A variety of factors, including automobiles, pedestrians, fellow cyclists and unsafe road conditions can all play a role in causing bicycle accidents.
Lately, cyclists have become as popular as pedestrians. Biking is an exceptional choice for physical exercise that is affordable and has minimal negative effects on the environment compared to cars. Additionally, it’s a delightful activity suitable for all ages.
The surge in the number of people riding bicycles has resulted in a rise in accidents involving them. Although certain areas have designated bike lanes on main roads, most bicyclists still have to use regular roadways along with motor vehicles like cars or trucks as well as pedestrians occasionally.
Bicycle Accident in California
Every year in California, more than 100 cyclists lose their lives and over 10,000 sustain injuries as a result of collisions. As motorists’ counterparts on the roadways, bicyclists are granted equivalent rights and obligations; it is crucial to observe traffic signs and signals so as to minimize incidence rates of crashes while biking.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reports an upward trend in pedestrian fatalities. Although all pedestrians are vulnerable, seniors and children face a greater risk of getting hurt or killed while walking, using wheelchairs, or strollers. Last year alone witnessed 1,108 deaths due to vehicular accidents involving foot travelers—a surge by 9.3% from the previous year’s tally! However dismayed this figure may be; on a positive note: bike-related fatalities decreased by approximately 8%, with only around 125 similar incidents reported during the same period as that of still-escalating pedestrian casualties data-wise..
How to be Safe While Riding a Bike
- Ensure you have control over your bicycle.
- Defend yourself by wearing a helmet.
- Stay vigilant and abide by the traffic regulations.
- When riding at night, use lights and reflectors for visibility.
- Adopt a secure lane position while cycling,
- Share the road with other vehicles on the street;
- Follow signs and signals denoting directions or safety precautions;
- Take advantage of bike lanes when they’re available;
- Turn left using either traffic lanes or crosswalks according to rules in place.
The rights and duties of pedestrians.
It is very important to prioritize road safety while many of the Californians choose to walk or use bicycle. To ensure the safety and security of all commuters, it is everyone’s responsibility to create a secure traffic environment throughout California by implementing measures that promote overall well-being for roadway users.
To know more about your duties and rights as a pedestrian, check the California Highway Patrol.
Safety tips to pedestrians
- Make safety a priority, walk on sidewalks all the time
- Be visible, it is very important
- Avoid drugs or alcohol
- Regardless of the situation, avoid any distractions such as using mobile devices when in walking
- Exercising caution and using designated crossing points is essential to keep safe when crossing. Thoroughly check both directions for possible hazards
- Be vigilant
The Law on Bicycle Accidents in California
Before embarking on a cycling trip in California, it is essential to become familiar with the state’s Bicycle Accident Law. This law provides protection for everyone sharing the road, including motor vehicle operators, bicyclists and pedestrians. Bikers have similar rights and responsibilities as drivers of other vehicles; therefore peaceful coexistence while navigating public roads should be maintained.
However, due to their slower pace and reduced physical shielding requirements compared to cars/bus/other automobiles requires additional rules that ensure bike riders follow applicable laws too. The following are some examples of typical regulations governing bicycle activity within California:
To comply with traffic rules, cyclists must ride in the same direction as motorized vehicles. If they are traveling slower than usual road speed, they should utilize bike lanes or stay to the right side of the street if possible.
Nonetheless, there may be circumstances where bikers have been authorized to shift into alternative lanes like:
- If you are overtaking another cyclist, walking or driving in the same direction as yourself:
- Approach a driveway, enter a private road or an intersection if you plan to turn left.
- Preventing risky conditions on the road.
- Opting for a wider pathway enables you to sidestep potential hurdles and proceed with greater caution while driving.
- As you near a portion of the road where turning right is permitted.
- When cycling, bicyclists can ride near the left side of a road with two or more lanes that goes in one direction.
As per Section 21670 of the California Vehicle Code, drivers are required to abide by the Three Feet Rule for safety purposes. This rule dictates that a minimum distance of three feet must be maintained between their vehicle and any bicyclist during passing or overtaking them on the road. However, in case traffic is congested or faced with challenging driving conditions where adhering to this regulation seems difficult, it’s advisable for motorists to reduce speed until safe opportunities arise before attempting such maneuvers again.
Although maintaining a safe distance from bicycles is important, it falls upon drivers of vehicles to exhibit caution and foresee any possible dangers in order to protect bicyclists who are nearby.
California Lawsuit for Bicycle Accident
The liability of bicyclists in lawsuits occurring in California is a subject that you may be familiar with. In cases involving personal injury, the individual responsible for causing harm (or being liable) must provide financial compensation to cover expenses incurred by the injured party; this payment is commonly referred to as damages.
An injury to a person can result in damages that are both monetary and emotional.
Anything that can be assigned a monetary value or cost falls under the category of economic damages. This could include expenses such as replacement costs for damaged property, medical fees incurred from treatment and therapy sessions, expenditures related to assistive devices like wheelchairs or walkers, loss of income due to missed work hours and any future relevant outlays.
On the other hand, non-economic damages refer to intangible losses which cannot be quantified precisely in terms of money – these may comprise pain and suffering endured by an individual as well various forms of emotional distress experienced after being subjected to traumatic events. In certain circumstances punitive measures may also need consideration within this domain.
Call a Personal Injury Atorney
A bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver in California entitles you to file a personal injury lawsuit against them and receive compensation for your injuries as per the state laws.
Most of personal injury lawsuits involve a legal allegation of negligence, which refers to an individual’s failure to act with the same level of care as another reasonable person would have done under the same circumstances.
If you have proof of the driver’s or another party’s negligence led to your injury and affected your income capacity, you may pursue lawsuit. To simplify this procedure on your behalf, we recommend hiring a proficient attorney who specializes in resolving cycling-related mishaps.