycle accident is no easy task. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, let today be the day you begin your journey toward justice. Call OnderLaw today. We’ll schedule a free, confidential consultation for you and put you in contact with one of our personal injury attorneys so that you can get a better picture of what kind of compensation you might expect.

Don’t allow the effects of a bicycle accident keep you down one day longer. Call OnderLaw to begin seeking the restitution you deserve today.