If you’re a cyclist, the city of Irvine, California is a great place to be. Irvine offers many bike trails through beautiful canyons and parks and has worked to make its roads more accessible to those who travel by bike. As helpful as these infrastructural changes have been, there is still a significant amount of risk for those who ride bicycles in Irvine. Each year, hundreds of people are wrongly injured in bicycle accidents across the city.
If you or someone you love has been injured through no fault of your own in a bicycle accident, then you may be entitled to compensation. The personal injury attorneys at OnderLaw are well-equipped to help you pursue justice in your bicycle accident case. Since 2002, our top-rated lawyers have been putting clients first, reaching impressive awards and over $3 billion in settlements over the years.
Are you ready to take the next step towards pursuing compensation? Give OnderLaw a call today. We’ll schedule a free, confidential case evaluation, and one of our attorneys can help you determine the best course of action. Let today be the day you begin your journey towards justice.
Figuring out what comes next after being injured in a bicycle accident can be a difficult task. Between determining liability, dealing with insurance companies, and recovering from your injuries, securing compensation can be a long process. At OnderLaw , we work to make sure you never feel alone in your pursuit of justice.
Our personal injury attorneys are well-acquainted with all of the local and federal legislation surrounding bicycle accidents. We’ve been successfully handling bicycle accident cases for over nineteen years and are dedicated to bringing the same excellence and high-quality legal counsel to your case.
At OnderLaw , we’re also committed to handling all communication on each client’s behalf. Rather than leave you to deal with law enforcement, other parties, and insurance companies, we manage all communication for you. This protects you from accidental self-incrimination and helps us handle your case in the most efficient manner possible.
Besides over $3 billion in settlements and countless successes in court, OnderLaw has received recognition for our hard work on both local and national levels. Such organizations as The American Society of Legal Advocates, the National Trial Lawyers, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and the Litigator Awards have recognized OnderLaw for our excellence in each case we take on.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Irvine, there are several local regulations that you should be aware of. A few of the city’s laws regarding bicycle use are included below:
According to Sec. 4-7.102, a bicycle is defined as “Any device upon which a person may ride which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains or gears, having one or more wheels.”
Sec. 4-7.201 states that “Every person riding a bicycle upon a street or sidewalk shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of the State pertaining to the rules of the road.”
Sec. 4-7.202 states that “It shall be unlawful for any person operating a bicycle to fail to obey the instructions of official traffic-control signs and other traffic-control devices applicable to vehicles or bicycles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.”
There are several circumstances that may lead to a bicycle accident. These factors depend widely on the condition of the road, the behavior of other drivers, and the condition of the bicycle. A few of the more common causes of bicycle accidents have been included below:
Distracted driving: If a driver should become distracted while operating a motor vehicle, they become a threat to any surrounding vehicles. Examples of distracted driving include using a cell phone while driving, “zoning out,” becoming sleepy while driving, or becoming distracted by other passengers.
Driving under the influence: Drivers who operate motor vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be a major risk to the other drivers with whom they share the road. Driving under the influence may cause blurred vision, loss of depth perception, and lack of judgment.
Reckless behavior: Drivers who fail to observe traffic laws may be engaging in reckless behavior and can be a threat to other nearby vehicles and bicycles. Examples of such reckless or negligent behavior include speeding, failing to yield, failing to stop, failing to check blind spots, failing to check when opening doors, weaving, and lane splitting.
External factors: Outside factors can contribute to bicycle accidents, as well. Weather conditions, roadside construction, or other nearby accidents can cause drivers to become distracted and may cause an accident.
Municipal negligence: Because bicycles don’t have undercarriage suspensions as cars do, and because they weigh so much less, they are much more prone to serious accidents caused by municipal negligence. Examples of such negligence include potholes, bumps in the road, or severe cracks in the pavement.
Defective part/mechanical malfunction: If a bicycle should have a malfunctioning part, the rider is at significant risk. Examples of defective bicycle parts include faulty brakes, broken chains, and flat tires, any one of which could cause a bicyclist to be ejected from their bike into traffic.
Because bicycles do not offer seatbelts and airbags to their riders as passenger vehicles do, bikers are at risk of being more seriously injured in bicycle accidents. While this risk is mitigated with the use of a bicycle helmet, cyclists may still be severely injured in a bicycle accident. Examples of such injuries are included below:
For personal injury lawsuits, compensation comes in two main forms. You may be entitled to reimbursement for costs associated with one or both of the following types of damages:
Economic damages are the specifically monetary costs associated with a bicycle accident. Examples of these damages include medical expenses for any treatments, doctor’s appointments, or diagnostic procedures; the cost to repair any of your personal property that was damaged or destroyed in a bicycle accident; or lost wages or income due to recovery time for injuries suffered in a bicycle accident. The best way to document economic damages is to keep track of any and all medical records, repairs receipts, timecards, and paystubs.
Noneconomic damages are the non-monetary costs of any pain and suffering you may experience as a result of a bicycle accident. Examples of these damages include emotional/psychological trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, and loss of mobility. The best way to document noneconomic damages is to take note of any therapy and/or counseling you receive as a result of an accident and to keep a journal or diary of how the accident and your injuries have affected your daily life.
According to an article from the Orange County Register, at least 14 cyclists were killed in the county in 2018.
Data from the Orange County Bicycle Coalition reflects that in 2012, Irvine had 37 serious injuries in biking-related accidents.
An article from California Healthline claims that between 2016 and 2018, the state hit an all-time high for instances of bicycle accident fatalities.
A 2018 report from the California Department of Public Health found that four percent of the state’s total traffic-related deaths were bicyclists.
Data from UC Berkeley’s California Active Transportation Safety Information Pages reflects that between 2015 and 2019, there were 4,570 bicycle collisions in Orange County.
Dealing with the stress of a serious bike accident can be a grueling process. If you or someone you love has been wrongly injured in a bicycle accident, let today be the day you begin pursuing justice. Call OnderLaw to schedule a free confidential case evaluation.
We know what clients face after a bicycle accident. You’re dealing with the stress of managing your injuries, and unexpected medical bills start appearing in your mailbox. We don’t want to add to the tension you’re already feeling, which is why OnderLaw takes our cases on contingency. That means you won’t pay us anything upfront. We don’t get paid until we get compensation for you.
Don’t allow a lack of financial resources or legal know-how to deter you from seeking the compensation you deserve. Call OnderLaw today.
