East Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Although riding a bicycle can be an environmentally friendly way to beat heavy traffic and get some exercise, far too many motor vehicle drivers fail to give bicyclists the space and respect they are entitled to. Unfortunately, this irresponsible and sometimes aggressive behavior leads to hundreds of preventable accidents and injuries every year.

If another driver’s negligence caused a crash while you were riding your bike carefully, an experienced personal injury attorney could help you pursue financial compensation. With an East Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer’s guidance and support, you could likely recover monetary damages that reimburse for both short and long-term expenses.

How Negligence Could Cause a Bike Crash

The duty that motor vehicle operators have follow traffic laws and act reasonably behind the wheel means that they need to protect bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and anyone else on a road. This means that if a careless or reckless driver strikes a bicyclist, they might need to bear civil liability for any resulting losses, injuries, or damages.

Importantly, the specific negligent act that leads to collision with a cyclist has no practical bearing on the outcome of a personal injury claim. Whether the incident in question stems from an overt violation of state law, a momentary lapse in concentration, or any other careless action, an injured bicyclist can usually hold the defendant responsible for their losses if they can prove the accident would not have happened if the driver had acted responsibly.

Furthermore, various other third parties could bear partial or primary fault for a bike wreck, depending on the circumstances. For instance, an accident caused by poor road conditions could impose liability on a municipal authority that failed to perform necessary maintenance or clearly mark off bike lanes from traffic lanes.

If you need help proving negligence in your bicycle accident claim, a diligent attorney in East Los Angeles could collect evidence about the crash, identify the guilty parties, and take appropriate legal action against each one of them.

Could a Bicyclist be Responsible for Their Own Injuries?

Another aspect that injured bicyclists pursuing civil claims should understand is how California’s pure comparative fault system might impact their case. Under this framework, courts can assign percentages of fault to injured accident victims, which then influences the monetary damages they collect. For instance, the court overseeing a particular bicycle collision claim might reduce the value of a plaintiff’s damage award based on the percentage of total fault they bear.

It can be frustrating when allegations of comparative negligence prevent you from collecting the compensation you deserve, especially when you know that you were riding your bike carefully. However, a tenacious lawyer in East Los Angeles could combat these legal situations, represent your best interests in court, and help maximize the monetary damages awarded in your bicycle accident claim.

Consider Working with an East Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bicycle accidents cause substantial injuries to countless people each year, and many of those incidents could have been avoided entirely if the driver had acted responsibly. To make matters worse, recovering monetary damages for losses sustained in an accident like this can be difficult, even when you can concretely prove that the defendant is to blame.

Therefore, seeking help from a capable East Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer could be your best way to protect your rights and integrity. Call today to speak with our team members and schedule your initial consultation.