San Diego Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Turn to a Firm with Over 140 Recoveries Over $1 Million!

With an extensive network of bike paths, bicycle lanes, and recreational and competitive events for serious bicycle enthusiasts, San Diego offers a broad range of opportunities for anyone interested in bike riding as a fitness or commuting option. Unfortunately, too many motorists are still unaccustomed to sharing the roads and highways with bikes, and extremely serious, even fatal, injuries can result from bicycle-motor vehicle accidents.

A typical passenger car can literally barrel through a group of cyclists, causing serious injuries. Even when wearing helmets, bicycle riders are at extremely high risk of injury in collisions with automobiles because they are otherwise unprotected from harm. Internal organ damage, spinal injuries and broken bones are likely, and a cyclist may sustain head trauma even when wearing a helmet if he or she is struck hard enough.

Helping Clients Recover After Bike Crashes in San Diego

To learn how we can help you or a loved one after a serious bicycle accident, call (619) 215-1488 to schedule a free consultation with a San Diego bike accident lawyer. With more than 140 verdicts and settlements over $1 million, we have proven our ability to establish liability against negligent drivers who cause serious injuries.

We can help bring a bike accident claim against a driver and/or another responsible party such as:

• Motor vehicle manufacturers for unsafe auto design
• Helmet manufacturers for product defects
• State or local transportation agencies for unsafe road/highway design
• Highway construction companies for improper maintenance or negligent construction
• Commercial property owners for unsafe parking lot, sidewalk or driveway conditions

We also have helped bicyclists injured in hit-and-run accidents. Our personal injury lawyers' commitment to maximum physical and financial recovery through the identification and presentation of all claims against all possible defendants can mean the difference between a full recovery and a less than adequate settlement.

How Do Bicycle Accidents Often Occur?

Bicycle accidents can occur in just about any manner imaginable; however, there are certain types of bike crashes that occur more often than others. For example, bicycle accidents frequently occur at stop signs. This could occur because the cyclist pedals out into the intersection when a car has the right of way. In other cases, a bicycle with the right-of-way may be going into an intersection without a stop sign when a car approaches.

Other common “types” of bicycle accidents include the following:

• Left-Turn Accidents – This occurs when a motorist turns left in front of a bicyclist going straight. In this situation, the bicyclist could be hit from the side or run into the right side of the vehicle.
• Right-Turn Accidents – This occurs when a motorist swoops in front of a bicyclist when turning right at an intersection, cutting the bicyclist off. Generally, these accidents are the fault of the vehicle.
• "Dooring" Accidents: Many cities with bike lanes have parking zones running parallel to those lanes. If people open their doors in the way of oncoming cyclists without taking the time to check to see if the path is clear, a serious crash can result.
• Failure to Yield: Motorists might fail to yield the right of way to cyclists when merging, turning, or entering traffic, leading to collisions.
• Unsafe Passing: Motorists may attempt to pass cyclists without providing sufficient space, causing sideswipes or forcing cyclists off the road.
• Distracted Driving: Motorists who are distracted by activities such as texting, talking on the phone, or adjusting controls may not see cyclists, leading to accidents.
• Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a motorist's ability to react to cyclists or stop in time to avoid collisions, particularly at intersections or when passing.
• Impaired Driving: Motorists under the influence of alcohol or drugs have reduced reaction times and impaired judgment, increasing the likelihood of accidents with cyclists.
• Inadequate Infrastructure: Lack of designated bike lanes, poorly maintained roads, or inadequate signage can contribute to accidents involving cyclists and motor vehicles.
• Failure to Signal: Motorists who fail to use turn signals or other indicators of their intentions may surprise cyclists, leading to collisions.
• Aggressive Driving: Motorists who engage in aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, honking, or intentionally cutting off cyclists put them at risk of accidents.
• Blind Spots: Motorists may not see cyclists due to blind spots created by the vehicle's design or obstructions such as pillars, leading to collisions during lane changes or turns.

Regardless of how a bicycle accident occurred, if you have been injured, you should not hesitate to get the help that you need from a skilled San Diego bicycle accident attorney. At The McClellan Law Firm, we represent injured cyclists throughout the local area and are ready to fight for you. Contact us for your free case review.

California Bicycle Laws

In California, anyone under the age of 18 must wear an approved bicycle helmet while riding a bicycle. This law aims to protect young cyclists from head injuries in the event of an accident.

Cyclists are required to obey the same traffic signs, signals, and laws as motorists. This includes stopping at stop signs and red lights, yielding the right-of-way when necessary, and signaling turns.

Cyclists must ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway as practical, except under certain circumstances such as when passing another cyclist, preparing for a left turn, or avoiding hazardous conditions.

Cyclists must use designated bike lanes when available, but they are not required to use them exclusively. They may move out of the bike lane when passing, avoiding obstacles, making a left turn, or preparing for a right turn.

Motorists must give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing them on the road. This law helps prevent accidents by ensuring that cyclists have enough space and reducing the risk of sideswipes.

Safety Tips for San Diego Bicyclists

More and more people are seeing the benefits of riding bicycles for pleasure and for commuting. While such methods of transportation are similar, there are certain unique safety challenges to riding safety bicycles. While riding a bicycle, an individual is open to external elements. Safety protection is limited and therefore riding can be dangerous if bicyclists do not follow safe riding practices.

• Be Prepared: One of the best things a bicyclist can do is be prepared. Bicyclists should make sure their bicycles are well maintained and in good working order, including effective brakes and properly inflated tires. A rider whose bicycle is in good shape helps reduce the chance for some mechanical failure to lead to an accident.
• Obey the Law: Like drivers, bicyclists have laws governing their use of the roadways. They should obey all traffic signals and signs, ride with traffic rather than against it and use the rightmost lane when possible. Obeying traffic laws is not optional. These laws exist to prevent dangerous situations.
• Be Smart: Being smart about one's actions when riding a bicycle can often be the difference between avoiding a catastrophe and being in the middle of one. This is why bicyclists must make their intentions on the road clear so others who share the road are aware and can avoid an accident. Also, it is a good idea to wear brightly colored clothing so riders are highly visible, especially under less than ideal conditions.

Click here for more bicycle safety tips or information about California bicycle laws.

Call The McClellan Law Firm for a Free Review

To learn more about our approach to client service in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, call us at (619) 215-1488 to speak with a bicycle accident attorney in San Diego.

Contact us online today to request your free case evaluation.