Collisions Involving Cyclists

Cycling is not only a great way to get around, but it also offers a wide range of health benefits. Of course, riding a bike in Southern California also raises its share of dangers. Drivers in Los Angeles and Orange County are often in a rush and operating at a high level of stress, which means that cyclists must be extra vigilant to avoid an accident. However, collisions involving cyclists are typically the result of another driver’s negligence. At Power Trial Lawyers, we proudly stand up for the rights of cyclists, helping them recover meaningful compensation after suffering serious injuries in a Southern California bike accident.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1,000 cyclists die each year, and another 130,000 are injured as a result of bike accidents. About two-thirds of these accidents involve motor vehicles. And while bicycle trips make up just one percent of all trips in the United States, they account for two percent of all traffic-related fatalities. While this doesn’t sound like a huge discrepancy, it means that cyclists are essentially twice as likely to suffer fatal injuries as occupants of vehicles.

In terms of California bicycle accidents, Los Angeles and Orange Counties see the most bicycle accidents out of all California Counties. For example, a study of bike accidents spanning six years found that approximately 36,000 out of the total 87,000 bicycle accidents occurred in these two counties. In California specifically, bicycle accidents make up about four percent of all fatal traffic accidents.

Bicycle accidents don’t “just happen”; they are almost always the result of either the bicyclist or another motorist acting negligently. However, more often than not, the negligent party in a bicycle accident is not the cyclist. There are a number of common causes of bike accidents, including:

It’s a simple fact: drivers who are distracted are less likely to notice a cyclist. Regardless of whether a driver is distracted by their cell phone, talking with passengers, or anything else inside or outside their vehicle, they may be liable for a cyclist’s injuries after an accident.

Southern California is known for having a high number of aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers speed, cut in and out of lanes, turn without signaling, and engage in a range of other dangerous driving behavior that puts cyclists are great risk of injury.

When a bicyclist is riding on the road, they have the same responsibilities and rights as cars. Thus, in any situation where a car would need to yield the right of way to another driver, they need to do the same for a cyclist. Failure to yield accidents are especially common in large cities like Los Angeles, where cyclists and drivers are often in close proximity to one another.

Wearing a helmet has been proven to reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury following a bicycle accident. However, under California’s bicycle helmet law, only cyclists under the age of 18 need to wear a helmet. Of course, it is advisable that riders of all ages wear a helmet. And while a cyclist’s decision not to wear a helmet will not prevent them from recovering for their injuries after an accident, it could reduce their recovery amount under California’s comparative fault.

If you or someone you love was recently injured or killed in a bike accident, contact Power Trial Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. At Power Trial Lawyers, our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys has more than a decade of experience helping accident victims and their families recover meaningful compensation. We routinely handle cases stemming from collisions involving cyclists and know what it takes to get our clients the compensation they deserve. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today, call 844-844-POWER (7693). You can also connect with us through our online contact form. We proudly represent clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County and have conveniently located offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.