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“Share the road.” It’s a common refrain seen on bumper stickers and road signs across the country. As biking continues to rise in popularity as a low-cost, environmentally friendly way to exercise and commute, the need for drivers and cyclists to share the road responsibly will only become more and more pressing in Riverside.
Riverside is no exception. Although the city is cycling-friendly, it also faces a rising risk of accidents that leave cyclists badly, even fatally, injured.
If you have suffered injuries in a Riverside bicycle accident, then you may have the right to receive substantial financial compensation from the driver of the car that struck you or from others whose careless decisions or actions put you in harm’s way. Contact Gomez Trial Attorneys today to learn about our legal practice representing Riverside bicycle accident victims in legal actions seeking that compensation.
John Gomez and his colleagues serve victims of bicycle accidents throughout Southern California, including in Riverside. By leveraging their experience, skills, and resources, they have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards for their injured clients. Although they cannot guarantee that any particular client will recover compensation for bicycle accident injuries, they can promise that clients will receive the personalized attention of a Riverside personal injury lawyer who knows how to get results in and out of the courtroom.
Bicycle crashes in Riverside are not new. In fact, statistics show that cyclist fatalities are on the rise in California, where 455 bicycle-accident-related deaths occurred in a recent two year period (including 25 fatalities right here in Riverside). A large percentage of those tragic deaths (and the thousands of injuries that did not result in a fatality) could have been avoided if motorists, in particular, exercised caution when sharing the road.
Riverside cyclists have the same right to use Riverside roads as any car or truck driver. They also have similar responsibilities for protecting their own safety.
That includes obeying rules of the road, such as:
Riverside cyclists who fail to follow these rules put themselves at risk for a serious, potentially-fatal collision with a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, even when cyclists do follow the rules of the road, accidents happen because of the careless or reckless conduct of motorists.
Cyclists risk potentially deadly injuries in a traffic collision. Whereas motor vehicle drivers and passengers have the protection of a car frame, seat belts, and airbags, cyclists are particularly vulnerable to injury in an accident. The only safety equipment protecting them from a crushing blow is usually nothing more than a helmet, and even that cannot prevent head injuries entirely.
Common injuries cyclists suffer in Riverside bicycle crashes can include:
No matter the type of injury a cyclist suffers in Riverside, the team at Gomez Trial Attorneys has the know-how and resources to evaluate their injuries and to determine the amount of compensation they deserve under California law.
Bicycle accidents occur under a variety of circumstances.
Some common scenarios leading to Riverside cycling accident injuries include:
No matter the cause of a Riverside cycling crash, the lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys know how to evaluate the circumstances to identify all parties who have legal liability for a cyclist’s injuries.
Riverside bicycle accident victims often have the legal right to seek compensation from the parties at fault for their injuries. The specific circumstances of a cycling crash determine the type and amount of compensation an accident victim might recover.
However, in general, clients of Gomez Trial Attorneys can usually seek to recover economic and non-economic damages for their Riverside cycling accident injuries, and in some cases may also include punitive damages:
Economic damages consist of a victim’s out-of-pocket expenses relating to Riverside bicycle accident injuries, including:
Non-Economic damages represent the harm suffered in a Riverside bicycle crash that does not result in direct out-of-pocket expenses, but instead consists of life difficulties such as:
Punitive Damages: In California, punitive damages are sometimes available when the conduct leading to a cyclist’s injuries is particularly outrageous or reckless. These damages aim to punish the person at fault and to deter future misconduct.
The most reliable way to determine the amount of money you may have the right to receive for your Riverside bicycle crash injuries is to consult with an experienced Riverside bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible after your injury. The lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys have the experience and resources cycling accident victims need to give themselves the best possible shot at recovering maximum compensation for their injuries and losses.
Generally, in California, if you are injured in a Riverside bicycle accident, you have two years from the date of your injury to take legal action seeking compensation from the parties who have a legal liability to you. However, that time limit can shrink to as little as six months in some cases. Missing that deadline can result in you losing your legal rights altogether.
Protect your legal rights after getting hurt in a Riverside bicycle accident by contacting the experienced bicycle accident injury lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys right away. The sooner you speak with an attorney about your injury, the greater your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve.
Many factors can determine how long it takes for you to receive compensation for your Riverside bicycle crash injuries.
To begin, remember there is no guarantee you will recover money at all. In claims that reach a successful outcome for the cyclist, the timeline varies considerably. We have represented clients in claims that ended in just a few months. We have had other cases that took a year or more to get to trial. Many of the factors affecting the timeline for a bicycle accident injury claim are out of your and your lawyer’s control, including the amount of money in dispute, the number of parties involved in the case, any disputes over facts or legal issues, and even the personalities of the lawyers, insurance representatives, parties, and judge.
One factor that is in your control, however, is the decision to speak with an experienced bicycle accident injury attorney about your claim. As we said above, the sooner you contact a lawyer, the better your chances of achieving a favorable outcome as efficiently as possible.
Riverside bicycle accident victims sometimes hear directly from the insurance company or defense lawyer representing the fault for their injuries. These representatives may even offer to pay the accident victim a settlement before the victim has hired a lawyer.
Tempting as it may seem to take the money, Riverside bicycle crash victims should exercise extreme caution when it comes to these unsolicited offers of seemingly free money. A settlement comes with strings attached: namely, that in accepting payment the victim gives up legal rights to sue. The settlement, in other words, is a one-shot-deal. Get it wrong, and you may end up realizing you agreed to a payment that was too small, without the ability to ask for more.
At Gomez Trial Attorneys, we negotiate settlements on our clients’ behalf, so that they never fall prey to these sorts of tactics.
The actions riverside cycling accident victims take after a crash can affect their legal rights to compensation. Here are some tips that can protect your safety and your rights.
Even if you do not think you have suffered a severe injury, seek medical attention as soon as possible after a Riverside bicycle accident. A doctor can examine you for hidden injuries and get started on treating you right away. Also, the records of your doctor visit may prove valuable in a legal action seeking compensation for your injuries.
A lot of the time, Riverside cycling accident victims are too badly hurt to do anything at the accident scene other than receive treatment from an EMT. However, if you are lucky enough to survive the accident without serious impairment, take the opportunity to snap some quick pictures or videos with your cell phone of the accident scene, your bike, the vehicle that struck you, and your injuries. These may prove very useful to your lawyer.
In the same vein, if you can do so safely, get the names and contact information of anyone at the scene who was involved in, responded to, or saw the accident. Your lawyer can follow up with these witnesses later to obtain their account of what happened.
After any accident involving the person or company to whom they issued insurance, insurance companies want to know what happened and, more importantly, how they can avoid paying a penny more than they need to as compensation to anyone. Be mindful that in any conversation with an insurance company, even your own carrier, not to say anything that could suggest you were to blame for your own injuries. Stick to the facts only, and let the lawyers deal with questions of fault.
While Southern California’s weather allows for bike riding year-round, Riverside has many hazards for bicyclists, mostly related to the interaction between different groups of travelers on single roadways. Dozens of bicyclists are killed or injured in Riverside each year.
If you were injured or have lost a loved one due to this type of accident, you undoubtedly have a lot of questions as to how to pay for the expenses you have incurred due to medical treatment and other services. Here are the answers to some of the questions our Riverside bicycle accident clients most frequently ask.
If the accident was the result of someone else’s carelessness or recklessness, you can seek recovery of damages through a Riverside bicycle accident lawsuit. This is a legal claim filed in civil court within two years of the date of the accident. The lawsuit seeks to prove that another person or entity was responsible for the accident and demonstrate the expenses and impacts that the injury has had on the claimant’s life.
To show that someone was liable for the accident that caused your injuries, you need to prove:
California allows accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to the actual out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of injuries suffered in the accident.
Economic damages commonly claimed in bicycle accident cases include:
Non-economic damages refer to the impacts that your injury has had on your life.
Some examples of non-economic damages in Riverside bicycle accident cases include:
Yes, provided someone else was responsible for the accident that resulted in your injury. According to California law, only those under 18 are required to wear a safety helmet when riding a bicycle. Not wearing a helmet, however, doesn’t excuse a negligent driver from hitting you on your bike.
Yes, but you would use a slightly different process. In California, the family members of bicycle accident victims who die as a result of an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence can recover compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Like a Riverside bicycle accident lawsuit, a wrongful death claim is filed in civil court.
A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the decedent’s death. The family members eligible to benefit from a wrongful death lawsuit include decedent’s spouse, domestic partner, surviving children, parents, or others who were wholly or partially dependent on the deceased for services or support.
The damages that can be recovered in a wrongful death case include:
Because accident settlements are based on the unique facts of each case, there is no “average” settlement for a Riverside bicycle accident case.
There are, however, several factors that can change the value of the case, including:
The vast majority of Riverside bicycle accident cases resolve before they ever see the inside of a courtroom. Because of this fact, chances are far more likely that your case will settle than be resolved through litigation. That said, some of these cases most certainly will go to court, and you must find an attorney to represent your case who is equally skilled at negotiating during the settlement process and litigating in court.
The Internal Revenue Service does not consider compensation received through a settlement or award as income and, therefore, does not tax it. The exception to this involves punitive damages, which punish a defendant for particularly reckless behavior, but are not related to the expenses and impacts of the plaintiff’s injuries. Because this money does not reimburse someone for what the defendant took from them through the accident, punitive damages are taxable.
Additionally, if you claimed your medical expenses as a tax deduction before you received your award and then later received an award that included payment for those expenses, you may need to pay back the amount of the deduction you took.
An accountant can file your return for you and make sure you comply with all state and federal tax laws.
Pursuing the recovery of damages through a Riverside bicycle accident case is a complex process filled with court requirements and formalities that someone who is not trained in the legal arena would have a difficult time accomplishing.
Your attorney can provide you with services aimed at increasing your likelihood of having a successful outcome in your case, including:
The award-winning lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys have experience in bicycle accident cases, including those where the victim suffered severe, life-altering injuries as well as those in which the victim died as a result of his or her injuries. For a free case evaluation, contact us online or call us now. We’re always available to provide a free case evaluation.
Injured in an accident? Get a real trial lawyer. Get Gomez.
Bicycle accident victims in Riverside suddenly confront a life temporarily, even permanently, transformed by a severe injury. Medical bills pile up. They miss work. Their world has turned upside down.
In those stressful circumstances, the last thing victims may think to do is call a lawyer. However, hiring an attorney as soon as possible can make a significant difference in the victim’s long-term wellbeing.
Though the specific services an attorney provides will vary based on the circumstances, some of the services our team at Gomez Trial Attorneys routinely provides include:
John Gomez, Riverside Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Investigation of Riverside bicycle accidents to determine what happened and who has a legal liability to our client;
If you or a family member suffered harm in a Riverside bicycle accident, then you may have the right to recover substantial financial compensation from the parties at fault. Do not wait to seek experienced, skilled legal advice. You may have a very limited opportunity to take legal action for monetary damages, so please reach out to us now. Contact Gomez Trial Attorneys today or call us at (619) 237-3490 for a free, confidential, no-obligation case consultation.
Gomez Trial Attorneys
11840 Pierce Street STE 200
Riverside, CA 92505
(619) 237.3490
No Fees Unless We Recover Money On Your Behalf