There are more and more bicyclists on the roads in and around Sacramento. Tourist attractions like the California State Railroad Museum or the Crocker Art Museum attract people from all over the state, country, and world. As a result, bicyclists face increasing amounts of traffic throughout Sacramento.
In most bicycle accidents, a car or truck driver fails to see a cyclist to their right or left or behind them. As a result, at intersections cars can turn across the path of a bicyclist or side swipe them. Consequently, when police arrive, motorists often claim it was the cyclist who was at fault, not them. At the Dolan Law Firm, our Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers reconstruct what happened, measure skid marks, and analyze debris from a bicycle accident scene. As a result, we can often tell what happened and expose negligence on the part of a car, truck, or bus driver. In cases where potholes, defective road design, gravel, or covered signage is involved, we work with engineers, safety experts, and other professionals in holding municipalities and Caltrans liable for negligent road maintenance and construction.
If you've been seriously injured while riding a bicycle due to the negligent actions or reckless driving of a motorist, contact Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers at the Dolan Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
Bicycle Accident Injuries
The Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers at the Dolan Law Firm recovers compensation for cyclists suffering from the following kinds of injuries due to negligent car drivers:
- Compound fractures
- Skull fractures
- Brain injury
- Crushed vertebrae
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Disfigurement
- Torn ligaments
- Broken collar bone
Holding Car Drivers Responsible for Their Negligence
Under California's pure comparative negligence doctrine, an injured person can have his or her compensation decreased by the percentage of fault assigned to them in an accident. This means if an insurance company can convince the court you shared a percentage of fault in a bicycle accident, the amount of compensation you are eligible to receive will be reduced accordingly. For example, if you incurred losses equal to $20,000 but are deemed 50% at fault, you can only recover $10,000.
In order to shift blame onto bicyclists, "experts" for insurance companies may try and argue that skid marks indicate you did not slow down and stop at an intersection, that you failed to adhere to rules of the road, signal a turn, or exercise good judgment. That's why we look at the damage to the car that hit you. If there is damage in the front, it's a good indication a driver failed to see you; if there is damage to the rear, it may mean a car did not yield to you at an intersection.
Contact Sacramento Bicycle Accident Lawyers at the Dolan Law Firm
As avid cyclists and motorcycle riders ourselves, our Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers understand the dangers facing bicyclists. If you've been injured in a bicycle accident, contact Sacramento bicycle accident attorneys at the Dolan Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
