If you are a bicyclist in Sacramento, you may know that Sacramento is the fifth deadliest city in the U.S. for cyclists, according to a 2018 study published by the Wall Street Journal.
Aside from fatal bicycle accidents, Sacramento, like most metropolitan areas, has its fair share of non-fatal bike accidents that lead to long-term injuries. One reason for this is the lack of protection. Think about a sport like football. A running back, even with a helmet and pads, can still be injured from a tackle by a 300-lb. defensive lineman. However, that protective gear is the difference between a sore shoulder and a hospital visit.
Similarly, a cyclist has no protection when they are hit by a vehicle. A two-ton car colliding with a person on a bicycle will almost always result in severe, if not catastrophic, injuries. And with severe injuries come complications down the road.
Ready to speak to a Sacramento bicycle attorney right now? Call us at (916) 438-1819 to schedule a free, no-risk consultation. If we take your case, you pay nothing unless you win.
See how our Sacramento bicycle accident attorneys can help your family.
Common Types of Bicycle Injuries
- Head Injuries: Despite helmets, head trauma like concussions and brain damage can occur due to the violent jolt or impact of a bike helmet hitting an object
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Long-term chronic pain, nerve damage, or even paralysis.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to organs can lead to internal bleeding and other complications, some of which may not be immediately obvious.
- Broken Bones and Fractures: High-impact collisions frequently cause broken bones, requiring surgery and lengthy recovery periods.
- Facial Injuries: Impacts can cause facial fractures and dental injuries that require surgery to correct; facial scarring may also require future cosmetic surgery, long after initial wounds are healed.
Reasons To Hire a Bicycle Accident Attorney
- An experienced attorney will calculate current and future potential damages, such as:
- Long-Term Medical Costs: Some injuries, like those affecting the brain, spinal cord, or soft tissue, can lead to chronic pain, long-term disability, and require ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, or even in-home care. An attorney will coordinate with medical experts to make sure all future costs are anticipated.
- Lost Earning Potential: A serious injury may prevent a victim from returning to their job or force them to take a lower-paying position. Having an attorney who can calculate the loss of future income and earning capacity is a critical part of compensation that is both full and fair.
- Pain and Suffering: Chronic pain, fear, lack of enjoyment of life due to limited mobility, all take their mental toll on a person. An experienced attorney will know how to build a strong case for all of these non-economic losses.
- An attorney will take on insurance companies by:
- Protecting Your Rights: Insurance adjusters work for insurance companies, not victims. Their job is to minimize payouts. In pursuit of that goal, quick, lowball settlement offers before the extent of injuries is known is not uncommon. An experienced personal injury attorney will protect you from signing away your rights that leave you shortchanged.
- Navigating Insurance Company “Tactics”: California has comparative negligence laws that mean the victim can receive a settlement even if they are partially at fault for an accident. Insurance companies often try to shift more blame onto a victim than they deserve, to take advantage of the situation. An experienced bicycle accident attorney won’t let this happen.
- Attorneys have invaluable professional resources.
- Investigation: A local attorney will have established relationships with professional resources such as investigators, expert witnesses, accident reconstructionists, and medical specialists, all of which are critical to building a solid case that connects the accident to your long-term injuries.
- Litigation and Negotiation: Having an experienced trial attorney who will not hesitate to take that step if a fair settlement is not reached is invaluable. An attorney with experience in both negotiation and litigation offers a significant advantage and levels the playing field against large insurance companies that employ teams of lawyers.
Local Resources for Bicycle Accident Victims
Local resources are available if you need support following a bike accident in Sacramento.
- It Could Be Me: Provides online support, including group sessions, for individuals who have experienced a bicycle crash.
- Sacramento Bike Hikers: With more than 450 members, this group hosts organized rides and serves as a community where cyclists can gain support from other cyclists.
Free Consultation and No Fee Unless You Win
Our bicycle accident attorneys offer free, no-risk consultations so you can ask questions and find out if you have a case. We work on a contingency basis only, which means you pay only if you win.
Call us today at (916) 438-1819 to schedule your free, no-risk consultation.