Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Pomona

Can I Sue if I’m Hit By a Car While Riding My Bicycle?

For many, bicycling is both a fun activity and an efficient means of transportation. This is particularly true in California. In California, bicycling is such a way of life that it is regarded as America’s fourth most bicycle-friendly state. However, this does not translate into California being a safe state for bicyclists, particularly for bicycle accident victims. Despite the number of bicyclists on California roads, the state ranks #23 in the nation for spending on bicycle safety. That statistic translates into thousands of accidents involving drivers and bicyclists every year in California.

Bicyclists have the right of way when in traffic, and other cars are expected to yield to cyclists when they encounter them. Despite this, the number of accidents involving bicycles has gone up in recent years, particularly following the rise in popularity of e-bikes. In 2022, 24,000 people suffered injuries in accidents involving e-bikes alone. Including accidents involving standard bicycles, that number goes up to almost 40,000. Additionally, around 100 people die every year as a result of injuries sustained in bicycle/automobile collisions, with the number expected to increase in conjunction with e-bike use.

Injuries sustained by a bicyclist in a crash with a motor vehicle can be especially severe and lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. If you or a loved one were injured while bicycling in Pomona, San Bernardino, or Riverside County, it’s essential to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to help you recover compensation for your injuries. A bicycle accident attorney may be the only way to receive the fair compensation you deserve.

Are Bicycle Injuries Really That Serious?

Many people have seen bike accidents played for jokes on television and in movies. Individuals who have been in minor collisions with motorists may even “laugh it off” as one of the risks of bicycling. The fact is that bike accidents are severe and can result in life-threatening injuries.

Even if you are hit by a car “only” going 35mph, there is a 50% chance of serious injury and a 25% chance of death. Those numbers increase to a 90% chance of severe injury and a 50% chance of death if the vehicle is traveling at 45mph — a standard speed on many roadways.

Those numbers can rise even higher depending on the vehicle and speed. For instance, a large truck only going 25mph can cause serious injury and even death.

Even if you don’t experience symptoms of your injuries right away, it’s vital you immediately seek medical attention. Many common bike accident injuries do not begin manifesting themselves right away. It could be days or even weeks before you display symptoms. Some injuries with delayed onset of symptoms include, but are not necessarily limited to:

That’s why, regardless of how fast the vehicle that hit you was going, you must contact an attorney for your personal injury claim.

Should I Deal With an Insurance Company if I’m Hit By a Car While Biking?

Many bicyclists treat accidents the same way they would a car wreck: filing a claim with the driver’s insurance company and then dealing with a claims adjuster to negotiate a payment. This is often a mistake.

Insurance companies don’t exist to protect accident victims; they exist to protect the people they insure. An insurance company will make the lowest possible offer they think you will accept. If you initially refuse, an insurance company may make you a higher offer, but it will seldom be as high as the amount to which you are really entitled. Insurance companies will work to get you to take the least amount of money they can to ensure they suffer the least economic loss possible.

Not only will an insurance company make you a low offer, but they will often try to pressure you into taking the deal quickly. They may try to get you to think you must accept it within a specific time frame or else you’ll “lose out,” or offer you other reasons you must agree to a deal right away. This is because, in most cases, once you have accepted a settlement, you cannot ask for more money. This means that if you accept a quick settlement but later discover you have undiagnosed injuries, future medical expenses, or have to miss work due to your injuries unexpectedly, you cannot ask for more money.

Contacting an experienced attorney from our firm for legal representation is key if you’ve been in a bicycle accident. Our attorney can review the circumstances of your case and determine the appropriate amount of money you are owed.

How Do I Prove I’m Owed Money for My Injuries?

To establish your personal injury claim, an attorney will need to demonstrate in court that the driver who struck you was negligent. Drivers failing to obey traffic laws are responsible for the damage and injuries they inflict. To establish this, the attorney will need to prove the responsible parties or potentially liable parties were engaged in behavior including, but not necessarily limited to, speeding, distracted driving (texting, changing the radio, etc.), impaired driving, running stop signs or traffic signals, or even simply failure to yield.

There are multiple forms of physical evidence an attorney can use to establish the driver’s negligence. Police reports and witness statements are a key component of building a personal injury case. Any bystander cell phone footage or photos from the accident scene that were not in the police report may also be vital to your case. An attorney may also subpoena security camera footage from nearby businesses or request private security footage from nearby residences.

An attorney will also submit documentation establishing how much money you may be owed for your full financial recovery. This documentation may include, but is not necessarily limited to, hospital and doctor’s bills, medical records, documentation from your employer establishing lost income, receipts for the cost of your bicycle, and more. An attorney can determine how much you’re entitled to and how to prove that in court — and win.

What Should I Do if I’ve Been Hit While Bicycling?

Bicycling should be fun and safe for all those who choose to do it. Drivers should be held accountable for failing to operate their vehicles responsibly. At Wolf Law Firm, we take bicycle accident cases seriously, providing robust legal support. Personal injury attorney T.J. Juneja has years of experience in representing bicyclists against the people who hurt them — and winning. He’ll be with you every step of the way on your journey, through both healing and fighting for what’s yours. He wants to see every one of his clients happy, healthy, and back on their bikes, while also ensuring they receive a fair settlement.

Being in a bicycle accident can be frightening, but it doesn’t have to be with T.J. Juneja and Wolf Law Firm on your side. If you or a loved one were hit while bicycling in Pomona, San Bernardino, or Riverside County, call us today at (833) 388-8888 to speak with our dedicated Pomona bicycle accident lawyer for your no-obligation consultation.