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Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Image of one Bicycle Injury and one Bicycle Fatality

California Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Curd, Galindo & Smith is a dedicated and experienced law practice that represents bicycle accident victims and their families in Los Angeles, Orange County and throughout California.

Image of injured bicyclist on crutchesBicycle accidents, by their very nature, are usually devastating for the bicyclist not surrounded in a cocoon of protective sheet metal. Bicycle accidents happen suddenly, without warning, and can cause serious bodily harm or result in death. If you are the victim of a bicycle accident facing tremendous medical bills, experiencing ongoing pain you’ve have missed work or are still unable to work to the degree you once did, you are likely in a financial pickle.

Fortunately, help with medical needs and financial compensation is often available to bicycle accident victims. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of laws surrounding personal injury in general, and bicycle accidents in specific, pursuing a claim on your own is seemingly impossible.

There are many causes of bicycle accidents, due to the negligence of drivers:

  • Negligent Drivers not paying attention
  • Drunk drivers
  • Drivers failing to yield to stop signs

For this reason – compensation may be available to those who are victims of Los Angeles bicycle accidents.

Injured?   It’s Time to Consult a Bicycle Accident Attorney

As bicyclists are keenly aware, drivers of cars and trucks characteristically do not pay adequate attention to their surroundings, do not respect the rights of bike riders, and do not carefully look for bicycle riders before making lane changes, exiting driveways, leaving stop signs, or even opening their car doors. Far too often, bicycle riders are injured or killed by negligent motorists who fail to check their blind spot before changing lanes, or make turns directly in front of oncoming bicyclists, sideswipe them traveling on the shoulder or choose to drive illegally under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Most troubling of all is that a majority of motorists are seemingly ignorant of California law which gives bicycle riders the same legal right to use the streets as any other motorist.

Preserving Evidence Following a Bicycle Accident

Contact the bicycle accident attorneys at Curd, Galindo & Smith immediately following an accident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle. Statistics demonstrate that the driver of the motor vehicle is usually at fault and it is critically important to preserve evidence by:

  • Taking pictures of the accident scene, close and panoramic
  • Taking pictures of the car or truck and your bike
  • Taking pictures of the injured bicyclist (digital is free – take close and varying angles & lighting)
  • Written notes of road conditions, time of day, weather, traffic
  • Documenting damage to any property (fences, trees, barriers, etc.)
  • Well-preserved evidence will help us ensure that the fullest compensation available in cases of serious injury or wrongful death.

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    Getting Justice for a Bicycle Accident is an UNFAIR Uphill Battle — We Can Help!

    If you have suffered a bicycle accident because of the carelessness or negligence of a motor vehicle driver while riding your bicycle, the medical bills for your injury, and the time off work, can have a huge impact on your financial stability. The insurance company of the motorist who hit you will fight because they tend to think that bicyclers should always yield the right of way to cars. Though they are “in the vehicle insurance business,” they are 100% deluded! The law clearly states that bicyclers are entitled to use roadways just as any other motorist, yet insurance adjusters will treat the injury claim in a way that is unfair, and unjust – because of their own misunderstandings and generalizations against bicyclists so as to low-ball your case and attempt to avoid paying for the injuries their driver caused.

    What Damages Can Be Sought in a Personal Injury Case?

    Damages recoverable in personal injury cases often can include the following:

    Past and future medical bills: The amount of the medical bills necessary to treat your injury, both in the past and future.

    Past and future lost earning capacity: The amount of money you could have earned had you not been injured.

    Past and future lost income: The amount of money you actually lost due to the injury, and will lose in the future.

    Past and future physical impairment: How you have been physically impaired in the past due to your injury, and how you will be physically impaired in the future.

    Past and future disfigurement: How the injury has physically disfigured you in the past, and how it will do so in the future.

    Past and future mental anguish: How your physical injury has caused mental anguish to the point that it is more than mere disappointment, resentment, embarrassment, or anger, and how it will do so in the future.

    Past and future pain and suffering: Financial compensation is allowed based on the common sense, knowledge and sense of justice of a jury. Determining the value of pain and suffering in terms of settling a claim is therefor done by trying to think of how a jury will think the value is.

    Property damage: Damage done to your property, such as your bike, smartphone, specialty clothing, glasses, etc. is recoverable in an accident case.

    Loss of use of your property: – such as rental car bills if you biked to work or school, or if you used your bike or property in your business and lost some of your income while the bike was not able to be driven is recoverable in an accident case.

    Storage: If your property was taken from the scene and stored in a storage yard or building, you will have bills for that storage. This is recoverable in an accident case.

    Total loss of property: If your bike, phone, other property was destroyed and cannot be repaired, you are entitled to recover its value that it would have been worth just prior to the accident.

    Diminished value of property: If your bike or other property has been repaired, but it is now worth less money due to it having been involved in the accident, then you are entitled to recover money for the diminished value of your property.

    Loss of body member or mental function: If you have lost an arm, leg, or mental function or capacity due to the accident or injury, then you may recover damages for the harm that was caused.

    Loss of consortium (spouse, parental, child/filial): If the injury was severe enough that it has caused you to no longer enjoy the companionship of your spouse or family members, then you are entitled to recover based on how this has damaged your family relationships.

    Loss of services: If a spouse or partner can no longer do their normal household duties due to the injury, then they are entitled to recover for this.

    Punitive Damages: Are allowed with the purpose of “punishing” the person who caused the injury for very bad or illegal behavior, with the intent of discouraging such behavior from occurring again in the future.

    Other damages that may be recoverable in accident and injury cases include prenatal injury, exemplary damages, prejudgment interest, attorney’s fees, and court costs.

    Seek the Help of Experienced Bicycle Accident Attorneys for Your Claim

    Negotiating an effective settlement requires a thorough understanding of the facts of the case, the law that applies, the value of the claim, and the ability and willingness to take a case to trial where necessary. The bicycle accident lawyers at Curd, Galindo & Smith possess these qualities and have obtained multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients and their families who were injured or killed by motor vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, contact Curd, Galindo & Smith, L.L.P. for a free consultation regarding your potential claims.

    Contingency Fee Basis — No Win, No Pay

    California Personal Injury Lawyers have a policy: No Recovery - No FeesYou absolutely can afford to retain the services of the nationally-recognized personal injury attorneys at Curd, Galindo & Smith because we work on a contingency-fee basis.

    What does this mean to you? You do not have to pay us any type of fee out of pocket. In fact, you will not even have to pay us a dime unless we win your case. The contingent-fee arrangement is also commonly referred to as “no win — no fee” because the client is not held responsible for payment in the event that the attorneys are not successful in recovering an insurance settlement or jury award for money damages.

    If you have been seriously injured, we encourage you to call us today at (800) 300-2300 for your free, confidential consultation.