If you were involved in a bicycle accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered injuries, you should contact the Oakland personal injury attorneys of OnderLaw to represent you in your case. You might be entitled to compensation for the medical bills, prescription drug costs, and other expenses you incur. We could help you hold the at-fault driver or another party liable for the suffering their negligent actions caused.
Although bicycles are fun to ride and offer excellent physical exercise, they can also be dangerous. If you’re sharing the road with cars and trucks, a distracted or reckless driver could swerve into your path and cause a crash. Many drivers aren’t looking out for bicyclists and often don’t see them in blind spots. The slightest error could put them on a collision course with a person riding their bike and cause severe injuries.
Bicyclists also don’t have protection from outside elements. Their bodies can’t handle the full force of a collision with a car. Debilitating and often life-threatening injuries result when there isn’t an airbag or metal structure protecting the rider from being ejected from their bike or struck by flying debris.
At OnderLaw, our experienced Oakland bicycle accident attorneys will be on your side from start to finish of your case. You can depend on us to fight hard for the maximum available compensation to get you on the road to recovery. Call us for a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you.
OnderLaw has helped countless accident victims since 2002. We can take on any case, big or small, and put in the same amount of effort for every client that hires us. We have the resources, knowledge, and skill to handle the most complicated insurance claims and lawsuits. We believe everyone deserves quality legal representation, and that’s what we aim to provide.
Our award-winning Oakland bicycle accident attorneys have built a stellar reputation throughout the Golden State. We know state laws and understand what it takes to achieve a successful outcome. From the second you walk into our office, you can expect personalized, one-on-one attention. You will feel like a priority throughout the entire process.
At OnderLaw, we know the financial impact a bicycle accident can have. If you’re out of work and can’t afford your medical bills, you wonder how you’re going to pay for a lawyer. We take cases on contingency, so you won’t owe us any upfront fees or costs. We don’t recover any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. If we lose your case, you won’t have to worry about paying us.
According to the Oakland, California Code of Ordinances, all bicyclists:
Bicyclists share the road with motor vehicles, so it’s crucial to obey all traffic laws. You should use a bike path whenever available and avoid riding too close to a car or truck. If you spot a reckless driver, move as far away from them as possible so you can avoid a devastating collision if they should swerve into your lane. Remaining alert and focused on what’s happening around you could save your life.
Oakland has relatively mild weather, especially during the summer months. Bicyclists are a common sight throughout the city. Although a bike is a convenient mode of transportation, it also poses various dangers to the rider. If you cross paths with a dangerous driver, you could suffer severe injuries in a collision.
The most common causes of bike accidents are:
These are only some of the reasons bike accidents occur. A range of factors can contribute to a collision when you pass by thousands of vehicles during your commute or leisurely ride. If you suffered injuries due to someone else’s misconduct, you deserve the opportunity to hold them liable and seek compensation.
Various scenarios can cause a range of different injuries. Some are minor and heal entirely, while others are more severe and can lead to permanent medical problems.
The most common injuries bicycle accidents cause are:
Many injuries can result in a permanent disability. If you suffer chronic pain and can’t function normally, it could significantly affect your quality of life. The thousands of dollars you incur in medical bills could lead to massive debt if you can’t afford to pay them.
An Oakland bicycle accident attorney could help you secure the money you’re owed to cover your hospital bills, physical therapy, lost wages, and other costs. These losses should not be your responsibility when another person was at fault for your suffering.
California is a fault car insurance state. That means the at-fault driver is financially liable for the injured victim’s losses, such as:
Even though you were on your bike when the accident happened, you could still file a car insurance claim. All California motorists must buy and maintain liability coverage. If the driver involved in your collision has liability insurance, you can pursue a claim to compensate for your total losses.
Car insurance policies have minimum limits of $15,000 for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage. Drivers can purchase higher limits if they want, but many choose the minimum required coverage. Unfortunately, bicycle accident victims often incur expenses much higher than the minimum limit. If your claim doesn’t get you the compensation you need, you could also file a UM claim.
Underinsured motorist (UM) is optional coverage available to all drivers. You could file a claim if you purchased UM when you bought your policy, even though you were riding your bike. The losses available in a UM claim vary depending on your specific policy but could include:
OnderLaw can review all available insurance policies to determine the amount of coverage you can seek. Although we always try to secure the highest possible settlement, there’s no guarantee that it’ll happen. Insurance companies are never on the claimant’s side and will look for valid reasons to deny your claim or provide a low settlement offer.
According to statistics, between 2016 and 2018, 455 cyclists died in traffic accidents. This is the highest rate of bike rider fatalities in California in any three years since the 1990s, with 3.9 bicyclist deaths occurring for every one million people.
Experts say the dramatic increase in bicyclist deaths is due to multiple factors, including more bikes on the road, distracted driving, and consumers choosing to drive SUVs and big trucks. They also found that more men die in bicycle accidents than women. For every eight male fatalities, there’s only one female death.
When you hire OnderLaw, you will have a team in your corner that will advocate for your rights. We understand how traumatic a bike accident can be and will work hard to reach a favorable outcome in your case. We know what it takes to get the job done so our clients can heal their injuries and move forward with their lives.
If you were injured in a bike accident in Oakland, do not hesitate to contact OnderLaw. We can meet with you for a free consultation and advise you about the available legal options for holding the negligent driver accountable. Call us now.
