Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

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As the city of Rancho Cucamonga works to improve its biking infrastructure, accidents continue to happen throughout the city. Even responsible and attentive bicyclists can be hit by large trucks, doored by people not paying attention, or run off the road by someone who did not check their blind spot.

The injuries sustained in a bike accident can be severe, which is why it’s worth discussing your accident with a qualified personal injury and wrongful death attorney near you.

To speak with an experienced Rancho Cucamonga motorcycle accident lawyer, contact our law office serving San Bernardino County. You can also reach our law firm by phone at (909) 982-0707.

How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in California?

Bike accidents are relatively common in the state and in SoCal.

According to data from the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC), there were 125 cyclists in California killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2021. Nationwide, 966 cyclists were killed in crashes in 2021. As noted by SafeTREC, Florida, California, and Texas lead the nation in fatal bike accidents, accounting for almost 43% of bicyclists fatalities that year.

As for the prevalence of bike accident injuries, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 41,615 injured cyclists in 2021.

Whenever you’re on your bike, be sure to exercise caution while sharing the road, on the sidewalk, or biking on a trail.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit?

In California, you have two years from the date of the bike accident to file a legal claim. Once that two-year deadline has passed, you will not be able to file a bicycle accident lawsuit.

Keep in mind that the two-year statute of limitations does not apply to all bike accidents. It’s in your best interests to speak with a bicycle accident lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga as soon as possible.

Can I File a Bicycle Accident Claim If I Was Partly to Blame for the Crash?

Yes. This is because California is a pure comparative negligence state. That means someone can seek damages after a bicycle accident even if they were mostly at fault for what happened. The percentage of fault would be deducted from the total amount of legal damages awarded.

This is another reason why it’s best to speak with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer near you as soon as possible.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas

Founded in 1995, the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas provides people throughout the Inland Empire with sound legal representation that they can trust. We have high ratings on Avvo and our accomplishments have also been recognized by local, state, and national legal organizations. There are other key qualities that set us apart from law firms here in San Bernardino County.

Experience Working for Insurance Companies on Accident Cases

Attorney Fernando D. Vargas began practicing law in 1987 as a defense lawyer for insurance companies. This gave him insight on how these companies operate, and the strategies they use to minimize settlement offers. He can use that knowledge to negotiate a better counteroffer and build much stronger legal cases for bicycle accident clients.

Personal Attention on the Needs of the Client

People recovering from injuries need a strong advocate, which is why Fernando D. Vargas will personally handle each case. He will always be reachable if you have a question or need to have a sudden concern addressed. We encourage you to read testimonials from past clients to learn what we can offer you after a catastrophic bike accident.

Se Habla Español: Legal Services in Spanish

To best serve the Hispanic community in San Bernardino County, it’s important to have fluent Spanish speakers. Fernando D. Vargas is fluent in Spanish, and many members of his legal team are fully bilingual as well.

Free Case Evaluations

After a serious bike accident, your first concern is recovering from your injuries and paying off your medical bills and other expenses. That’s why consultations are free at our Rancho Cucamonga law office. This allows you to get honest advice from a qualified legal professional without incurring any additional bills.

Representation on a Contingency Fee Basis

Our law office takes cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we can secure a favorable settlement or win damages for you in a jury trial. If we don’t win, you don’t have to pay us. Bike accident victims have nothing to lose when they come to the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas.

Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Lawyer About Your Bicycle Accident

No matter the circumstances of your bike accident, our law firm can help you seek compensation for your injuries and assist with your sense of recovery. We’re ready to listen. To discuss your injuries with an experienced Rancho Cucamonga bicycle accident attorney near you, contact the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas.

Bike Accidents Caused by Reckless Drivers

Bicyclists share the road with commuter vehicles, tractor-trailers, and delivery trucks and vans. When drivers are speeding or reckless, they could hit a bicyclist and cause severe injuries in the process. Reckless driving could mean speeding, failing to yield to a bicyclist, running a cyclist off the road, driving in a designated bike lane, or tailgating.

Bike Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving

Distracted driving means that a motorist has their attention diverted from what’s happened on the road. It can also mean that a driver’s hands have been taken off the wheel. Examples of driver distraction include texting while driving, looking up directions on the phone, eating while driving, and rubbernecking. Our Rancho Cucamonga bicycle accident attorney will investigate if driver distraction played any role in your crash.

Bike Accidents Caused by Drivers Not Checking Blind Spots

Bicyclists can often get lost in a person’s blind spot. This can cause major injuries when a vehicle is making a turn or when a vehicle is changing lanes. Motorists must be attentive when there are bicyclists present in order to avoid serious injuries and potentially catastrophic collisions.

Bike Accidents Around Schools and Public Parks

Bikes are common around school and public parks, especially when the weather is welcoming. Drivers need to abide by the speed limit when approaching school zones or places when many children and cyclists are present. Our San Bernardino County bike accident lawyers can help accident survivors hold negligent drivers accountable if they were irresponsible around schools and parks.

Request a Free Case Review with Our Rancho Cucamonga Bicycle Accident Attorney

No matter where your accident happened or why it happened, you can count on us to hear you out and let you know about your legal options. We’re here to listen and to lend a helping hand to people who’ve been hurt. To request a free case review with a trusted Rancho Cucamonga bicycle accident lawyer near you, contact the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas today.

Bicyclists and Dooring Accidents

A dooring accident is when a driver of a passenger vehicle opens their door into a bike lane or a lane of approaching traffic. A bicyclist could get shoved by a car door that’s suddenly opened or wind up striking the car door because there is not enough time to react. The owner of the passenger vehicle could be held liable for causing serious injuries if they doored a bicyclist.

Bike Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

Drinking and driving is never a good idea, and yet there are still many DUI accidents every year. According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), alcohol-related accidents caused 1,920 injuries and fatalities in San Bernardino County in 2022. Our law offices can hold drivers accountable if they got behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Potential Hazards While Biking at Night

Many people bike at night in San Bernardino County, but it comes with many hazards. Even when a bicyclist is wearing reflective clothing and has lights on their bike, inattentive or reckless drivers could still hit the responsible bicyclist. Our law firm can investigate what happened during a nighttime bike accident and hold the liable party accountable.

Bike Accidents on Trails and Regional Parks

There are plenty of bike trails and biking areas at regional parks throughout Rancho Cucamonga and nearby cities. They can be great for fresh air and exercise, but hazards on the trail could lead to serious accidents. If you got seriously hurt while riding your bike on a trail, our accident attorney can let you know if someone can be held legally liable for your injuries.

Bike Accidents with Pedestrians and Dogs

Bicyclists share the road with vehicles, and they also share the sidewalk with pedestrians and pets. Inattentive, intoxicated, and irresponsible pedestrians could cause serious bike accidents. In addition, dogs that are off leash or unattended could attack a bicyclist or otherwise cause injuries. Our law firm can help you hold negligent pedestrians and pet owners accountable.

Discuss Your Injuries with Our Bike Accident Lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

If you were seriously injured while riding your bike in or around Rancho Cucamonga, our accident lawyer Fernando D. Vargas can help. To request a free consultation with our team, contact the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas today.

Common Types of Injuries After a Bicycle Accident

In addition to cuts, scrapes, bumps, and bruises, bicyclists may experience these injuries as well:

  • Hand, Arm, Ankle, and Leg Injuries – It’s natural to hold out your arms to brace for impact or to take the brunt of a hard landing on your knees This can lead to serious injuries to the hands, arms, legs, and ankles, and possibly even your hips.
  • Road Rash – Road rash refers to skin abrasions caused by sliding across the road surface. These injuries tend to be worse with motorcyclists, but bicyclists, rollerbladers, and skateboarders can also experience varying degrees of road rash. 
  • Broken Bones – Broken bones may be the result of getting hit by a vehicle or the landing during your crash. These kinds of injuries can range from hairline fractures to severe compound fractures that will require surgery.

Catastrophic Injuries After a Bike Accident

Catastrophic injuries from an accident refer to any kinds of physical trauma that cause a long-term or permanent disability that affect mobility and quality of life. Examples of catastrophic injuries in a bike accident include:

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – You can suffer a concussion and even more severe types of head trauma even if you wear a bike helmet. Brain injuries can affect cognition, memory, emotions, mood, and motor skills.
  • Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries – Injuries affecting the spinal cord can lead to varying degrees of partial paralysis, loss of use of the lower extremities (paraplegia), and loss of use of all limbs (quadriplegia).
  • Loss of Vision or Hearing Impairment – Injuries to the eyes, orbital bones, ears, or the side of the head could potentially affect your eyesight and your hearing.
  • Loss of Limbs – Some injuries in severe bike accidents could lead to the loss of a limb or may necessitate surgical amputation as part of emergency medical care.

Compensation After a Serious Bicycle Accident

If you got seriously injured in a bicycle accident, our lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga will help you seek compensation to cover your injury-related losses. This may include:

  • The cost of the ambulance ride and emergency medical care
  • The need for ongoing medical treatments, physical rehabilitation, or occupational therapy
  • Lost income from work due to extended leave, change in duties, or loss of employment
  • Diminished future earning capacity because of a long-term disability or permanent disability
  • Damage to your bike and any other personal belonging you had with you at the time of the collision

Our legal team can help you understand the full value of your claim. We will tabulate all of your material and financial losses to make sure any settlement offer or legal damages reflect the impact the bike accident had on your life.

Legal Options After a Fatal Bicycle Accident

If you lost a loved one in a fatal bicycle accident, we can help you file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party. You will typically have two years from the date of the fatal bike accident to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Damages in a bike accident wrongful death lawsuit can be used to cover funeral expenses, grief counseling, your deceased loved one’s lost future income, and the lasting effect of your loved one’s absence on your household.

Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Bicycle Accident Attorney Today

The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can help you whether you were seriously hurt in a bike accident or lost a loved one in a fatal bicycle crash. We are ready to listen and to let you know if you have a case. To request a free case evaluation with an experienced Rancho Cucamonga bicycle accident lawyer near you, contact our San Bernardino County law office today.