Did a Car Hit You While on Your Bike?
San Diego Bicycle Accident Attorney Frederick Dudek Is Here For You
If you or someone you love was injured in a bicycle/vehicle collision, you are probably thinking: how did this accident happen? Who was at fault? What legal avenues do I have available for seeking compensation? Filing a lawsuit after a bike accident is a complex process, but San Diego bicycle accident lawyer Frederick Dudek from Dudek Law Firm APC is here to help you through the process and answer any questions you have. He can help you seek medical treatment, file insurance paperwork, and, if necessary, he will fight aggressively to protect your rights in court.
Causes of Bicycle/Vehicle Collisions
Every year, traffic accidents involving bicycles result in over 700 deaths and approximately 52,000 injuries. Collisions with motor vehicles account for only a third of bicycle accidents, but they account for the majority of deaths and catastrophic injuries. Many different factors cause a bicycle/vehicle collision, including:
- Bicycle defects
- Poor road conditions (caused by weather, lack of road maintenance, fallen cargo, etc.)
- Bicyclist error
However, a large percentage of these accidents result from motorists simply failing to notice the bicyclist. Typically, these accidents involve either a motorist failing to yield right of way to a bicyclist at an intersection, a motorist turning or merging into the bicyclist’s path, or a motorist overtaking a bicyclist and failing to judge properly the space needed to pass the bicyclist.
Most studies indicate that, like motorcycle accidents, these types of collisions result from drivers not expecting to see a bicyclist. When we drive, we unconsciously look for particular visual cues to alert us to hazards. Since the vast majority of the vehicles we see on the road are passenger cars or trucks, we look for those vehicles when scanning an intersection or road before making a turn. Motorists simply do not register bicyclists until it is too late to avoid a collision. Statistics indicate that bicyclists who wear bright colors or have lights on their bicycles are less likely to be involved in a collision. Furthermore, almost one third of all bicycle/vehicle collisions occur between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., when it is getting darker outside.
Biases Against Bicyclists
Bias against bicyclists can manifest in a number of ways, both leading up to and after an accident. Some motorists mistakenly believe that they should not have to share the road with bicyclists. This type of thinking often results in accidents when motorists intentionally or unintentionally run bicyclists off the road.
Some researchers believe that as many as one third of all bicycle/vehicle accidents go unreported because law enforcement officers simply do not believe these accidents are serious. Additionally, if you must take your case to court, it may be necessary to explain bicycle terminology and safe cycling practices. An experienced and knowledgeable bicycle accident attorney can fight to convince a jury that a bicyclist was the victim of negligence and deserves to receive compensation for his or her injuries.
Let Frederick Dudek Help You
Frederick Dudek has over eighteen years of experience helping cyclists hurt in bicycle/vehicle accidents. Dudek Law Firm APC only accepts a limited number of cases so that Frederick Dudek can give each client the attention he or she deserves. Whenever he takes a case, attorney Frederick Dudek conducts an extensive investigation of the accident scene to determine precisely how the accident occurred. He is dedicated to fighting for your rights and making sure you receive full compensation for your injuries. If you suffered a serious injury in a bike accident, contact experienced San Diego bike accident lawyer Frederick Dudek today for a free consultation.