Sonoma Bicycle Accident Lawyer

There are many ways to get from one place to another in Sonoma, CA. While some people prefer to walk, others drive their cars or take public transportation. No matter what kind of method you use, one of your top priorities is likely safety. This is especially true if you ride a bicycle.

Bicycle safety is of the utmost importance, as bikes do not have the protective equipment of a car, bus, or truck. There are no doors, walls, or a roof to defend you on a bike, meaning that a collision can easily cause serious injuries or even death.

Because northern California has beautiful scenery and mild weather, there are many bicyclists on our roads. If you are one of them, it is important for you to know your rights according to personal injury law and how to take legal action if you are involved in a Sonoma bicycle accident.

Rush Injury Law: Your Expert Sonoma Bicycle Accident Attorneys.

When you are involved in an accident while riding your bike, it is important to find a personal injury attorney who specializes in bicycle accident law. Fortunately, our Bay Area bicycle attorneys offer industry-leading legal advice in this area and can help you to navigate your claim. We have been representing bicyclists after their accidents for many years, and our experience makes us extremely qualified to represent you.

We understand that the time following bicycle accident injuries is scary and vulnerable. Therefore, we are ruthless in our pursuit of justice for you. No one should feel unsafe while bicycling, and we are here to make sure that the individual or individuals responsible for your accident must pay for the consequences. Our personal injury lawyers are passionate about ensuring that victims do not have to bear the financial burden of a crash that was not their fault.

If you are looking for a bike accident lawyer who can achieve the maximum possible compensation for your situation, trust our team at Rush Injury Law.

What Is a Bicycle Accident Case?

Many people are unfamiliar with bicycle accident law until they are involved in a claim. This can leave you feeling unprepared if an accident should happen to you.

Bicycle accident claims are a part of personal injury law. They encompass any situation in which one person’s negligence leads to injuries for a bicyclist. Often, the negligent party is a car or truck driver, but others can be responsible in these cases as well. The key to a personal injury case, including cycling claims, is negligence. As the victim, your attorney’s job is to prove that the party responsible for the accident acted negligently to cause the injury rather than being subject to an act of nature or mutual mistake.

For example, if you are riding your bike and get hit by a teenager who is texting, your attorney’s objective will be to prove that:

• The accident happened.
• The responsible party was neglecting their role as a driver and disregarding the rules of the road by texting while driving.
• The responsible party’s actions were directly responsible for the injuries that you sustained.

When your attorney proves these facts beyond a reasonable doubt, you win your case. The court will likely require the responsible party or their insurance to pay for your medical bills and other expenses associated with the accident.

Why Do I Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

After you are in an accident, you will need medical care to heal properly. Unfortunately, medical care can be very expensive, and you will be responsible for the cost or for your copays if you do not hire an attorney. An attorney can work to prove that you deserve compensation for what you endured, by showing that the responsible party acted negligently. Without an attorney, you may not win your case, even if the situation seems straightforward to you. The court requires specific proof to order that the responsible party pay compensation. Failing to hire an attorney is risking taking responsibility for your own medical care and other expenses.

There is a lot at stake, both financially and emotionally, in these cases. Without a proper settlement, many families struggle to pay medical bills. Lots of victims must take time off of work, leaving them without an income or support. Give yourself the best chance of winning with an accident attorney.

Finally, it is extremely important that you take the time to heal after an accident. If you represent yourself, the stress of your case can easily impede your healing process and jeopardize your health in the long term. Your future relies on your ability to heal properly, and the best way to do that is to allow an attorney to handle your case.

Proving Negligence in a Bicycle Accident Claim

Negligence is key in personal injury cases because it allows victims to seek compensation for the damage that the other person caused. In cases of a mutual mistake or an act of nature, it would be more difficult to hold one person undoubtedly responsible for the damage.

Proving negligence may be difficult, depending on your situation. Showing concrete evidence from the accident is the best way for your attorney to prove that the other party was behaving negligently. This includes:

• Videos and CCTV footage of the accident
• Eyewitness accounts and testimonies
• Photos of damage, injuries, and debris
• Medical records and reports
• Phone records
• Recordings of any 911 or emergency calls

In some situations, CCTV footage and phone records can prove that a driver was acting negligently. In many other situations, it takes lots of evidence and argument to definitively prove that the responsible individual was acting with negligence when they caused the accident.

Preserving Your Bicycle Accident Injuries Case

If you are in a bicycle accident, there are a few steps that you can take that may help you to preserve your personal injury case and get the settlement that you deserve from the responsible party. However, your priority should always be your own health and safety. If you are unable to move comfortably, cannot feel certain body parts or are losing consciousness, you should always remain where you are until medical professionals arrive.

However, if you can do so after an accident, you should:

• Exchange information with anyone else involved in the accident, including responsible parties, other victims, and eyewitnesses
• Take photos of the accident scene, including any debris, damage to vehicles or equipment, and injuries
• File a police report with the information of what happened. Try to avoid adding extra perspective or information at this time.
• Seek medical care, even if you believe that your injuries are minor. Request a copy of the doctor’s records from this visit
• Call your attorney to determine the next steps.

Though all cases are different, these simple steps can help to ensure that you preserve your claim and give yourself the best possible chance of an appropriate settlement.

Insurance Companies and Bicycle Accidents

If you are involved in a bicycle accident, there is a significant chance that you will be asked to speak with an insurance company. Though many people believe that insurance companies aim to help injured individuals, in reality, they are most concerned with their business’s success and financial bottom line. This means that they often reject claims or try to shirk responsibility for the financial aspects of personal injury claims.

Insurance companies are very experienced at avoiding payouts and often use expert tactics to place blame on others, especially victims. They may ask leading questions or get you talking so that you inadvertently claim responsibility or forfeit your rights. In some cases, they have investigators follow victims to determine whether their daily activities match their injury claims. These companies will go to great lengths to avoid losing money.

Your best method for combating insurance company tactics is to hire an attorney. Legal representation offers protection against predatory tactics and helps to ensure that you have a reliable claim if you wish to move forward with a personal injury case. We can take all calls from insurance companies and give expert responses that do not forfeit your rights or ruin your claim. When you have an attorney, and an insurance company attempts to contact you, you can direct the caller to your attorney without saying anything more. You will not have to handle insurance company statements and can focus on resting and healing from your bicycle accident.

Contact Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Rush Injury Law

Our team at Rush Injury Law has many years of experience in bike accidents and Sonoma personal injury law. We know the challenges and concerns that arise in these cases, as well as the best ways to argue these claims in court. Our vast expertise gives our clients a distinct advantage and can offer you the best possible likelihood of winning your bicycle accident claim. Our track record speaks for itself, and we are happy to speak with you about how we can help in your case.

Earn the settlement that you deserve after an accident. To learn how, please contact Rush Injury Law today.