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Seeking Justice From Drivers
Careless or reckless drivers cause many bicycle accidents. At Silva Injury Law, we are dedicated to holding negligent cyclists accountable for their actions. Below, we explore some specific ways that driver negligence can injure cyclists.
Failing to Yield to Cyclists Can Cause Accidents
One of the most common causes of bicycle accidents is a driver failing to yield the right of way. Failure to yield often involves vehicles entering areas with stop signs or intersections where they are required to yield or failure to yield the right-of-way to bicyclists at crosswalks.
We Hold Drunk Drivers Accountable
People driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is an extremely common cause of bicycle accidents. Many drunk drivers do not have the coordination to avoid hitting cyclists or may not even have the situational awareness to know a cyclist is in the vicinity.
DUI is also a common reason why people commit hit-and-run violations. Many drivers fleeing the scenes of bicycle accidents do not want to be arrested for DUI but can become more willing to turn themselves in after they become sober.
Negligent Turns Can Cause Accidents
Left-hand turns are another common cause of bicycle accidents because many drivers performing such turns are more focused on surrounding traffic that ignores bicyclists in the area.
Distracted driving is another common cause of bicycle accidents because drivers preoccupied with cell phones, tablets, or other mobile devices simply do not see bicyclists.
Drivers Must Check Before Opening their Doors
Of particular concern to bicyclists are “dooring accidents.” These accidents occur when a driver parks on the right side of the street and opens their door directly in the path of an oncoming cyclist.
In many cases, these accidents occur so suddenly that the cyclist cannot slow down, causing an extremely forceful collision. Dooring accidents can cause severe injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, severe lacerations, and even traumatic brain injuries.
Protecting Your Rights With The Insurance Company
Injured victims should be aware that insurance companies often like to conclude that bicyclists were at fault for their accidents to deny them any compensation. As a result, you will need an attorney to protect your rights and ensure that the insurance company treats you fairly.
Even when insurance companies admit their customer was at fault, they will do everything they can to settle claims for as little as possible. Actually, they will completely deny your claim if they can figure out any way to do so. As a result, you should retain an attorney before starting your claim.
Some of the specific ways that an attorney can protect your rights during a bicycle accident claim include the following:
- Identify all potentially liable parties. An attorney can identify all parties that may be liable for your losses. The more liable parties there are, the better the chances you will obtain the compensation you deserve.
- Evaluate all of your losses. Determining the value of a bicycle claim is a complicated matter. While looking at your medical bills and adding them up is fairly simple, what about your pain and suffering? Your lost quality of life? Your future medical expenses? Any settlement you accept should include all of these. A skilled lawyer can evaluate your situation and determine how much compensation you deserve.
- Communicate with the insurance company on your behalf. Your lawyer will handle all communications with the insurance company for you and be present if they decide to depose you. This is extremely important, as insurance companies often try to get accident victims to say things they can use against them. For example, if the insurance company representative asks how you are and you respond “Fine,” they may use this as evidence that you are uninjured or in no pain.
- Negotiate a fair settlement agreement. Most bicycle accident cases settle. That said, insurance companies do not want to pay a cent more than they have to and will actually take affirmative steps to settle cases for less than they are worth. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who know how to get insurance companies to pay our clients for all of their losses.
- File a lawsuit. In some cases, the insurance company simply refuses to make a fair settlement offer. If this happens, your lawyer can file a personal injury claim in the appropriate court to put further pressure on the insurance company. In some cases, just filing the lawsuit is enough to get the other side to make a reasonable settlement amount. If they still refuse to settle, your lawyer will try your case and represent you in court.
Consult An Experienced Turlock Bicycle Accident Attorney For Free
Did you sustain catastrophic injuries, or was your loved one killed in a bicycle accident in the greater Turlock area of California? You should not wait another moment to get in touch with Silva Injury Law because you can get the legal representation you will need to achieve the most desirable outcome for your case.
Our firm assists residents and visitors to Turlock. We work tirelessly to help people hold negligent parties accountable in these cases so a real sense of justice can ultimately prevail. Call (209) 440-0584 or contact our Turlock bicycle accident lawyer online for your free consultation.
Our Turlock Office Address
2130 Geer Rd
Suite A
Turlock, CA 95382
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