Do you know how common bike accidents are in California? Would you be surprised to learn that we have one of the highest rates of bike accidents of every state? When you consider that we have a larger population and that bikes can be ridden most days of the year, it is not hard to understand why these numbers are so high.
But there are other issues that are well within our control that lead to the commonality of bike accidents. If you have been injured in a bike accident and require a free legal consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney, we invite you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
A Significant Rise in Accidents and Fatalities
According to one report, there has been a 20% increase in bike accidents in the last five years. Even more distressing, four out of every five bike accidents involve injury or death. The most accidents occur in the summer months, and bike accidents are more common in cities than in rural areas, as would be expected.
Drivers Must Take Care to Share the Road with Cyclists
Drivers must be sure that they are careful to share the road with cyclists. This involves yielding to bikes in bike lanes and when they are turning. Drivers should never pass closer than three feet to bikes when passing and should get back into their lane only when they can see the bicyclist fully in their rearview mirror.
Drivers should also be careful before opening their doors onto the road. A bicyclist could be riding by at just the wrong moment and hit the door as it opens. This is known as a “dooring” accident, and it is more serious – and more common – than many people realize.
When drivers turn right when there is a bike lane on the right, they should look to make sure that there are no bike riders before they turn. In short, drivers need to take a defensive approach and scan ahead to note where bike riders are and their likely next move.
Call Us if You Are Injured in a Bike Accident
If you are involved in a bike accident in which someone else was at fault, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will go over the basics of your case to determine if you likely have cause for a lawsuit. If we determine that you do, we will take your case on a contingency basis in which you do not pay us until we win your case. Call now to get started.
