Roseville Bicycle Accident Attorney

At Rosenthal Law, we are ready to help if you need a Roseville bicycle accident attorney by your side. We have no problem standing up to aggressive insurance carriers and at-fault parties to help injured bicyclists recover maximum compensation for their losses.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for my Bicycle Accident Case?

At Rosenthal Law, our team has spent 25 years helping injury victims recover compensation after all the collisions. We have a track record of success helping individuals who have sustained significant injuries or property damage. We understand how difficult it can be for injured bicyclists to recover compensation, and we advocate vigorously on their behalf.

A Roseville bicycle accident attorney can handle every aspect of these challenging claims, beginning with an investigation into the incident. While an investigation is ongoing, an attorney will ensure their client is evaluated by trusted medical and economic experts. Your Roseville bicycle accident lawyer will negotiate with aggressive insurance carriers and also fully prepare the case for trial if necessary.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in California

Bicycle accidents can occur due to a wide variety of reasons, often the negligent actions of other drivers on the roadway. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes turn a blind eye to bicyclists. Some of the most common driver error causes of bicycle collisions in California include the following:

• Failing to yield the right of way
• Operating too fast for conditions
• Operating while impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Failing to stop at stop signs or a stop light
• Operating while distracted by phones or other devices
• Following a cyclist too closely
• Aggressive driving
• Dooring (driver opening a car door into the path of a cyclist)
• Vehicle mechanical failure

While a significant number of bicycle accidents are caused by driver negligence, other incidents can be caused by poor roadway maintenance, defects to the bicycle or a specific bicycle part, a lack of roadway signs, improperly working traffic signals, and more.

Other possible liable parties for a bicycle accident, aside from a negligent driver, could include a municipal agency, regulatory agencies, companies that supplied or sold defective bikes or bike parts, construction companies, and more. Determining liability and figuring out which parties could be liable can be challenging, and we strongly encourage working with an attorney throughout this process.

Common Injuries Suffered From a Bike Accident

Data from the California Office of Traffic Safety indicates that there were more than 7,500 total bicyclist injuries in traffic collisions during the most recent reporting year on file. Unfortunately, bicyclists are incredibly vulnerable roadway users. When a collision occurs between a bicyclist and another vehicle or a fixed object, there is not much protection for the bicycle rider. It is not uncommon for bicyclists to sustain severe injuries, including:

• Facial and head trauma
• Traumatic brain injury
• Concussion
• Spinal cord trauma
• Severe road rash or lacerations
• Crush injuries or amputations
• Internal bleeding or organ damage

In addition to common traumatic injuries that occur as a result of bicycle accidents, we need to remain cognizant of the emotional and psychological trauma these victims can also sustain. This includes emotional and psychological trauma caused by the initial injuries as well as ongoing issues resulting from the recovery process and any long-term disability sustained as a result of the incident.

Where are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Roseville for Bicyclists?

The most intersections for bicyclists coincide with the most dangerous overall intersections around Roseville. This includes:

1. Galleria Boulevard and Roseville Parkway. This intersection remains one of the most hazardous in Roseville. It’s a busy area due to the presence of shopping centers like the Galleria Mall, the Fountains, and Creekside Town Center, attracting significant traffic from across the Sacramento region.
2. Cirby Way and Sunrise Avenue. Located in a densely populated residential area and near a high school, this intersection experiences heavy traffic. It has moved up to the second spot in the list of dangerous intersections.
3. Fairway Drive and Pleasant Grove Boulevard. Positioned near the Rocklin/Roseville border and close to Highway 65 ramps, this intersection is surrounded by major retail centers and a large residential area, making it the third most dangerous spot.
4. Cirby Way and Riverside Avenue. This intersection, which has seen a slight improvement in its ranking, is still among the top hazardous locations. It’s a key connection for traffic from Interstate 80 and a major route connecting Citrus Heights to Downtown Roseville.
5. Foothills Boulevard and Pleasant Grove Boulevard. Climbing up the list, this intersection in central Roseville is becoming increasingly risky due to traffic growth in the area. Foothills Boulevard is a major north/south route, while Pleasant Grove Boulevard is one of the two primary east/west roads experiencing more traffic.
6. Baseline Road at Brady Lane. This has been highlighted as the most dangerous intersection for bicyclists in Roseville throughout the years.

This does not highlight all the potentially dangerous intersections for bicyclists throughout Roseville. If you or a loved one regularly ride bicycles, we strongly encourage you to avoid crowded intersections or to take extra precautions when traversing these hazardous areas.

What Should I Do Right After a Bike Accident in Roseville?

There are various steps you can take in the immediate aftermath of a bicycle accident in Roseville that can help not only ensure your well-being is the priority but also protect the integrity of your injury and property damage claim against other parties. These steps include:

1. Seek medical care. Bicycle accident victims should go right to the doctor after an incident occurs. Often, the signs and symptoms of bicycle accident injuries do not become apparent until sometime after the incident, but these hidden injuries can have long-lasting consequences. Going to the doctor right away helps protect the integrity of the claim while also ensuring your health and well-being are the priority.
2. Call the police. Law enforcement officers need to come to the scene of the incident to conduct a preliminary investigation, fill out an accident report, and issue any necessary citations.
3. Gather evidence. Various types of evidence may be available at the scene of the incident, but only if the scene is safe and the injuries are not severe. This evidence can include photographs taken of injuries, property damage, and debris, as well as possible video surveillance footage. The names and contact information of eyewitnesses to the incident can also be valuable evidence.
4. Contact an attorney. You should reach out to a skilled attorney who has experience handling bicycle accident claims in California.
5. Call your insurance carrier. You should notify your auto insurance carrier about the incident. You do not have to go into much detail, but bicycle accident claims are often resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. Your insurance carrier will get into contact with the other insurance carrier to begin the claims process, but we encourage you to refer most communication with any insurance claims adjuster to your attorney.
6. Continue going to the doctor. Bicycle accident victims in Roseville should continue all medical treatment recommended by their health care professional. Failing to do so could jeopardize the injury claim.

What Damages Can I Recover for a Bike Accident?

Individuals who sustain injuries in a bicycle accident caused by the negligent actions of another party should be able to recover various types of compensation for their losses. At Rosenthal Law, we work diligently to recover economic and non-economic damages on behalf of every client we help.

• Economic damages after a bicycle accident revolve around expenses that we can calculate relatively easily by using receipts and bills. These include medical expenses, property damage losses, physical therapy or rehabilitation, medical devices and medications, lost wages, etc.
• Non-economic damages after a bicycle accident include more immeasurable expenses an individual is likely to endure. We may not have receipts or bills to necessarily add up these expenses, but there are ways to calculate a bicycle accident victim’s physical pain and suffering, emotional and psychological distress, and loss of quality of life.

There is no set amount of compensation paid to Roseville bicycle accident victims. We encourage you to speak to a Roseville personal injury attorney about the various factors that can affect total compensation amounts.

How is Fault Determined in a Roseville Bicycle Accident?

Fault is determined for a bicycle accident claim by conducting an extensive investigation into the incident. Evidence is the primary factor that will determine liability for a bicycle crash, and this evidence can include:

• Photographs of the scene of the incident, including injuries, property damage, and debris
• Video surveillance footage from cameras on nearby homes or businesses or dashcams
• Statements taken from eyewitnesses obtained later on by using their contact info
• Physical evidence such as the damaged bicycle or vehicles

Ultimately, the goal is to prove that the other party was indeed negligent. This means establishing that they violated the duty of care they owed to the bicyclist. If the evidence obtained at the scene and in the days or weeks following is not enough to adequately determine liability, an accident reconstruction expert may need to get involved. Your attorney can help guide you through what may or may not be required to prove your particular claim.

California’s Comparative Negligence Law

There are some situations where fault for a bicycle collision is shared amongst more than one party. However, shared fault does not mean an individual will recover no compensation. Sometimes, bicyclists do share some fault for causing their own injuries, but California operates under a pure comparative negligence system. Under this type of system, individuals can actually recover compensation even if they are up to 99% responsible for causing the incident.

However, as a caveat to this type of system, injury victims will receive less compensation depending on their percentage of fault for the incident. For example, suppose a bicycle accident victim sustains $100,000 worth of damages because a negligent driver ran a red light and struck the cyclist. However, let us also suppose that the bicyclist was found to be 20% responsible by a jury because they were distracted and failed to take the steps necessary to avoid the collision. In this situation, a jury would likely award the bicyclist $80,000 instead of the full $100,000 to account for their percentage of fault.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim?

Bicycle accident victims have a limited amount of time to file a claim in court. The California personal injury statute of limitations says that injury claims must be filed within two years from the day the injury occurs or the injury victim becomes unable to recover compensation for their losses.

However, it is important to remember that most bicycle accident claims are resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. These insurance carriers have fairly strict reporting deadlines, so we encourage you to speak to an attorney to file your claim as soon as possible.

Speak with a Roseville Bike Accident Lawyer Today

If you or somebody you care about has sustained a bicycle accident injury caused by the negligent actions of another party in the Roseville area, the team at Rosenthal Law is ready to step in and help you recover compensation today. We have extensive resources at our disposal and a solid track record of success in recovering compensation on behalf of clients. When you need a Roseville bicycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (916) 774-7200.