BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER IN LOS ANGELES

Bicycle accidents can happen for many reasons, but crashes involving motor vehicles often occur when drivers fail to see cyclists, disregard traffic laws, or do not give bicycles enough space on the road.

Common causes may include:

• Drivers failing to yield the right of way
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Unsafe lane changes
• Drivers opening vehicle doors into a cyclist’s path
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Following a bicycle too closely
• Turning across a cyclist’s path
• Poorly marked or unsafe bicycle lanes
• Potholes, debris, or other dangerous road conditions
• Defective bicycle parts or equipment

Cyclists can also contribute to an accident by failing to follow traffic laws, riding against traffic, entering an intersection unsafely, or riding without required lighting or visibility equipment.

Sometimes, more than one factor contributes to a bicycle accident. Identifying the causes of the crash can help determine who may be responsible and what compensation may be available.

Responsibility depends on how the accident happened and who contributed to the crash. Potentially liable parties may include:

• A negligent driver
• A rideshare or delivery driver
• A commercial vehicle operator
• An employer whose employee caused the crash while working
• A government entity responsible for unsafe road conditions
• A bicycle or bicycle-part manufacturer
• A property owner responsible for a dangerous condition
• Another party whose actions contributed to the accident

For example, a driver may be responsible for failing to yield, speeding, driving distracted, opening a vehicle door into a cyclist’s path, or making an unsafe turn.

In some accidents, a driver may not be the only party who could be held responsible. Defective bicycle parts, unsafe road design, poorly maintained pavement, or an employer whose commercial driver was working at the time may also contribute to the crash.

An investigation can help determine how the crash occurred, identify potentially responsible parties, and establish which insurance policies or legal claims may apply.

Your health and safety should come first. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if your injuries do not initially seem severe. Bicycle crashes can cause head injuries, soft-tissue injuries, internal injuries, and other conditions that may not be immediately obvious.

If you are able to do so safely, consider taking the following steps:

• Call law enforcement and report the crash
• Take photographs or videos of the accident scene
• Document your bicycle and any vehicles involved
• Photograph road conditions, traffic signs, signals, skid marks, and debris
• Get the names and contact information of witnesses
• Exchange insurance and contact information with the driver
• Preserve your bicycle and any damaged equipment instead of repairing, replacing, or throwing them away right away
• Save medical records, bills, receipts, and repair estimates
• Document time missed from work and other financial losses

It can also be helpful to avoid discussing fault at the scene or posting details about the accident on social media.

Insurance companies may contact you soon after the crash and request a recorded statement or offer a settlement. Before accepting an offer or providing a detailed statement, you may want to speak with a bicycle accident attorney about your rights and the potential value of your claim.

The evidence needed will depend on how the accident occurred and whether fault is disputed. Potentially useful evidence may include:

• Police or crash reports
• Photographs and videos from the scene
• Traffic camera, dashcam, or surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• Medical records and bills
• Vehicle and bicycle damage
• Cell phone or electronic records
• Accident reconstruction evidence
• Roadway design and maintenance records
• Traffic-control information
• Insurance records
• Documentation of lost income and other expenses

Evidence showing the driver's behavior before the crash can be especially important when fault is disputed. For example, phone records may help establish distraction, while surveillance or dashcam footage may show how the collision occurred.

The condition of the bicycle can also provide important evidence. Damage to the frame, wheels, handlebars, helmet, or other components may help investigators understand the direction and force of the impact.

Some evidence can be lost or changed over time. Surveillance footage may be deleted, vehicles may be repaired, and roadway conditions can change. Taking action quickly can help preserve evidence that may be important to your claim.

A driver's version of events does not automatically determine who was at fault.

Evidence such as crash reports, witness statements, photographs, video footage, vehicle damage, road markings, traffic signals, and electronic records may help establish how the accident actually occurred.

More than one person may be responsible for causing the same accident.

For example, a driver may have made an unsafe turn while the cyclist was also accused of violating a traffic rule. How partial fault affects an injured cyclist's ability to recover compensation depends on the laws of the state and the percentage of responsibility assigned to each party.

Some states allow an injured person to recover compensation even when they share part of the fault, while other states have more restrictive rules.

Because fault disputes can significantly affect the value of a claim, an attorney can review the evidence and determine whether another party may still be legally responsible for your injuries.

A hit-and-run or uninsured-driver accident can make a bicycle injury claim more complicated, but it does not necessarily mean there are no options for recovering compensation. Depending on the circumstances and the insurance coverage available, compensation may potentially be available through:

• Uninsured motorist coverage
• Underinsured motorist coverage
• Certain automobile insurance policies within the injured person's household
• Health insurance
• Other potentially responsible parties or applicable insurance policies

If the driver left the scene, report the accident to law enforcement promptly. Photos, witness statements, surveillance footage, vehicle descriptions, and other available evidence may help identify the driver.

Because insurance laws and coverage requirements differ by state, determining which policies may apply often depends on the details of the crash and the insurance available.

The compensation available depends on the severity of your injuries, your financial losses, how the accident affects your daily life, and the laws that apply to your claim. Potential damages may include:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospital and surgical expenses
• Future medical care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Prescription medications and medical equipment
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Disability or disfigurement
• Bicycle and other property damage
• Other accident-related losses

Serious bicycle accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, severe road rash, and other conditions that require months or years of treatment.

When evaluating a claim, it can be important to consider not only the expenses you have already incurred but also the medical care, income loss, and other consequences you may experience in the future.

The deadline to file a bicycle accident lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations, depends on the laws of the state where the accident occurred and the circumstances of the case. Different deadlines or procedural requirements may apply depending on factors such as:

• Who caused the crash
• Whether a government entity was involved
• The age of the injured person
• The type of claim being pursued
• When certain injuries or facts were discovered
• Whether a death resulted from the accident

Claims involving a city, county, state agency, public transportation authority, or other government entity may have additional notice requirements before a lawsuit can be filed.

Because missing a deadline could affect your ability to recover compensation, consider speaking with an attorney soon after a bicycle accident to understand which filing requirements may apply.

Not every bicycle accident requires an attorney, but legal representation may be helpful when the crash causes significant injuries, fault is disputed, an insurance company denies or undervalues the claim, or multiple parties may be responsible. A bicycle accident attorney may be able to:

• Investigate how the crash occurred
• Gather photographs, video footage, and witness statements
• Obtain police, medical, and insurance records
• Identify all potentially responsible parties
• Determine which insurance policies may provide coverage
• Work with accident reconstruction, medical, or other qualified experts when necessary
• Calculate current and future accident-related losses
• Communicate and negotiate with insurance companies
• File a lawsuit when appropriate

Cyclists have little protection from the force of a motor vehicle, which can lead to serious injuries in a crash. Claims involving significant harm may require detailed medical records and accident evidence to show both who was responsible and how the injuries have affected the cyclist.

No. Morgan & Morgan offers free case evaluations, so there is no cost to speak with our team about your bicycle accident.

We believe everyone deserves access to legal help regardless of their financial situation. You can start your free case evaluation online or by phone and share details about the accident, your injuries, and the parties who may have been involved.

If Morgan & Morgan accepts your qualifying bicycle accident case, you will not pay any upfront attorney’s fees.

When you hire Morgan & Morgan, you gain the resources of America’s Largest Injury Law Firm™, with more than 1,100 lawyers nationwide and a team available to help clients in every state.

Your bicycle accident case may be supported by attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, investigators, and other professionals who can help gather evidence, review medical records, communicate with insurance companies, and move your claim forward.

Your legal team can also work with qualified experts when necessary, including accident reconstruction professionals or medical experts, depending on the circumstances of your case.

If Morgan & Morgan takes your case, your legal team will communicate with you throughout the process and provide updates as your claim progresses.

Meetings may be used to discuss the accident, review important evidence, explain developments in your case, prepare for negotiations or legal proceedings, and answer questions you may have along the way.

Depending on your case and your circumstances, communication may take place by phone, virtually, or in person when appropriate.

Morgan & Morgan handles qualifying bicycle accident cases on a contingency-fee basis.

That means there are no upfront attorney’s fees, and you do not pay us unless we recover compensation for you.

Our fee is taken as a percentage of the recovery rather than requiring you to pay legal fees while your case is ongoing.

That’s our promise: The Fee is Free® unless we win.

Bicycle accidents can result in serious injuries, substantial medical expenses, lost income, and complicated disputes over fault and insurance coverage.

As America’s Largest Injury Law Firm™, with more than 1,100 lawyers nationwide, $35 billion recovered, and 35 years of experience, Morgan & Morgan has the resources to investigate serious bicycle accidents and pursue the compensation our clients may be entitled to.

Our legal teams can gather crash and medical evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, review available insurance coverage, work with qualified experts when necessary, and handle negotiations with insurance companies while you focus on your recovery.

If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Los Angeles, California, because of someone else’s negligence, contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.