Bicycle accidents have the potential to create some of the worst types of personal injury claims imaginable. This is partially because only half of bicyclists actually wear helmets, which means that horrific injuries are almost inevitable in the event of an accident. Furthermore, the city of Bakersfield already has long-standing issues with bicycle safety that are just starting to be addressed.
With the adoption of the 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan, Bakersfield is in the process of completing or receiving further funding to construct 35 miles of bike lanes and routes throughout the city. The city is also collaborating with Bike Bakersfield to increase public awareness regarding bicycle safety for all residents.
Jake Becker of Bike Bakersfield, a local nonprofit agency, has explained that part of the reason behind these serious bicycle safety issues revolves around the fact that many people ride at night without lights and against the flow of traffic. These two behaviors alone greatly increase the likelihood of a serious accident. Becker also believes that bike lanes on Bakersfield’s busiest streets are too narrow to safely ride on.
Despite safety initiatives, accidents will happen. If you suffered injuries after a bicycle accident as a result of someone’s negligence or a defective product in the Bakersfield area, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your losses. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Bakersfield bicycle accident attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve for any damages caused by the accident.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our 24/7 legal team by calling (661) 299-7554 or emailing [email protected] to schedule a free consultation at our Bakersfield personal injury law firm.
Drivers and pedestrians are not the only ones who are obligated to act responsibly when on the road. Bicyclists are also given road rules and regulations to follow in order to maintain a safe environment for those nearby. This includes the following:
Most bicycle accidents are caused by negligence from a driver, bicyclist, or even both. This means that either the driver or the bicyclist acted recklessly, such as by not following traffic laws or being intoxicated. However, poorly maintained roads are also a common cause of many serious bike accidents. California premises liability law dictates that any city, including Bakersfield, can be held liable for negligence if they do not properly maintain public roads in reasonably safe conditions.
A serious bicycle accident can easily be caused by seemingly harmless road conditions, such as potholes, broken cement, loose gravel, uneven sidewalks, or malfunctioning road signs. Furthermore, all property owners — including commercial, private, and city — can be found liable for not properly maintaining their asphalt or pavement surfaces.
Therefore, you may be able to sue the city of Bakersfield for the recovery of damages if you were injured as a result of the city’s negligence.
Bicycle accidents caused by pedestrians are another type of common bicycle accident claim. Personal injury claims for the recovery of damages can be brought against the party who was responsible for your losses, whether it was another driver or a pedestrian.
If you were injured in a bicycle accident because of a pedestrian’s negligence, you must be able to prove that negligence was the cause of your injuries. The legal standard for negligence in the state of California will consider the following three elements:
A pedestrian may be subject to liability if they caused a bicycle accident by:
Statute of limitations define the period of time a victim has in order to file a personal injury lawsuit and still be entitled to the recovery of damages for their losses. This time limit may differ from state to state. In the state of California, a victim has two years to file a personal injury claim for damages against another individual or party.
Bicycle accident claims are a type of personal injury claim, which means you have two years to file a bicycle accident lawsuit. Waiting longer than two years from the date of the incident means you will be barred from filing a claim, and you will not be able to recover any compensation for your losses.
If you were injured in a bicycle accident because of someone’s negligence or a defective product, you have the right to hold the guilty party responsible for your losses. A Bakersfield bicycle accident attorney at West Coast Trial Lawyers can recover compensation for the losses you have suffered.
Contact our 24/7 legal team today by calling (661) 299-7554 or emailing [email protected] to schedule a free consultation at our Bakersfield personal injury law firm.
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