Burbank Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Overview of Bicycle Accidents in Burbank

• About Our Firm
• Statistics
• After Your Accident
• Compensation
• FAQs
• Hiring a Lawyer

Burbank Lawyer for Bike Accidents, CA

Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC wants to support you and the bike community. our Burbank personal injury lawyers understand bicycle accident laws and have a collective two decades of experience practicing personal injury. If you were recently injured in a bicycle accident, you should seek an experienced bike crash attorney.

When you retain a Burbank bicycle accident lawyer, you take the first step in protecting your rights and ensuring you recover the compensation you deserve. Our experienced team can investigate the accident scene, review your medical records, discuss your condition with medical experts, and negotiate with insurance companies.

If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair and reasonable settlement, we will not hesitate to file a lawsuit on your behalf. Our attorneys aggressively pursue your case, whether during settlement negotiations or a trial.

The Burbank bicycle accident lawyers at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC can evaluate your claim and see if you are eligible for compensation. Few bicycle crashes are minor. A motor vehicle striking a bicycle can result in serious injury. No person should suffer without help. Call Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC, we accept clients throughout the California Central District Court and adjoining areas including Long Beach, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, Visalia, Burbank, and San Bernardino.

We can even help you find the appropriate medical professionals and help you work out paying medical expenses until you receive your settlement or trial award.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releases reports about bicycle crashes each year. In 2014 the NHTSA released the following:

• Average age of bicyclists killed in bike crashes are 45;
• Twenty percent of the fatal bicycle accidents happened during 6 P.M. and 9 P.M;
• 726 Americans were killed in bicycle accidents during 2014;
• The state of California has the second-highest number of bicycle accident fatalities;
• Nineteen percent of those who were killed had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.08 or higher;
• Seventy one percent of bike accidents occur in urban areas; and
• Bicycle collisions with cars accounted for one-third of all reported bicycle accident injuries.

Common Causes for Bicycle Accidents

The most common cause of cyclist injuries and fatalities is being hit by a car, truck, or another motor vehicle. Though these accidents occur in many ways, some of the most dangerous scenarios for Los Angeles bikers include:

• Striking or being struck by a car pulling out of an alley, driveway, or small street;
• Collisions at intersections, with or without traffic controls such as stop signs;
• Unsafe roadway conditions;
• Vehicles who are merging and changing lanes;
• Having a car door opened into the cyclist’s path (known as “dooring” accidents);
• A car making a turn into the bicyclist, or the biker’s path (known as a “right hook” or “left cross”);
• Motorists not giving bicyclists enough room on roadways; and
• Being rear-ended by a motor vehicle.

As discussed in our previous blog post, most bicycle accidents happen when motorists fail to see or react to cyclists. However, accidents happen for other reasons as well.

In some cases, the weather could play a part in a bicycle accident. The sun could momentarily blind a driver, or heavy rain could obscure a bicyclist until it’s too late. Another cause of bicycle accidents is swerving. If a car swerves into the bike lane to avoid a pothole or animal, the cyclist might not have enough reaction time to avoid crashing.

Likely Injuries Sustained in a Bike Crash

Even when a bicyclist is equipped with helmets, reflectors, and other safety gear they may get into an accident. When a bike crash happens it is incredibly likely that the bicyclist will have severe injuries.

Some common bicycle accident injuries include:

• Concussions and closed-head injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Leg, arm, and rib fractures
• Organ injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Road rashes
• Lacerations
• Abrasions
• Contusions

Initial and Secondary Injuries in a Burbank Bicycle Accident

Cyclists should always wear a helmet for protection. However, safety gear does not provide extensive protection against road rash, crushed bones, spinal cord injuries, or internal injuries, as discussed in our prior blog post. Even wearing a helmet does not always protect riders from traumatic brain injuries or facial trauma like eye injuries.

In addition to claiming compensation for injuries you sustained on the day of the accident, you can also seek compensation for any secondary injuries you suffer. For example, you can seek compensation for accident-related infections or for pre-existing conditions that the accident exacerbated. The at-fault driver should be held accountable for all of your losses related to the accident-not just losses you sustained day-of.

What to Do After a Burbank Bicycle Accident

After a bicycle accident, you might not be able to move without exacerbating your injuries.

However, if you can move without causing additional damage, you should:

• Call first responders at 911 for medical attention and call the police to the scene.
• Take photos of the accident scene.
• Obtain the vehicle driver’s contact information, registration, and insurance information. It is even better if you can take a photo of the driver’s license, registration, insurance card, and license plate.
• Obtain contact information from any witnesses, including passengers in the vehicle. You can also ask witnesses what they saw. Be sure to take notes so that you know which witness said what.
• Give the police officer your version of what happened.
• Allow the emergency medical technicians to check you over.
• Seek medical assistance as soon as possible, even if you believe your injuries are minor. Some traumatic injuries do not manifest for hours or days after the accident.

Then, contact a Burbank Bicycle accident attorney for a free case evaluation.

Recovering Damages After a Burbank Bicycle Accident

Many people cannot return to work after a bicycle accident-at least not immediately. Some may never return to work. Our firm recognizes that money does not heal injuries and cannot bring back a loved one killed in a bicycle accident. However, financial compensation can reduce the financial stress of injuries or death. After a bicycle accident caused by another person’s negligence, you can pursue compensatory damages in the form of economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Sometimes referred to as special damages, economic damages have a monetary value and include:

Medical Expenses

You could recover compensation for current and future medical expenses related to injuries you suffered in a Burbank bicycle accident. Medical expenses include doctors’ appointments, surgeries, follow-up appointments, ambulatory aids, hand controls for your vehicle, prescriptions, and upgrades to your home, including ramps, widened doorways, and grab bars.

You could also recover compensation for various types of therapy you require, including cognitive therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological therapy.

Personal Property

You can also recover compensation for any personal property destroyed or damaged in the accident, including your bicycle, kit, helmet, lights, and items of value that were on your person.

Wages

You collect the wages you lost before a settlement or trial award, as well as an amount for loss of future earning capacity. You can recover partial wages if you cannot work or can work only at a lower salary than you received before the wreck. You could be entitled to collect wages comparable to the amount you would earn until retirement age.

Death-Related Expenses

If your loved one died in a Burbank bicycle accident, you could recover funeral, burial, and cremation expenses. You might also recover certain probate expenses, including probate court fees and the cost for a probate attorney.

Non-Economic Damages

Sometimes referred to as general damages, non-economic damages do not have a predetermined monetary value. In most cases, only those with long-term or permanent injuries, or those whose loved one died, can pursue non-economic damage.

These damages can include:

• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress.
• Loss of quality of life if you have to significantly adjust your lifestyle, such as taking prescriptions or using ambulatory aids for the rest of your life.
• Loss of companionship if you can no longer enjoy spending time with your family or participating in family activities.
• Loss of consortium if you can no longer have a physical relationship with your spouse.
• Loss of use of a body part, such as an arm or leg.
• Loss of use of a bodily function, such as your eyesight or bladder.
• Excessive scarring, disfigurement, or amputation.

Burbank Bicycle Accident FAQs

Who Has the Right of Way-a Bicyclist or a Vehicle?

Bicyclists must obey the same traffic rules as motorists. Thus, a bicyclist usually only has the right of way in a situation where the vehicle would also have the right of way. Bicyclists must ride with traffic and obey all traffic control signals. They must also yield to pedestrians. There are exceptions to every rule, so talking with an experienced bicycle accident attorney can clarify your situation.

Does California Require Bicycle Helmets or Lights?

If you are under 18, California law requires you to wear a helmet. Adults should wear a helmet that fits properly to reduce the impact of head injuries in an accident. Also, know your local ordinances: some counties and cities require riders of all ages to wear helmets.

California law does require cyclists to have a white light that illuminates the road in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet from the bicycle. Cyclists must also have a red reflector or flashing light on the rear of their bike that is visible for 500 feet, white/yellow reflectors on shoes or pedals, and a white/yellow reflector on the sides of the bike. Bicycles equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear do not need side reflectors.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Case in California?

You have two years to file a negligence claim against a vehicle driver in a bicycle accident in most cases. You should always contact a Burbank bicycle accident attorney as soon after the accident as possible. In some cases, you might have to file a lawsuit within months.

How Long Does a Bicycle Accident Case Take?

Every bicycle accident is different, even if a person’s injuries are similar to others who suffered bicycle accident injuries. If you have to go to court because an insurance company refuses to reach a fair settlement, your case could take longer. Contact a Burbank bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible-the sooner you do, the sooner we can get your case started.

How Do I Pay Medical Expenses While Waiting for a Settlement or Trial Award?

Use your automobile accident and health insurance to cover some of your medical expenses. You can also ask your medical facility or doctor to wait to collect payment until you receive your settlement via a letter of credit.

What if the Insurance Company or the Police Report Say I Am at Fault?

Contact a Burbank bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible. The police report or the insurance company could be incorrect. Or, you might be partially at fault.

Once our legal team reviews the accident and your medical records, we can tell you whether you have a case. Even if you are partially at fault for the accident, you may be able to file a claim. Never go by what someone else says, including attorneys for the insurance companies or other drivers. They only owe their clients loyalty and try to keep them from paying for your losses.

What Are Long-Term or Permanent Disabilities?

Each insurance company defines long-term or permanent disabilities differently. However, the Social Security Administration defines permanent disabilities as those that last longer than 12 months or that will result in death.

Protect Your Rights by Contacting a Burbank Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Dealing with an insurance company is the last thing you want to do after a bicycle accident that causes injury or death. You do not need the stress of wondering whether you could have recovered more compensation or of worrying about someone only partially explaining the law to you.

Our Burbank bicycle accident lawyers at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC, have over twenty years of experience combined. We will protect your rights and handle all contact with the insurance company, including negotiations, to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact our office online or at (818) 459-4999 to speak with someone about your case.

Compensation for Burbank Bike Accident Injuries

In a bike crash, injuries or death can even occur. Often times, the negligence of a driver or another person or entity. The injured party of the accident is generally entitled to damages. These damages may include:

• Reimbursement for medical expenses;
• Payment of future medical bills;
• Compensation for lost income and projected future losses; and
• Pain and suffering

Depending on the specifics of your case, you may be entitled to additional damages. Compensation can never recover a loved one or your health entirely. However, compensation can give you the breathing room you need to heal and pay for the burdens the crash created in your life.

Determining Liability in Bike Accident Cases

Drivers cause injury to bicyclists in many ways, including:

• Failing to see the cyclist due to distracted driving;
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions;
• Braking suddenly, not allowing the cyclist time to adjust his route;
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; and
• Straying into the bicycle lane

In some cases, the bicyclist also contributes to the accident. Even if you are at fault, a practiced personal injury attorney can help you get a settlement for your injuries. Under California law, an injury victim may recover in proportion to the other party’s fault, even if he or she bears most of the responsibility

If a judge or jury were to determine that the bicyclist was 30 percent responsible, the injured bike rider could still recover 70 percent of the damages sustained. If the biker is found to have been 55 percent responsible, he or she could recover 45 percent of the total damages.

If you have been injured or someone you know has been killed in a bike crash, you may still be able to recover damages.

How a Burbank Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help

If you contact the insurance company after a Burbank bicycle accident, only give the representative your name, the policy number, the date and location of the accident, and your attorney’s contact information.

Insurance companies might push you into accepting a low settlement that does not cover even current medical expenses. If you give an insurance representative information about your accident, they may try to twist your words and blame you for your accident. This is true even if the insurance agent is your own. Your Burbank bicycle accident attorney knows insurance company tricks and how to file your claim with less pushback.

Sometimes, insurance companies admit that their client is at fault right off the bat. Then, they offer a low settlement. Many people accept this first low offer because they believe it must be all they can get. However, that is not always true. The insurance company hopes you take the first low offer, so they get off with paying very little. In many cases, the first offer is only the beginning of the negotiation process.

How Our Experienced Bicycle Accident Attorneys Can Help

When you’ve been seriously injured or lost a family member, the last thing you need is to divert your attention to legal issues. The bicycle accident attorneys at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC can manage your personal injury claim so that you can focus on recovering and rebuilding.

Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC can manage your personal injury claim so that you can focus on recovering and rebuilding. Our attorneys will advocate aggressively for you and help you get what you deserve. With our collective two decades of personal injury experience, we help clients in the greater Los Angeles County and Tulare County area including Visalia, Burbank, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Irvine.

Our attorneys have had cases involving law, state, and transportation officials in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area including the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Burbank Police Department, the Office for the Los Angeles County Sheriff, the Pasadena Police Department, the Office for Tulare County Sheriff, and the Long Beach Police Department

Call (818) 459-4999 right now to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.

Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers Burbank Office
500 E Olive Ave Suite 720,
Burbank, CA 91501
(818) 459-4999

Additional Resources

California Leads the Nation in Bicycle Deaths – Read the LA Time’s article on bicycle deaths in California. See the reasons why it seems to be on the rise and measures the state is going through to remedy the situation.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center – Visit the Pedesterian and Bicycle Information Center, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity.

Bicyclists and Other Cyclists – Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s report on bicyclists and cyclists. See facts, fatalities by state and city, and important safety reminders for bicyclists.