In a city with as many beautiful paths and trails as San Francisco, it’s no surprise that many choose to use bicycles as a mode of transportation. The eco-friendly and health-conscious benefits make bicycling a viable option for many of the city’s residents.

While bicycles are useful for many reasons, they don’t come without risk. Unlike motorists, bicyclists are exposed to natural and environmental hazards and are less visible to the motor vehicle drivers with whom they share the road. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident by no fault of your own, you know all too well how stressful these accidents can be and may be entitled to compensation.

The San Francisco personal injury lawyers of OnderLaw are committed to protecting bicycle accident victims’ rights and helping them obtain compensation for their injuries. Since 2002, we’ve been reaching favorable outcomes for many clients in the form of both settlements and awards. Our nationally recognized team of personal injury attorneys is here to help you as you seek reimbursement for damages caused by a bicycle accident.

If you’re ready to seek the compensation to which you’re entitled, don’t wait any longer. Call OnderLaw today. We’ll schedule a free, confidential consultation for you and connect you with one of our personal injury attorneys to evaluate your case. Let today be the day you begin your journey towards justice.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

The process of filing a lawsuit can be a long one, particularly if you attempt to do it on your own. When dealing with insurance companies, documenting damages, and the general pressures of daily life, building a bicycle accident case without an attorney is no easy task. That’s why at OnderLaw, we provide our clients with only high-quality legal care as we build their cases.

We’re committed to excellence and have been dedicated to this commitment for over 19 years.

When you hire an attorney with OnderLaw, you’re gaining access to years of successful experience, a wide-reaching network of legal connections, and many tried-and-true strategies that have helped us reach favorable outcomes for our clients since 2002.

Another part of our commitment to excellence is the way we handle communication. To protect you from accidental self-incrimination and to streamline the legal process, we manage all communication on our client’s behalf.

Instead of gathering evidence, struggling through local and federal bicycle regulations, and dealing with insurance companies on your own, choose OnderLaw. Contact one of our attorneys today to discuss your case and determine the best course of action for your bicycle accident claim.

Why Choose OnderLaw?

Our team of personal injury attorneys has received acclaim for their excellence, both locally and nationally. OnderLaw has been invited into the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, as well as the American Trial Lawyers Association. We’ve also been recognized by both the Trial Lawyers Board of Regents, LLC ™ Litigator Awards ™ and SuperLawyers.com.

This same excellence is evident in each one of our personal injury attorneys. James G. Onder, our founding attorney, has been practicing personal injury law since 1988. He has been admitted to practice in both Missouri and Illinois, and he has received a 5.0 out of 5 AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating. Onder’s hard work and commitment to justice have led him to millions of dollars in settlements and many successful trial outcomes.

Another of our personal injury attorneys, Breanna L. Hunt, has contributed to OnderLaw ’s legacy of hard work and high-quality legal counsel. Hunt has practiced personal injury law since joining OnderLaw, handling motor vehicle accident, products liability, and wrongful death cases, to name a few. In 2019, Hunt was named a regional finalist for the American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition during her time at the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Her attention to detail in each case she takes on makes her a valuable asset to the OnderLaw team.

Types of Bicycle Accidents

Because cyclists share the road with many other vehicles, including passenger cars, large trucks, and motorcycles, there are several types of accidents associated with bicycle collisions. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Single-vehicle accidents
  • Multiple-vehicle accidents
  • Rear-end collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • Red light accidents
  • Dooring accidents
  • Right- or left-turn accidents

Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Cyclists are more exposed to hazards while riding than those who drive motor vehicles, making them vulnerable to a wide range of accidents. There are several factors that may cause a bicycle accident or make the injuries in an accident worse.

  • One of the biggest risks of a bicycle accident is brain damage, something cyclists can mitigate by wearing a helmet.
  • Irresponsible behavior, including carelessness or recklessness, may contribute to a bicycle accident, as well as operating a vehicle or bicycle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Environmental factors like weather and roadside construction can also cause bicycle accidents.
  • Defective vehicle or bicycle parts can cause accidents, as well. Should a bicycle or nearby vehicle malfunction, the other drivers or cyclists on the road are also put at risk.

Bicycle Accident Injuries

As you might expect, there are many types of injuries one might sustain after being involved in a bicycle accident, ranging in severity. If you have sustained an injury in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the medical costs of your injuries and the suffering they cause. Several examples of such injuries include:

  • Brain damage
  • Broken bones
  • Lacerations
  • Contusions
  • Paralysis
  • Organ Damage
  • Disfigurement
  • Amputation
  • Spinal injuries

Compensation for a Bicycle Accident Claim

Assessing how much compensation you’re entitled to after an accident that wasn’t your fault depends on the amount and kind of damages you sustained. You may be entitled to compensation for one or both of the following types of damages, depending on the specifics of your bicycle accident.

  • Economic damages: These are often measured in financial terms and include the cost of medical attention, the cost of property repairs, and any current or future loss of wages or income. To best document these costs, keep track of all medical records, repairs costs, pay stubs, and timecards.
  • Noneconomic damages: These are the intangible costs of pain and suffering that you may experience as a result of an accident. Examples of compensable losses in this category would be a loss of companionship or mobility, emotional trauma, or a loss of enjoyment of life. To best document any noneconomic damages, keep a journal of your feelings, how your injuries affect your daily life, and keep track of any therapy or counseling appointments.

Proving Negligence in California

Negligence, in most cases, is defined as any careless or reckless behavior at the time of the accident that was intentional or outrageous. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to build a strong case showing that you were injured by someone else.

California is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that even if you are found to be partly negligent, you may still be entitled to compensation. If the court finds that you have $50,000 in damages and that you were 10% liable for the accident, you would be able to obtain 90%, or $45,000, of the damages you sustained.

Should we take your case on, our team of attorneys at OnderLaw will do everything we can to secure the most favorable outcome in your bicycle accident case. We work tirelessly to compile evidence, investigate your accident, and build a compelling case to obtain compensation for you.

California Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits

Lawsuits in the state of California are governed by the statute of limitations. This is a timeline for filing your lawsuit.

  • To file a personal injury lawsuit where you were injured, or your loved one died, you have two years from the date of the accident.
  • If you wish to file a lawsuit for property damages alone, you have a three-year window to do so.
  • If you’re filing a personal injury or property damage lawsuit against a government agency or employee, you have a period of six months to do so.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to California Healthline, between the years 2016 and 2018, the incidence of bicycle accident fatalities was the highest since the mid-1990s, with 455 deaths.

In a report from the University of California at Berkeley, it is estimated that between 2015 and 2019, there were 2,868 bicycle collisions and 15 cyclist deaths in San Francisco alone.

Bicycle Accident FAQs

If you still have some questions regarding your bicycle accident case, a few commonly asked questions have been answered for you below:

How much does it cost to hire one of your attorneys?

Because we believe in providing equal access to excellent legal care, at OnderLaw, we operate on a contingency-fee basis. No client is charged for the legal services we provide until we have reached a favorable outcome for them. Only then do we subtract our agreed-upon contingency fee. This allows our clients to pursue compensation without worrying about the financial implications upfront.

How is the value of my case determined?

There are several factors to consider in determining compensation:

  • The type of damages for which you’re eligible to seek reimbursement
  • Whether your behavior contributed to the accident
  • The severity of any injuries/damages sustained
  • How much insurance coverage the liable party may have

What should I do if I’ve been involved in a bicycle accident?

After finding out whether anyone needs immediate medical attention, take photos of the scene of the accident. Be sure to include photos of any injuries and property damage. Other than to exchange information, avoid speaking too much with the other party so as to avoid an accidental admission of fault. Contact an attorney to determine the best course of action in your bicycle accident case.

Call OnderLaw Today

If you or someone you love has been involved in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Call OnderLaw today to schedule a free confidential case evaluation. Let today be the first step in your journey to justice.