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DELIVERING JUSTICE FOR MY CLIENTS
Roseville Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Roseville, CA Practice Areas
Roseville Bike Accident Attorney
Many people living in Rosevilleand throughout the rest of southern California enjoy riding bicycles for leisure and exercise, and motorcycles are also prevalent throughout the state. However, while many people enjoy the flexibility and reliability of a simple bicycle, even using them as alternative transportation to and from work, they must acknowledge the inherent dangers of cycling near motor vehicle traffic. Similarly, motorcyclists should also recognize the risks they face around larger passenger vehicles because their bikes offer virtually no physical protection in a crash.
Legal Counsel for Bicycle Accident Claims in Roseville, CA
Suppose you or a loved one recently experienced a bicycle accident or motorcycle accident in the Roseville, CA, area. In that case, it is essential to know your legal options for recovering your damages. Whenever a driver strikes a bicyclist, the bicyclist is almost certain to suffer catastrophic injuries, many of which can be life-threatening without immediate emergency medical treatment. Motorcyclists can also suffer devastating injuries when they are struck by drivers operating larger vehicles.
Kreeger Law offers client-focused representation for a wide range of personal injury claims in Roseville, CA. We understand that every injured bicyclist has a unique story and will experience a wide range of damages that can impact their life for years to come, or even permanently. Our goal is to provide the answers you need to your most important legal questions and guide you through the legal processes necessary for obtaining compensation for your losses.
Why Should I Hire a Roseville Bicycle Accident Attorney?
If you believe you have grounds for legal action following a bike accident in Roseville, do not assume that you can handle your recovery without legal counsel from an experienced attorney. While it is technically possible for a personal injury plaintiff to represent themselves and avoid legal fees, they are likely to make critical errors that jeopardize their cases due to a lack of familiarity with California personal injury statutes. As a result, you may make unintentional errors that jeopardize your ability to recover your damages, ultimately risking your recovery and obtaining less than an attorney could have secured on your behalf.
Navigating a personal injury claim on your own is also difficult because you would need to do so while managing the effects of your accident. For example, suppose you have suffered painful injuries and struggle to manage your finances due to expensive medical bills and your inability to work. In that case, it’s best to have an experienced legal team assist you in securing the compensation you deserve. Instead of attempting to shoulder this incredible burden on your own, have an experienced Roseville bike accident attorney handle your case on your behalf.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Roseville, CA
The first phase of any personal injury claim is determining fault for the plaintiff’s injuries. For example, if another party caused your bike accident in Roseville, your attorney could help you gather the evidence and witness testimony you may need to hold them accountable. Some of the most commonly cited causes of bike accidents in Roseville that lead to personal injury claims include:
- Distracted driving. The most commonly reported cause of motor vehicle accidents across the United States is distracted driving. Even a momentary distraction behind the wheel is capable of causing a severe accident. This is especially true if a driver does not see a cyclist in time to avoid a collision.
- Driving under the influence (DUI). It is illegal and dangerous for any driver to operate their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When an impaired driver causes a bicycle accident because of DUI, they face criminal charges under California’s DUI laws as well as civil liability for the victim’s damages.
- Speeding. It’s vital for drivers to abide by posted speed limits. Most cyclists would have difficulty exceeding most of the posted speed limits in the Roseville area, so when speeding causes a bicycle accident, the driver is almost always to blame.
- Moving violations. Drivers who make illegal turns and U-turns, fail to stop at red lights and stop signs, or change lanes without using their turn signals place others at risk and make it difficult for nearby drivers to anticipate their actions. In addition, these moving violations can easily cause bicycle accidents because bikes are smaller and harder to see than larger passenger vehicles.
- Poor visibility. Both bicycles and motorcycles are smaller than most passenger vehicles, making it easier for them to slip into other drivers’ blind spots. Visibility problems can easily cause devastating bicycle accidents, so all drivers must use extra caution when driving in areas with poor visibility.
- Mechanical failures. Drivers must address any maintenance issues they notice with their vehicles as soon as they discover them. Allowing mechanical problems to persist can eventually cause an accident. Unfortunately, it’s also possible for defective vehicle parts to cause bicycle accidents.
These are only a few examples of how bicycle accidents might happen in Roseville, CA. Suppose you believe another party is responsible for causing your recent bicycle accident. In that case, it is essential to consult an experienced Roseville bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible to determine the best approach to your claim.
Risks Facing Motorcyclists in California
Bicyclists are some of the most vulnerable people on the roads in southern California. While motorcycles are larger and it is legal to operate on the same roads where passenger vehicles may travel, motorcyclists still face many of the same risks as bicyclists. For example, they have no physical protection when a car crashes into them, and even appropriately fitted safety gear may only mitigate, not prevent, severe injuries. Additionally, as motorcycles can drive faster than bicycles, motorcycle accidents tend to happen at higher speeds and more often result in more serious damages.
Proving Liability for a Roseville Bicycle Accident
Suppose you believe another party is responsible for your recent bike accident. In that case, it is essential to gather the evidence and testimony you will need to hold them accountable for their actions. The core legal concept in every personal injury claim is negligence, or a failure to exercise reasonable care in a given situation. Therefore, if you believe another driver is responsible for causing your recent bike accident, you will need to prove they were negligent and that their negligence directly caused your claimed damages. An experienced Roseville bike accident attorney can assist you in identifying the defendant and establishing negligence:
- In a personal injury claim, the plaintiff must show the defendant owed a duty of care in the situation in question.
- The plaintiff must then provide evidence that shows the defendant failed to uphold this duty of care somehow. For example, driving under the influence of alcohol would be a clear violation of the driver’s duty of care to avoid intoxicated driving.
- The plaintiff and their attorney must provide the court with a complete and accurate list of all the damages they intend to claim in the bike accident lawsuit.
- Finally, the plaintiff and their attorney must prove their claimed damages arise directly from the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause.
Once the plaintiff has provided the evidence required to prove these negligence elements, success in their claim is likely. An experienced Roseville bike accident lawyer will assist their client in holding the defendant accountable for all of the damages resulting from the bike accident in question.
Damages and Compensation in a Roseville BicycleAccident Claim
Whenever a motor vehicle driver hits a bicyclist or motorcyclist, the victim will likely suffer extreme injuries. These accidents generate two impacts: the primary impact caused by the vehicles colliding and a secondary impact caused by the victim hitting the ground. Neither bicycles nor motorcycles have the safety features found in enclosed passenger cars like seatbelts and airbags. Even the best safety gear can only do so much to protect the victim of a bike accident.
Some of the injuries that a bike accident victim is likely to experience include traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, and internal organ damage. It’s common for bicycle accident victims to sustain multiple injuries, many of which require immediate emergency care.
Your Roseville bike accident attorney can help you claim compensation for all damages caused by a defendant’s negligence, including:
- Medical expenses. California personal injury law allows plaintiffs to recover their immediate and future medical expenses resulting from a defendant’s negligence. Therefore, if your injuries require immediate medical treatment and ongoing rehabilitative care, you can hold the defendant accountable for your short- and long-term medical expenses.
- Lost income. Your bike accident may result in severe injuries that prevent you from working for an extended time. You can add lost wages to your economic damages to recover the income you should have earned during your recovery. Additionally, if you cannot return to work due to permanent disability from your bike accident, you can claim lost earning potential in your bike accident claim.
- Property damage. Bicycles and motorcycles are likely to be severely damaged or destroyed in bike accidents. Therefore, the plaintiff can claim repair and replacement costs for their personal property in a bike accident claim.
- Pain and suffering. California law allows a personal injury plaintiff to recover financial compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by a defendant’s negligence or wrongful actions. The amount the plaintiff may claim hinges on the severity of their injuries and whether they developed any long-term medical complications from them.
The total compensation from a successful bicycle accident claim in Roseville, CA, could be much more than you initially anticipated when you have an experienced Roseville bike accident lawyer handling your case. Therefore, when you choose Kreeger Law to represent your claim, we will thoroughly explore every channel of recovery that may be available to you, including those you may have overlooked on your own. We can also help you address unexpected variables as your case unfolds, such as the defendant’s claims of comparative negligence that, if left unchallenged, could negatively impact your recovery.
Comparative Negligence in California Personal Injury Claims
California enforces a pure comparative negligence law for personal injury claims. This law allows a plaintiff who is partially responsible for causing their claimed damages to recover compensation with no threshold of fault that would bar their recovery. Theoretically, a plaintiff could be 99% at fault for a personal injury in California and still recover damages. However, the pure comparative negligence law requires the plaintiff loses a percentage of their case award equal to their fault percentage.
For example, if a plaintiff claims $500,000 in damages for a bike accident, but the court determines the plaintiff is 25% at fault for causing the accident, the plaintiff loses 25% of the case award, meaning their net case award will be only $375,000. While there is no threshold of fault that would bar a plaintiff from recovery under California’s pure comparative negligence law, the higher the plaintiff’s fault percentage, the more vulnerable they are to counterclaims from the defendant.
Our Roseville Location
Contact Our Roseville Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
Your Roseville bike accident attorney can perform several valuable legal services in handling your case, including helping you disprove claims of comparative negligence from the defendant and preserving your total case award to the fullest extent possible. In addition, some bike accidents involve complex details that require input from expert witnesses. For example, if a defendant asserts comparative negligence, the plaintiff’s attorney could consult an accident reconstruction expert to examine the physics behind the collision in question and prove fault. As a result, you can expect your legal team to perform several valuable services that will assist you in holding the defendant accountable for your damages and securing maximum compensation for those damages.
Kreeger Law can provide the comprehensive legal counsel you need when facing a difficult bike accident claim in Roseville, CA. We have years of experience handling challenging personal injury claims on behalf of our clients. We can leverage this experience and our professional resources on your behalf in a bike accident claim. We understand the stress and uncertainty that can follow any bike accident in the Roseville, CA, area. If you are ready to discuss your legal options with a compassionate Roseville bike accident attorney, contact Kreeger Law today and schedule a consultation to get the answers you need.
About Roseville, CA
Roseville, California is located in the Sacramento metropolitan area with a population around 141,500. There are two extension campuses of Brandman University and Sierra College located within Roseville. The national passenger rail system, Amtrak, , offers train service to Roseville at the Roseville Amtrak Station. Residents have major medical facilities available with Sutter Roseville hospital and Kaiser Permanente. First responder services through the Roseville Fire Department provide fire protection and emergency medical services.
