Bakersfield Bicycle Accidents

Practice Areas Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyers Bakersfield Bicycle Accidents

Bicycling continues to grow more popular in the United States. After all, it is a convenient and inexpensive method of travel, especially in lieu of heavy traffic and parking problems. 

Even though most cities recognize this increase in bicycle traffic and have constructed special bicycle lanes, automobile drivers often do not respect these lanes or bicyclists’ right to share the road, which can be a direct cause of many bicycle accidents.

At Chain | Cohn | Clark, we have a successful track record representing victims of bicycle accidents. So if you or someone you know has been involved in a bicycle accident due to the fault of another, contact our law firm immediately.

Can You Claim for a Bicycle Accident in Bakersfield, CA?

When you or a loved one have been injured in a bicycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you can pursue a legal case with the help from the Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark. 

If you aren’t sure who is at fault in your bicycle accident, contact us right away. We can review the details, gather evidence, and use our qualified resources to get you the help you need. 

We believe that if you have been injured due to the negligent actions of another person, that person should be held accountable. Our experienced Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers are well-versed in the legalities of bicycle accidents. We can help you better understand your rights and help you seek justice by making a claim for your injuries.

Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Statistics

The United States Department of Transportation statistics show that more than 800 bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2019.

Bicycle accidents are on the rise in Bakersfield and the Central Valley, and sadly, so are deaths. Between 2016 and 2018, 455 bicyclists were killed on California roads, more than any other three year period in the past 25 years. And in Kern County in 2017, there were 47 pedestrian and bicyclist deaths.

Among the main factors in many bicycle accidents are failing to yield right of way, speeding, improper turning, using the wrong side of the road, and not following traffic signs or signals. Kern Medical, a trauma center in Kern County, reported that many of the most severe cases they saw in the trauma center were due to roadway collisions, including bicycle deaths.  

The latest City of Bakersfield Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Report states that the age of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities ranges from four years old to 89 years old, with the average age of fatalities being 45 years old. When it comes to gender, 78% of bicyclist fatalities were male and 22% were female. 

Thankfully, the City of Bakersfield continues to take measures to encourage bicycle safety, including:

• Bikeways—Bakersfield has about 260 miles worth of existing bikeways
• Traffic signal bicycle detection
• Advocacy groups like the non-profit Bike Bakersfield and city meetings for Kern County Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition 
• Build-A-Bike Program 
• Phone apps that allow users to report road safety issues
• Bakersfield Police Department Programs 
• Outreach for more bicycle safety projects

Although the City of Bakersfield advocates for bicycle safety, accidents still continue to happen in Bakersfield and Kern County. 

Fatalities and bicycle accident injuries are more than statistics; they are people whose lives are altered, often due to someone else’s negligence. If you have been involved in a bike accident, contact the Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark to pursue a legal case. 

What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

The unfortunate truth is that many bicycle accidents can be avoided. Many times, bicycle accidents are due to collisions between bicyclists and drivers who share the road. When accidents involving bikes and cars happen, the lack of physical protection for bikers can lead to severe injury and, in some worse case scenarios, fatality. 

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of bicycle accidents. Whenever a vehicle driver’s attention is anywhere other than the road, they are practicing distracted driving. 

Distracted driving can lead to collisions with bicyclists. It can also cause bicyclists to be forced to steer in reckless ways as they try to avoid an accident. Even if the car does not make contact with the bicyclist, the distracted driver may still be at fault for injuries sustained due to their inattentiveness on the road. 

Distracted driving includes:

• Texting while driving
• Eating or drinking
• Changing music/looking at the radio or other device
• Not concentrating on the road due to heightened emotions or mental states
• Reaching for something in the car
• Interacting with others in the car

When a driver is distracted, the chances of colliding with a bicyclist or making a hasty decision can endanger everyone around them. 

Vehicle Defects

Another common factor in bicycle accidents is vehicle defects. This includes potentially defective cars that are involved in bicycle accidents as well as defective bicycle parts that may contribute to an accident. 

Your experienced Bakersfield bike accident lawyer at Chain | Cohn | Clark will evaluate all possible causes of your bicycle accident. We do so to ensure you get the maximum compensation you deserve. 

Road Defects

Road defects are another common cause of bicycle accidents. Road defects can include:

• Potholes
• Uneven pavement
• Missing signs
• Inadequate traffic signals
• Faded lane markers
• Construction site negligence
• Faulty street lighting 

Unsafe road conditions can cause bicyclists to sustain an injury. Many bicyclists do not know that they may be eligible for compensation if and when their accident is caused by defective roads. 

Talk to the Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark to see what type of compensation you may be eligible to receive if road defects were a cause of your accident. 

Driver Violations

In addition to distracted driving, other types of driver violations common in bicycle accidents include:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol 
• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Aggressive driving
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Failing to signal correctly
• Violating a bicyclist’s right of way
• “Dooring,” or opening a car door and thus blocking a bike lane

Unsafe driving leads to accidents. When a bicyclist is involved, the risk of injury increases greatly. If you have been injured—or a loved one has been killed—by the reckless actions of a driver, your Chain | Cohn | Clark Bakersfield bike accident lawyer is here to help you seek justice.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Bakersfield, CA

The very first thing you should do after a bicycle accident happens is to get to safety. Your health and life take priority in these types of situations. 

The attorneys here at Chain | Cohn | Clark believes that providing our clients with personal attention is one of the most important actions we can take. That means that after an accident, we want you to find safety so that no further injury occurs. 

See a Doctor or Medical Professional

If you have an obvious injury, call 911 and/or immediately seek medical attention. Oftentimes after an accident, the injured party’s adrenaline level will be very high and they might not even notice they are hurt. This is why it’s always a good idea to seek medical attention after any accident. 

As the saying goes, better safe than sorry. Especially since it could also be the case that although you feel and look unharmed from the outside, you could have internal injuries, such as a concussion or internal bleeding. 

Seek medical help right away after suffering from a bicycle accident. Your health and safety should always be your top priority.

Save Receipts & Keep Medical Bills

Seeking medical help can also act as future evidence in your case. It will date the accident and show the measures you took afterward. 

Medical bills can potentially be compensated, so saving all medical bills and receipts that are related to the bicycle accident is critical. Receipts and medical bills include:

• Transportation costs
• Hospital bills
• Loss of income
• Receipts for bicycle repairs
• Receipts for medical equipment 
• Any other receipts or bills related to your case that can be used as evidence to support your claim     

File a Report With the Police

Filing a police report is an important step to take after your bicycle accident. A police report is considered inadmissible evidence in California, which means it cannot be used as evidence in your case. However, filing a police report after your accident is extremely helpful.

Your Bakersfield bike accident lawyer at Chain | Cohn | Clark can use the police report to:

• Help determine liability
• Use as a starting point to conduct an investigation
• Learn important information, such as the date, time, location, and description of the accident

When making a police report, make sure that the officer who fills out the report also provides their name and badge number. This is so your bicycle accident attorney in Bakersfield can follow up if additional information is needed.

Collect Evidence

Another important step in the process of building a case for your bicycle accident is to collect as much evidence as you can. This evidence could include:

• The insurance information of the other person or people involved
• Name(s) and contact information of the other person or people involved
• Names and contact information of any eyewitnesses
• Photos and videos of the scene where the accident took place—pictures and videos are invaluable pieces of information that can be used as evidence, so try to get as much evidence on film as you can, including the accident scene 
• Written personal statement that records your perspective of the accident—doing this sooner rather than later means you are likely to remember the accident more clearly
• Journal entries about how your day-to-day life has been affected by the accident

The Bakersfield accident lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark have the resources necessary to conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. The more evidence that is collected, the more we can utilize that evidence to build a strong case and maximize your compensation.  

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

Getting into a bicycle accident can have major impacts on your life and wellbeing. Injuries that cyclists sustain can be catastrophic. Though helmets help with protection, bicyclists are exposed to much more danger than someone protected by a car or truck. 

The Bakersfield bicycle accidents lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark are here to represent you after a bicycle accident. Some of the most common physical injuries that bicyclists sustain from an accident include:

• Abrasions and cuts
• Road rash
• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) 
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord damage
• Internal bleeding
• Scarring
• Disfigurement
• Paralysis
• Nerve damage
• Injuries resulting in amputation
• Wrongful death

In addition to physical injuries, there can also be mental, emotional, and financial hardships that come with bicycle accidents. Non-physical injuries may include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Loss of income due to the inability to perform a task at work or because of your absence due to physical recovery/therapy
• Lower quality of life
• Mental pain and suffering
• The costs of rehabilitation and medical expenses

A bicycle accident can have a big impact on your everyday life. When that happens, the Chain | Cohn | Clark Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers want to make sure that you get the compensation and justice you deserve so you can focus on your recovery. 

What Can a Bakersfield Bike Accident Lawyer Do for You?

After you suffer from a bicycle accident, your whole world may be turned upside down. The local bicycle accident attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark have the resources, experience, and knowledge to get you the maximum compensation that you deserve. 

We concentrate on protecting the rights of the people of Bakersfield and greater Kern County when they have been injured because of another party’s actions or inactions. We want to make sure the person responsible for your injuries is held accountable. 

Our goal is to ensure that you don’t get nickel-and-dimed by insurance companies, but instead get the maximum payout you are entitled to. We do so for the sake of your justice on the road to recovery. 

Many bicyclists and their families are not aware of their rights. If you are a cyclist, you may be entitled to more compensation than you might think. We will help you prove negligence and fault, a task that involves the resources that the Chain | Cohn | Clark Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers can provide with full force. 

We can and will build the strongest case possible for you. As Kern County’s leading accident law firm, we know what it takes to make sure you get the justice you deserve. 

Available Bakersfield Bike Accident Compensation

Compensation that is available to cyclists after bicycle accidents includes economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages are measurable damages, such as medical bills and other accident-related expenses. That’s why it’s so important to keep all receipts and bills connected to your accident.

Non-economic damages are those that are a bit trickier to put a price tag on, like pain and suffering or loss of quality of life. 

Insurance companies want to pay the least amount possible to you. Talk to us before speaking with any insurance companies. Here at Chain | Cohn | Clark, we work tirelessly to make sure our clients get the compensation they deserve.  

Our Results

Your Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyers

If you need a bicycle accident attorney, the Bakersfield lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark are here to give you the attention that you deserve during this trying time. We are here for you—today and always. 

As Kern County locals, we care deeply about the wellbeing of our fellow community members. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, we are the Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers to call.

Community Partner for Bicycle Safety

As part of our mission to reduce the number of accidents in our community, Chain | Cohn | Clark has partnered for years with the nonprofit Bike Bakersfield to give away hundreds of free bicycle lights and safety helmets throughout Kern County. This includes parts of our community where bicycles are used the most: Oildale, Arvin, east Bakersfield, and southeast Bakersfield. 

Chain | Cohn | Clark and Bike Bakersfield have also hosted the “Kidical Mass” bike repair, safety demonstration, and group bike ride program.

Learn more about these programs and our law firm’s dedication to raising awareness about the importance of bicycle safety and sharing the road on our blog .

Time Is Limited to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in California

The statute of limitations in California is two years from the date of the accident. However, if your case is against a government entity in California, you have only six months to file a claim. 

Reach out to the Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark as soon as possible. Even though you have two years, starting your claim right away helps to conserve and collect evidence. 

Reach Out to Bakersfield Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark

If you or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact us at (661) 616-9829 or visit us at 1731 Chester Ave., Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93301-5220 today. You can also fill out a form for a free case evaluation. 

In addition to being Bakersfield bicycle accident attorneys, the lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark are also:

• Bakersfield personal injury lawyers
• Bakersfield big rig accident lawyers
• Bakersfield motorcycle accident lawyers
• Bakersfield construction accident lawyers
• Bakersfield oilfield accident lawyers

We are Kern County’s leading accident, injury, and workers’ compensation law firm, so if you are looking for an attorney you can trust following an accident, look no further and contact us today.