Laguna Niguel Motorcycle and Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Riding a motorcycle has an unparalleled thrill. If you are a passionate rider, you most likely know that there are very few exhilarating things like riding on the sun-kissed roadways of California. However, cyclists and bikers face a unique risk compared to other road users in California.

This is often because most drivers are not accustomed to sharing the road with bicycles. Most drivers think that bikes belong on the sidewalk and not on the highways. Without any protection of seatbelts, 4,000 pounds of metal, and airbags, bikers face serious injuries after a collision with a car.

When you or a loved one has been involved in an accident due to the negligence of others, you should seek compensation for your injuries, losses, and damages with the help of Laguna Niguel motorcycle/bicycle accident lawyers.

3 Common Causes of Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents in Laguna Niguel, CA

Colliding With an Open Door

You most likely have seen it on TV, but it often happens in reality. It is commonly referred to as a Door Prize. This occurs when a bicyclist riding his or her bike away from the traffic but closer to parked vehicles suddenly crashes into an open car door. According to Vehicle Code 22517, no one should open a car door that faces moving traffic unless it is safe to do so without interfering with traffic.

Left Hand Turns

This is a frequent cause of accidents between cars and bicycles or motorbikes. According to Vehicle Code 21801(a), all drivers who are making a U-turn or turning left should give right of way to the oncoming vehicles. However, this is not often the case, and drivers will miss the motorbike user or cyclist and collide with them.

Right Cross Intersection Crash

In Laguna Niguel among other areas around California, this is the most common cause of vehicle and bike crashes. A crash can occur when a car is pulling out from a parking lot, driveway, or side street. The car can either hit you if you are riding in front of it, or you can collide if it has pulled far enough.

California Highway Patrol Stats

According to the recent Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) statistics released by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), more than 350 individuals were killed and more than 10,000 were in California motorcycle accidents in the year 2015. The California Highway Patrol also reports that 40 seriously injured victims and 1,254 injured cyclists were not wearing the recommended safety gear, especially helmets during the time of the crash.

Rights and Responsibilities for Motorcycle and Bicycle Accident Victims

Bikers have similar responsibilities and rights to other drivers as stated by the California Vehicle Code 21200. This code states that a person operating a bicycle or a motorbike on highways has similar rights and is subjected to provisions applied to drivers, including and not limited to provisions that concern driving when under the influence of drugs or alcoholic beverages.

Where can you ride?

Bicycle Lanes

If there is a bicycle lane and you want to ride more slowly than traffic, you should use the bike lane except when you are making a left turn, passing, or when you are approaching a right turn where authorized.

Crosswalks

Bicyclists should give way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks or within crosswalks that are unmarked at intersections. Therefore, you should be careful when approaching pedestrians within marked or unmarked crosswalks.

Roadway

In case you are riding on the roadway, and you are riding at speeds that are less than normal, you should ride closer to the right sideway to observe safety. The only exceptions to this rule include when you are making a left turn, when passing, or when avoiding hazards on the road.

Let Our Laguna Niguel Lawyers Help With Legal Representation

In case you have suffered severe injuries, you should consider hiring an El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers attorney. Often, the expenses involved in hard injuries include:

• massive therapy
• medical treatment
• treatment bills and others

Also, the insurance company may not give you the evidence that you need for you to win your case. However, your attorney will use pretrial discovery, interrogations, depositions, and requests for admission to identify if the driver at fault has a past criminal record. When you are in pain and incapacitated, an experienced attorney will ensure that you get the fair compensation that you wouldn’t have hoped to get on your own.

Contact us at (213) 985-1120.