It’s a common scenario we’ve seen with many clients. One minute, they are enjoying a sunny afternoon on their bike, heading to the Stockton Waterfront or some other bike-friendly area of Stockton. In an instant, everything changes: a jarring impact or possibly screeching tires and suddenly they’re on the ground.
Sometimes it’s a car veering into a bike lane, or a pedestrian stepping out in front of them. Even when a bicycle can avoid contact with a moving vehicle, crashing into an object like a bench or just hitting the ground hard can cause severe, even catastrophic injuries, not to mention a destroyed bike.
If you were hurt in a bicycle accident and went to the emergency room, you did the right thing. But now you are home, thinking about what to do next. Do you call your boss? Your insurance company? The police?
Learn more about our Stockton Bicycle Accident Attorney Services.
Eason & Tambornini is a trusted advocate for bicyclists in and around Stockton and has been for over 30 years. We have avid bicyclists on our staff and feel passionately about protecting their rights to enjoy the Stockton area safely and without fear. If you are ready to speak to a bicycle accident attorney, call us at (209) 323-5126 or send an email now.
If negligence on someone else’s part played a role in your bicycle accident, a personal injury claim is a crucial step in the right direction. But where do you even begin?
At The Scene: Call the Police
A police report is invaluable in almost any situation where someone is injured. If possible, call the police before leaving the accident scene. When officers arrive, they will document the scene, gather witness statements, and create an official record of the event, including the names of everyone involved, whether injured or not. This report can be pivotal evidence later in your claim.
While You Wait for Police: Take Pictures
If you’re injured, you won’t be able to do much, but if you can, use your cell phone to take pictures of your bike, belongings, the scene of the accident, and the other parties involved. Call someone you trust to come to the scene to help you if possible. If you can gather information, type it into the Notes app on your phone.
At Home: Call a Stockton Bicycle Accident Attorney
Why local? A local bicycle accident attorney will have experience with the complications specific to bike accident cases in the city. Additionally, they will be familiar with Stockton-area traffic laws pertaining to bicycles. Local attorneys know streets, neighborhoods, and public areas where bike accidents commonly occur, which gives your case a vital head start.
Free Consultation and No Upfront Fees
A free consultation ensures it costs you nothing to find out what your options are. Eason & Tambornini offers a free, no-risk case review, where you can ask any questions. If we think you have a case, we will offer to represent you. If you hire us, you will pay no fees upfront, and you will only pay a fee if you win a settlement.
Speak Only to Your Attorney About the Accident
Insurance adjusters often contact victims almost immediately. One of their tactics is to offer a quick settlement that, at first mention, sounds reasonable. However, these initial offers rarely account for the full extent of your damages, including future medical costs, lost wages (if your injury prevents you from working), and pain and suffering. Any documented or recorded statements you provide can be used against you later. Tell the insurance adjuster that you will be in contact through your attorney.
Basic Steps in a Bicycle Accident Personal Injury Claim
- Investigation: This includes gathering of witness statements, video footage if any, medical and police reports, and insurance information of the at-fault party. Two critical goals of the investigatory stage are establishing fault or liability and determining the full extent of damages. Damages may include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other related non-economic damages.
- Negotiation: Bicycle accidents often result in severe injuries due to the lack of protective gear. This means that long-term medical care costs, surgeries, and rehabilitation may be considered. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering could be a key factor if chronic pain, anxiety, and a negatively impacted quality of life are present.
- Settlement or Litigation
If negotiations do not result in a fair settlement, your bicycle accident attorney may recommend litigation (trial). This requires filing a lawsuit. Our bicycle accident attorney will represent you in court and prepare you for the process. Note: An out-of-court settlement may still be agreed to up until the start of the trial. Most bicycle accident injury claims settle out of court.
Hire an Experienced, Trusted Stockton Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Stockton, Eason & Tambornini can help. We are cyclists ourselves, and we’ve represented countless bike accident injury victims in the Stockton area in our 30 years of practicing law.
Call our office to schedule a free, no-risk consultation at (209) 323-5126 and get started on the path to recovery.