North County San Diego Injury Lawyers
Bicycling in Valley Center and throughout Southern California is a popular activity and mode of transportation, but it can also be extremely dangerous. Whether you only ride a bicycle occasionally or you are on a bike several days a week, it is essential to understand how bike crashes happen, who is often liable, and what you can do in order to seek compensation. According to a recent study from BikeLA reported in KTLA news, a “vast majority of deadly collisions involving cyclists happened on roads that don’t have dedicated bike lanes.” In other words, bike lanes could be essential in the goal of preventing bike accidents and injuries in Southern California. What else should you know about the study? Our Valley Center personal injury attorneys can provide you with more information.
Getting the Facts About Bicycle Injuries and Lack of Bike Lanes
Are bike lanes the answer to preventing a majority of bicycle injuries in Southern California? According to the BikeLA study, in assessing bicycle accident deaths from 2022, “the most regular contributing factor . . . was a lack of dedicated infrastructure for cyclists.” Indeed, about 85% of bike accident fatalities occur on roads that do not have dedicated bike lanes.
In addition to a lack of bike lanes, other factors that are cited most often as contributing to deadly bicycle accidents include vehicle speeding, poor lighting on the street, and streets that have multiple traffic lanes. Overall, however, the data suggest that the presence of dedicated bike lanes may be able to reduce deaths among cyclists.
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident?
If you are injured in a bike crash or a collision with an automobile in Southern California, what steps do you need to take in order to be able to seek compensation and hold the at-fault motorist accountable? In general, the essential steps to take following a bicycle accident are similar to those you would take after many types of accidents involving personal injuries:
- Document the scene of the accident visually as best as you can, using your phone to take photos and videos that show the broader area where the accident happened and close-up images of injuries or property damage;
- Get the contact information for anyone who was involved in the accident (including the driver who may have struck you), as well as for anyone who might have witnessed the bike accident;
- See a doctor as soon as you can, understanding that some injuries may be obvious, but others might not immediately yield symptoms but will nonetheless require quick treatment so that they do not worsen or cause life-threatening complications;
- Begin working with a Southern California bicycle accident attorney as soon as you can to ensure that your claim is filed on time; and
- Determine the statute of limitations for your claim (which is likely two years under California law, but could be as short as six months or one year for accidents that may involve public property or government employees), and file your claim before the clock runs out.
Contact Our Valley Center Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Do you have questions about filing a bicycle accident claim? An experienced Valley Center bicycle accident attorney at our firm is here to assist you. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information about your options.
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