San Diego Bicycle Accident Attorney

San Diego is a bicycle friendly city and was recently recognized as such when People for Bikes ranked San Diego in the top ten cities for the best U.S. bike towns. San Diego officials have made great strides in developing infrastructure and policies that make bicycling on city roads safer for bicyclists. In most cases, bicycles are to operate as motor vehicles on the road and motor vehicles are to give bicyclists the same respect that they give other motor vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, as our San Diego bicycle accident attorneys know, that does not always happen.

Bicycle accidents frequently occur when automobile drivers do not obey the rules of the road when it comes to sharing the streets with bicycles. Negligent drivers may try to pass bicycles that they view to be in their way when it is not safe to do so or engage in other conduct that threatens bicyclists’ safety. When accidents occur, the consequences can be devastating for bicyclists.

Negligence

In order to recover for bicycle accident injuries, a plaintiff bicyclist must show that the motor vehicle driver in the accident was negligent. In proving negligence, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the driver: 1) Owed the bicyclist a duty of care, which is pretty simple in most cases as everyone on the road owes a duty of care to operate their vehicles safely and accordance with the law. 2) That the driver breached that duty of care. 3) That the plaintiff bicyclist was injured as a result of that breach.

Breach of duty can be often be proven by showing that the driver violated rules of the road or was engaging in unsafe conduct while driving such as:

• Distracted driving
• Turning in front of a bicyclist who has the right of way
• Sideswiping a bicyclist when passing too closely
• Disobeying traffic signs and signals such as rolling through a stop sign or running a red light
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Speeding
• Following a bicyclist too closely
• ‘Dooring’ a bicyclist by opening the door of a parked car into a bicyclist’s path of travel

Compensation for bicycle accident injuries and damages

Compensation for bicyclists whose injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence may include:

• Lost wages from missed work due to the bicycle accident injuries. If your long-term ability to work is compromised because of your injuries, you may also recover for lost future income.
• Pain and suffering caused by the bicycle accident injuries.
• Medical bills including past bills and expenses for current and future medical care.
• Property damage caused by the accident such as bicycle and helmet.
• Disability recovery for bicyclists whose injuries left them with a permanent disability often making lifelong medical care and accommodations necessary.

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact a San Diego bicycle accident attorney with Simpson Law Group to discuss your claim. You deserve compensation for everything you have been through and our attorneys will work to see that you receive a maximum recovery for your injuries and damages.