Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer
When a driver strikes a bicyclist, the latter always loses. A bicycle cannot withstand the forces a larger and more powerful vehicle exerts upon it in a collision. The bicyclist, therefore, can suffer catastrophic and fatal personal injuries while the driver of the motor vehicle often escapes unscathed.
At the law firm of Rose, Klein & Marias, we care about holding at-fault drivers accountable for serious bike accidents in Los Angeles. We work for injured bicyclists and pedestrians throughout Southern California, protecting their rights and advocating for fair compensation during settlement meetings and bicycle accident injury trials. If you or someone you love was recently in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver, contact a qualified Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer at our firm for assistance. Initial consultations are free at our local law office.
Los Angeles Bike Accident Resources
- Why Choose Rose, Klein & Marias LLP for Your Bike Accident Claim?
- How Can a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Attorney Help?
- Time Limits to File a Bike Accident Claim in Los Angeles
- Types of Compensation Available to Bicycle Accident Victims
- What To Do After a Bicycle Accident
- Proving Negligence in Bicycle Accident Cases
- A Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer Will Identify Any Potential Liable Parties
- Bicycle Accident Statistics
- Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
- Contact a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
Why Hire Rose, Klein & Marias LLP for Your Bicycle Accident Claim in LA?
- We have been committed to obtaining maximum compensation for clients in personal injury cases for more than 80 years.
- We offer dozens of experienced attorneys at 10 law offices throughout Southern California for your convenience.
- We have devoted our careers specifically to personal injury and workers’ compensation law, giving us a depth of knowledge in these practice areas.
- We want to make legal representation accessible to all injured parties in LA; we offer our services on a contingency fee basis.
Meet The Attorneys at Rose, Klein & Marias
How Can a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Attorney Help?
Our plaintiff’s attorneys assist injured parties with their insurance claims and/or personal injury lawsuits after life-changing accidents, including bicycle collisions. If you recently suffered serious and painful injuries, expensive property damage, or the loss of a loved one in a bike accident, you could use a lawyer’s assistance during your claim.
Without an attorney, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may try to take advantage of you or convince you to settle for an unfair amount. Our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys have the power to protect you during insurance negotiations and demand fair compensation for your losses.
As your bicycle accident lawyers, we will investigate your wreck, collect evidence, hire experts, interview witnesses and identify all of the liable parties that may be held responsible for your losses. Then, we will advocate for maximum financial compensation for your losses by dealing with insurance adjusters or filing a lawsuit in court on your behalf.
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What Are the Time Limits to File a Bike Accident Claim in Los Angeles?
All states have statutes of limitations on personal injury cases. These are laws that place deadlines on a victim’s ability to take legal action. If you wish to file a bicycle accident claim in Los Angeles, your ability to do so is governed by California’s statute of limitations.
Although the specific time limit may vary based on the factors of the case, the general time limits are:
- Bicycle accident injury claim: two years from the date of the accident.
- Delayed injuries: two years from the date that they reasonably should have been discovered.
- Property damage only: three years from the date of the accident.
- Injured minor (under the age of 18): two years from his or her 18th birthday.
- Claim against the government: six months.
- Wrongful death: two years from the date of death.
Most plaintiffs in Los Angeles have two years from the date of a bicycle accident to file a related personal injury claim. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible, however, while key evidence to support your case is still available.
Types of Compensation Available to Bicycle Accident Victims in LA
A bicycle accident could entitle a victim to financial compensation for various economic and noneconomic damages. This means both the financial losses associated with the accident as well as the intangible ways the victim’s life has been impacted could be covered.
Common types of compensation available to bicycle accident victims in Los Angeles include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost capacity to earn a living
- Disability costs
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs, in a case of wrongful death
- Punitive damages, in rare cases
An attorney at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP in LA can review your case to help you understand and acknowledge your compensable losses. Then, we can fight for maximum financial compensation on your behalf using proven legal strategies against insurance companies. Our lawyers will prepare your case as if it will go to trial to improve the odds of achieving a positive outcome.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in LA
It is important to take the right steps and actions in the aftermath of a bicycle accident, even if you feel confused or overwhelmed. An insurance company will check to see if you took certain steps when determining your eligibility for benefits.
If you can, here is what you should do:
- Move to a safe location to assess yourself and others involved in the bicycle accident for injuries. If needed, seek medical attention immediately.
- Contact the police or emergency services to report the bicycle accident. Write down your police report number.
- Obtain the information of the driver who hit you, as well as any passengers or witnesses. Do not admit fault or apologize for the accident.
- Preserve evidence by taking photographs before you leave the scene of the bike accident. Afterward, obtain copies of your medical records and the police report.
- Contact your own insurance company to inform them of the accident. Then, call the driver’s car insurance provider to file a claim.
Before you accept a settlement from an insurance company, consult with an attorney at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP about your case. We can explain your legal rights for free and help you make informed decisions throughout the recovery process.
Who Is Liable in a Los Angeles Bike Accident?
Accountability is key in a bicycle accident lawsuit in Los Angeles. The party that caused your accident and injuries will be financially responsible for your losses. Holding the correct party accountable may take an investigation of your collision from a skilled Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer.
A Motor Vehicle Driver
Drivers in LA have a responsibility to carefully share the road with vulnerable people such as cyclists. Unfortunately, aggressive, reckless, careless and distracted drivers frequently fall short of this duty of care and put bicycle riders at risk.
Common driver mistakes behind bicycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Speeding
- Drowsy driving
- Following bicycles too closely
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Unsafe passing or lane changes
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Ignoring traffic signs and running red lights
- Turning left into bicyclists
- Dooring
Motor vehicle drivers in California are required to carry certain amounts of insurance to make sure they can pay for accidents they may cause. You can access a driver’s bodily injury and property damage liability coverage if you can prove that the driver is to blame for your bicycle accident in Los Angeles.
A Government Agency
The driver will be legally responsible in most cases, but other factors could have also contributed to your wreck, such as a pothole or a bicycle defect. Bicycles are lightweight and susceptible to accidents due to road hazards, including a pothole, pooled water, uneven shoulders and debris. If a road hazard causes your bike accident in Los Angeles, the city government may be held liable for improper road maintenance.
A Bicycle Manufacturer
Bicycles are only as safe as their parts. If a bicycle has a malfunctioning, faulty or defective part – no matter how small – it can cause a bike accident. Bicycle defects can lead to dangerous issues such as brake failure, flat tires, slipped chains and snapped cables. If a bicycle defect injures you, the manufacturing company can be held accountable with a product liability claim.
Get Legal Help After a Bike Accident
Contact a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Proving Negligence in Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Cases
Once your attorney identifies the correct defendant(s), he or she could help you prove fault. The essential element of proof in a personal injury claim in California is negligence. Your lawyer must prove through a preponderance of evidence that the at-fault party was negligent and that this is what caused your injuries.
Negligence means that someone failed to act with proper care and that this caused injury to others. It has four elements:
- Duty of care: the defendant or accused party owed the victim a duty of care, or a responsibility to act with a certain degree of care to avoid causing foreseeable injury to others.
- Breach of duty: the defendant breached or violated the duty of care with a careless or reckless act or omission.
- Causation: the defendant’s breach of the duty of care is what caused the bicycle accident in Los Angeles.
- Damages: the victim suffered compensable losses due to the bike accident, such as physical injuries or medical bills.
Proving negligence may take gathering evidence from the scene of the bicycle accident, interviewing witnesses, and hiring bike accident reconstructionists. Common types of evidence include a police report, photos, videos, expert testimony and medical records. Our law firm has the resources to help you build the strongest possible case against one or more defendants in LA.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
Bicycle accidents are typically preventable. They arise when one or more parties fail to adhere to traffic laws or otherwise act negligently. In Los Angeles, California, negligence, unfortunately, happens often on the road – enough to cause thousands of serious injuries and deaths each year.
In 2023 alone, 393 bicyclists were injured and killed in traffic accidents in the City of Los Angeles. Twenty-two (22) of these victims were 14 years old or younger. Throughout LA County, the total number of fatal and injury bike accidents in 2023 was 1,945. It is every road user’s responsibility to try to prevent bicycle accidents through due care and attention.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
A bike accident often results in very severe, catastrophic injury and can range from a traumatic brain injury to spinal cord injury and everything in between. With hardly any protection for the bicycle rider, an impact with another motorist and/or pavement can cause a wide range of injuries. Bike riders are also much more likely to suffer catastrophic injury. The Los Angeles bike accident lawyers at the law firm of Rose, Klein & Marias LLP accept clients with all types of severe injury:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lower extremity injuries
- Lacerations
- Road rash
- Internal injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
Catastrophic and permanent injuries are common in serious cyclist accidents. Bicycle crash survivors often live with the repercussions of their accidents for the rest of their lives. Common long-term injuries include brain injury or head injury, physical scars, and paralysis. Bike riders may also suffer emotionally and psychologically from the trauma of a bike crash. Working with a local bicycle accident attorney in Los Angeles can help you fight for maximum compensation for your bicycle accident case, including tangible and intangible damages like medical expenses, pain and suffering and more.
Tips for Dealing With Insurance Companies as an Injured Bicyclist
Insurance companies can be biased against bicyclists, making it harder for victims to recover fair compensation – especially in the face of catastrophic injuries and expensive claims. Protect your rights by being wary when speaking to an insurance claims adjuster.
Don’t give the adjuster a recorded statement or accept the very first settlement offer. Don’t believe the adjuster if they say it’s the “best” or “final” offer; you won’t lose your right to recover damages by refusing to say yes to the initial amount. Contact a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer for legal counsel before signing anything.
Free Consultation With a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles
If you wish to protect your rights while going up against drivers and other at-fault parties after a serious bicycle accident, retain a Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney from Rose, Klein & Marias LLP. We can help you deal with common issues during insurance claims, such as the driver disputing fault or the insurer undervaluing your losses. We can fight for maximum compensation using our knowledge, experiences, and resources. Contact our Los Angeles law office today at (800) 362-7427 or through our online form.