- Meet Our Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Statistics
- Types of Damages That Can Be Recovered After a Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles, CA
- Our Case Settlements
- What Are the Most Frequent Causes of Bicycle Accidents in LA?
- What Are the Most Frequent Injuries Bicyclists Sustain in LA Accidents?
- How Is a Bicycle Accident Settlement Calculated in LA?
- Who Is Liable for a Bicycle Accident in LA?
- How to Prove Fault in a Los Angeles Bike Accident?
- Los Angeles Bicycle Laws
- California Statute of Limitations
- How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
- Contact Our Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today!
- Get a FREE case evaluation today
- Frequently Asked Questions
Cycling is a fun and healthy leisure activity. It is a faster and more eco-friendly way to get to work, especially in a busy city. Los Angeles is known for its captivating scenery and beautiful weather, but heavily congested traffic convinces more and more residents and city guests to choose bikes over cars.
However, LA drivers are not always fond of fellow riders on the road, and bicycle accidents happen. Surely, a car versus a bicycle is anything but a fair match, meaning that the latter loses no matter what. Yet, you can always hold the responsible parties accountable and have your losses recovered!
Meet Our Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group is a time-tested law firm comprised of the most qualified bicycle accident attorneys in the field. On top of that, many legal experts on your team are avid cyclists themselves, so they know all the cycling pitfalls of LA like no one else.
We strive to protect one of the most vulnerable road user categories in the state. By defending the rights of the accident victims and securing the maximum compensation they deserve, our team advocates for additional measures to make the City of Angels safer and friendlier for bike riders.
Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Statistics
Busy roads are one of the main reasons for bicycle accidents in the county. According to the most recent Bicycle Safety Report, around 77% of fatal incidents take place on multi-lane streets. The lack of well-equipped bike lanes adds up to the dire statistics.
Bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries in Los Angeles County from 2019 to 2023
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Fatal injuries | 42 | 29 | 29 | 36 | 32 |
| Fatalities per 100K citizens | 0.42 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 0.37 | 0.33 |
| Serious injuries | 248 | 207 | 240 | 293 | 265 |
| Serious injuries per 100K citizens | 2.46 | 2.07 | 2.42 | 2.98 | 2.7 |
There are a few major factors that contribute to such high fatality and injury rates among bike riders:
- Speed limits: High speed limits intensify the outcome of every collision, especially involving such vulnerable road users as cyclists.
- Night time: Most of the infrastructure is insufficiently equipped to be safe for cyclists during the night hours.
- Low-income neighborhoods: Latinx and Black neighborhoods border with high-traffic routes of the city. Due to the congestion level and the number of people from these areas using bikes to move across the city, the rates are overwhelming.
Types of Damages That Can Be Recovered After a Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles, CA
If you’ve been injured in a Los Angeles bike accident, you can expect to recover compensation for a few types of damages:
- Medical expenses: Past and future medical bills that include your hospital stays, surgeries, medications, ongoing care, and other relevant costs can be settled in full after a bike incident.
- Loss of income: Lost wages and compromised earning capacity should be reimbursed.
- Property damage: If your bike or any other belongings were damaged or destroyed in the crash, the at-fault party has to compensate for the cost of repairs or replacement.
- Pain and suffering: Emotional distress, loss of joy in life, mental anguish, PTSD, and depression may be slightly challenging to estimate. However, an expert bicycle accident attorney can help you calculate those correctly so that the compensation corresponds to the scale of suffering you’ve endured.
Aside from the monetary and non-monetary damage, you can also claim punitive damages. Although rare, this type of damage serves as an exemplary measure against extremely reckless, violent, or intentional behavior to punish the driver or any other liable party.
Our Case Settlements
What Are the Most Frequent Causes of Bicycle Accidents in LA?
The most typical causes of bicycle accidents include but are not limited to the following:
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Traffic law violations
The number of cyclists hit by cars in Los Angeles, California is quite significant. Drivers ignoring traffic lights, signs, and regulations are most likely to cause the incident.
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Driver negligence
Distracted driving, road aggression, and failing to yield to bikers are other common reasons why accidents happen across the county.
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Dooring accidents
Although it is illegal for drivers to open doors until they make sure there’s no one in their proximity, at least 10% of bicyclists get doored.
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Poor road conditions
Missing bike lanes, faulty intersections, and other potential infrastructure issues, like potholes, cracks, and debris, can lead to serious bike crashes and severe injuries.
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Driving under the influence
Intoxicated drivers are a significant danger to cyclists as well as all the other road users.
What Are the Most Frequent Injuries Bicyclists Sustain in LA Accidents?
Some bicycle accident injuries can have extremely traumatic and life-altering consequences for the victim. There are a few typical categories you should be aware of:
- Fractures: Broken bones, especially arms, legs, and ribs, are among the most common results of being thrown off the bike by a powerful strike and hitting the ground.
- Head injuries: Traumatic brain injuries like brain bleeds, concussions, internal swelling, and skull fractures may be the result of a collision when the biker hits their head hard. The injury may be even more severe if the cyclist doesn’t wear a helmet.
- Back injuries: Spinal cord injuries may provoke partial or complete paralysis and are the typical aftermath of being thrown off the bicycle with immense force.
- Dental injuries: When a rider hits the handlebar, the ground, or any other surface with their face, they may suffer serious dental traumas like broken teeth, broken jaws, and fractures.
- Internal injuries: These may not be evident at once and take time to manifest. The blunt force of the accident can lead to severe internal organ damage, which may be lethal if not tended to immediately.
- Emotional traumas: Psychological injuries may remain invisible, but the mental impact of PTSD, anxiety, and depression is as severe as any of the described physical traumas.
How Is a Bicycle Accident Settlement Calculated in LA?
Although each bicycle accident claim is unique and depends on a variety of factors and conditions that affect its worth, there are a few common aspects usually taken into account:
- Severity of injuries: Catastrophic injuries like TBIs or spinal damage require extensive medical care and expensive treatment, which means that the victim deserves a corresponding reimbursement.
- Length of recovery: Multiple fractures and some other serious injuries take time to heal. Not to mention the long-term rehabilitation that the injured party may need. The longer the recovery period, the higher the compensation,
- Lost wages: Whether you can’t go to work for a while due to the injury or you need to change the specialty because of the consequent disability, past and future losses of income are added to the final estimation of your claim.
- Impact on life quality: Serious psychological traumas can diminish a person’s life quality to the point of them being unable to perform their daily activities. The emotional losses can also be fully reimbursed.
- Liability: In some cases, there’s more than a single at-fault party. If the bike rider contributes to the accident, the sum of the settlement will be decreased based on their involvement, affecting the final settlement estimation.
Real-World Examples of Bicycle Accident Settlements in LA
Bicycle accident cases range from a few thousand to millions in settlements. The more substantial the damages, the higher the financial compensation you can recover. In the majority of situations, a qualified personal injury lawyer is your best bet to make the most out of the claim.
Example 1: $9M Case Settlement
Robert Jeffery Watts filed a claim against the City of Los Angeles and recovered over $9 million in compensation for dangerous public property conditions. The plaintiff was riding his bike when suddenly the road was blocked with landslide material, which forced him to switch lanes when he got hit by the approaching vehicle. The appellant didn’t choose to sue the driver, but the city instead, which landed him a significant settlement.
Example 2: $6M Case Settlement
Karina Sanchez filed a personal injury claim against Avis Budget Group, Inc. after being hit by the company’s employee while riding her bike on the sidewalk. The plaintiff suffered serious back injuries and went through a lengthy recovery. Although the driver denied his fault and tried to pin it on the victim, the case was resolved with an 80%/20% comparative negligence verdict, with the injured party receiving almost $6 million in reimbursement.
Who Is Liable for a Bicycle Accident in LA?
Any expert bicycle accident attorney would admit that finding the liable party is one of the cornerstones of a solid case. There are a few potential at-fault parties to consider in a bike crash:
- Driver: A reckless driver ignoring traffic rules is one of the most common liable parties in a bicycle crash case.
- Cyclist: Other bicyclists can cause an accident. An abrupt stop or veering into your bike lane may lead to a collision.
- Manufacturer: If your bicycle or the car that hit you malfunctions due to a manufacturer’s error, they can be held accountable for the crash.
- Authorities: If local government entities fail to ensure safe driving conditions or neglect maintenance requirements, which leads to a hazardous driving situation, they will be responsible for the incident.
Determining liability may seem quite black-and-white when you are aware of all the potential at-fault parties. However, most bicycle accidents are quite complicated with potentially multiple parties involved. That is why it is always a good idea to invite a trained legal specialist to help you disentangle the liability knot.
How to Prove Fault in a Los Angeles Bike Accident?
It takes a multi-angle approach to prove liability in any accident, and a bicycle collision isn’t an exception. Here’s what we analyze to prove fault:
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Accident scene evaluation
Physical evidence is critical when you want to prove someone’s fault. Skid marks, damaged vehicles, the location of the accident, and other details are usually meticulously documented and evaluated by field specialists.
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Traffic law violations
Nothing speaks of negligence louder than disregard for traffic regulations. The party that drove at the red light or failed to abide by California laws will be held accountable.
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Digital evidence
Photos, videos, and surveillance footage are unbiased indicators of a person’s fault. A well-versed bicycle accident attorney will do their best to access and assess this critical information before it gets lost.
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Witness statements
Eyewitnesses can provide an actual version of events without taking any involved party’s side. So, it is always a good idea to ask for their contact information in case they need to testify.
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Police report
Police are usually the first on the scene. They document the accident, including contact details of the parties involved, time, location, and potential cause of the accident, along with other critical pieces of information.
Los Angeles Bicycle Laws
According to California law, bicyclists have the same rights as other vehicle operators. However, the better you know your rights and obligations, the easier it will be to prove your innocence if an accident occurs.
- All cyclists must head in the same direction as the rest of the traffic.
- Use bike lanes if possible.
- Don’t stop or park in the middle of the lane unless there’s no other way, to avoid putting other cyclists and road users at risk.
- Some freeways are off-limits for bicyclists due to high-speed traffic and the absence of equipped bike lanes.
- Every person under 18 must wear a helmet. Overall, it is a great safety measure that all cyclists should stick to.
- Just like motor vehicle operators are bound to yield to bicyclists, so should cyclists do to pedestrians. According to California law, any time you spot a pedestrian in a crosswalk or roadway, you must stop and let them pass.
- Both the rider and the vehicle must be equipped with lights and reflectors to be more visible on the road. Keep in mind, if you get into an accident and your bike isn’t well-equipped, you may share the fault and get decreased financial compensation for the damage sustained or be denied any settlement whatsoever.
California Statute of Limitations
Not every bicyclist knows that there’s a time limit for their claim. In fact, every state has a different timeframe for filling a personal injury request. In California, it is two years since the date of the accident. If you fail to initiate the case within the state-governed deadline, you may lose your right to a fair reimbursement of your losses.
Certain exceptions may affect the mentioned timeframe based on the underlying conditions of your case. It is best to consult a professional bicycle accident attorney to know where you are standing.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
Every law firm in the county works according to a different payment plan. Some legal advisors work on an hourly fee. Others have a fixed or hybrid fee. However, the most reliable legal teams, like Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group, work on a contingency fee basis.
A contingency or no-win, no-fee principle implies that the client does not have to pay their legal representative until the case is positively solved. Such an approach ensures that the lawyer is skillful and confident enough to resolve the claim successfully.
Once you recover compensation, you will pay the legal advisor a percentage of the acquired settlement. The contingency fee rate depends on different factors, including but not limited to the complexity of the case and the expertise of your attorney. Usually, it varies between 30% and 45% of the received reimbursement.
Keep in mind that while the contingency fee covers legal services, insurance company negotiations, investigation, and some other aspects, it does not apply to expert witness fees, court fees, jury fees, or any additional costs.
Contact Our Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today!
Fighting for your rights and dealing with physical pain and emotional suffering while trying to maintain your financial stability sounds daunting and straight-off impossible. Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group can take at least some of the weight off your shoulders. Call us for a free consultation today to figure out your legal options and start a success-programmed journey to a fair settlement!
Share the details of your situation with us so we can begin advocating on your behalf. We customize our approach to fit the unique needs of each client.
