Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Your day began innocently enough, you decided to ride your bicycle but everything changed in a heartbeat. A car, driven by a person busy texting, collides with you. The last thing you recall is being thankful that your mom made you promise to wear a helmet when you ride your bike in the city. In that instant, you became part of a national trend.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, bicycle-related accidents are on the upswing. In 2018 alone, 857 bicyclists died in traffic accidents. Like you, nobody else likely saw their accident coming, but the sad fact is, bicycle-related injuries rose to 476,000 in 2015. You never thought you’d become a statistic and you never thought you would need the name of a Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney.

The time to do something about your plight, whether you’re at fault or not, is now. Turn things around with help from one of Southern California‘s most respected, experienced, personal injury resources: El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers. You need compensation and we can get it on your behalf while you start your journey to recover your health.

Whether You’re at Fault or Not For A Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles

The National Safety Council reports injury and death costs resulting from bicycle-related accidents at about an average of $4 billion a year. Sadly, bicycle riders are over-represented in crash data, the result of traveling with little in the way of body protection. You understood this and followed all the rules: Cycled on the right side of the street, avoided dark, rainy weather whenever possible and when you did go out, you may even have attached reflector strips to your bike or even your clothing so you would be seen.

Despite these precautions, you still went from bicycling on a pleasant morning to the back of an ambulance without warning. You’re hurt. You’re confused. But, not so confused that you don t realize that you need legal help. You need a law firm with a deep understanding of how to handle a case involving bicycle-related accidents. At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers we’re experts. Keep reading to learn why.

Our Experience

Sometimes, we think that our practice should be called “Been There, Done That” because there’s not a single scenario involving bicycle riders and accidents that we haven’t undertaken many times over at the El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers. Our bicycle accident attorneys in Los Angeles represent cyclists who have been hit by cars, fallen into traffic, and been felled by streets and roads in disrepair that sent them flying off their wheels. Our clients have been victims of dramatic crashes and collisions.

At the other end of the continuum, we’ve assisted those who were injured because a child, a ball, or a dog ran into the street and a collision was inevitable. Here’s the point: Every single case we handle is equally weighted; we never give clients short shrift because their particular incident is less complex than others. We treat every client with the dignity, respect, and attention they deserve.

We want to see clients fairly compensated for their injuries and we’re willing to do what it takes to move a case along as fast as possible, so they don’t languish in the land of litigation so long, their lives are ruined.

We Don’t Work Alone

Whether your unique situation requires an investigator, meetings with police, hospital emergency room staff, local Department of Transportation officials, or actuaries computing settlement numbers that compensate bicycle riders for their injuries, you can count on a full team of people working on your behalf. At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our Los Angeles bicycle accident injury lawyers acquire:

• Your crash records
• Police reports
• Witness statements
• Emergency room charts
• Data necessary to assess the complete picture of your incident

We’ve even hauled a bike into our offices because it wasn’t collected at the scene and we knew it could make our case. Here’s something, not every bicycle accident victim can say: We keep clients informed every time there’s news that is related to their case so they don’t find themselves lying abed, worrying about finances and the future.

We Know The Territory

At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our expertise covers a lot of Southern California–from Los Angeles to San Bernardino and from Riverside to Orange County. Every city, town, and county has unique personal injury laws, and we’ve got all of these bases covered because we’ve been in this specialty practice for decades. We know the lay of the land, we cut to the chase, and work closely with neighborhood insurance companies and courts to get clients the money they need to recover and get on with their lives.

Every Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney practicing at El Dabe Law prides himself or herself on high standards, dedication and compassion. As a member of our professional communities in Southern California, we have a deep, collective belief in making sure we perform to the highest standards. After all, we live in these communities, too.

A Matter of Trust

We don’t have to tell you that when the topic of accident remuneration and settlements arises, people change their attitudes and the gloves can come off. At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers we don’t just expect this, we anticipate and prepare for it, which is why we are consistently prepared to do battle on behalf of even our newest clients. Obtaining the compensation you and your family need isn’t just a necessity to us, it’s a moral obligation and we pride ourselves on working quickly and expeditiously because you don’t have time to wait.

Some of our clients have health insurance, while others don’t. Whatever your unique circumstance may be, we settle claims for clients who suffer short-term disabilities, emotional traumas, and those who may not be able to work again. We work with folks who have no experience with Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers and courts and those who know the system well.

We are the voices of those whose accidents result in death and of course, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the full trust of our clients and we work hard to earn it every day.

How Our Los Angeles Bicycle Injury Attorneys Can Help You

Putting El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers on speed dial might be a wise move if you happen to be clairvoyant and had a premonition that an accident was coming, but that’s a plot out of a science fiction film. You are going to have to get the ball rolling with an initial call to our Los Angeles bicycle accident law firm. We will meet with you for a free consultation and whether that meeting takes place in one of our offices, a hospital room, or your home, we will be there when you need us.

Do you want to know the best part about working with our law firm? We pay your legal costs upfront and you don’t pay us until we win your case. You read that right. We win your case or you don’t pay a penny. This promise covers every conceivable case.

Remember: whether you’re in the wrong or the right, we’re prepared to fight.

Don’t Take Our Word For It

At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our bicycle lawyers in Los Angeles appreciate our clients but we don’t expect more than our fee, so when testimonials from satisfied clients flow in, we’re thrilled. Phyllis W. gushed about our kindness, persistence, honesty, and understanding; she stands ready to recommend us down the road. We could pile on the nice words, but we want to assure you that your case is the only one on our radar and we want to make sure you’re not destroyed by huge medical bills and a painfully slow legal system.

We’re prepared to negotiate on your behalf with everyone under the sun until a suitable settlement is reached or we take your case to a jury. At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, there’s not a medical case we haven’t litigated including:

• Head trauma
• Crushed bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Lacerations
• Internal injuries

These have been experienced by bicycle riders who have encountered trees, cars, mailboxes, motorcycles, pavement, and other obstacles. Your case is our mission. It’s the reason we have settled so many wrongful injury lawsuits involving bicycles: Whether you’re in the wrong or the right, we’re prepared to fight.

Find out just how hard we will fight for you by making a no-cost, no-obligation phone call to our offices immediately: (213) 985-1120.

What Are My Rights And Responsibilities as a Bicycle Rider in Los Angeles?

In the state of California, it is estimated that more than 100 people die each year riding a bicycle. There are hundreds of thousands of people who annually get injured riding a bicycle. A certain number of crashes are caused by the behavior of bicyclists, but most of the others are caused by the mistakes of people who are driving some type of vehicle.

Drivers and bicyclists in California need to understand that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. They are subject to the same rules and regulations.

How Should A Bicyclist Ride On A Roadway?

A bicyclist traveling on a roadway and going less than the accepted speed of traffic must ride as close as possible to the right-hand curb or the edge of the roadway. Exceptions to riding as close to the right curb as possible are:

• When a bicyclist is overtaking another bicyclist or vehicle traveling in the same direction.
• When a bicyclist is getting ready to make a left-hand turn into an intersection or private driveway.
• When a bicyclist is forced to avoid some type of fixed or moving object.
• When it would be unsafe for the bicyclist to continue down the right side of a road.

An injury sustained in a roadway accident can result in serious injury that requires a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer.

What Are Bicycle Lights And Reflectors?

It is the law in the state of California for a bicyclist to have lights and reflectors. A person’s bicycle should be equipped with a front light that can provide visibility for a distance of 300 feet and a bicycle must come with a brake system that enables the rider to make a break wheel stop when it is on a clean, level, and dry pavement. A bicycle must also have a reflector on the back of it that’s red and can be seen from a distance of 500 feet.

Each pedal must have also a reflector that is yellow or white, but if this is not possible, a bicyclist can have reflective material on their shoes or ankles. The reflectors on the pedals, ankles, or shoes must be visible from a distance of 200 feet.

What Is Three Foot Passing Distance?

When a driver passes a bicyclist, they must have a minimum of three feet between them and the person riding the bicycle. Should this not be possible, a driver needs to slow down to a reasonable speed and slowly pass the bicyclist. A driver can only pass a bicyclist when it is not a threat to the life of the bicycle rider.

How Should A Bicyclist in Los Angeles Handle Traffic Signs And Signals?

A person riding a bicycle is required by law to stop at all red signal lights and stop signs. It is recommended they also stop at yellow lights. Many times bicyclists have gone quickly through a yellow light and have not been able to make it across an intersection before the traffic light changes and this could easily result in an accident.

Not heeding a signal that results in bicycle accidents is always better to handle with a bicycle accident attorney in Los Angeles at your side.

What Are The Helmet Laws?

Any person under the age of 18 riding a bike on a public bicycle path, trail, bikeway or street must wear a helmet according to California law. This also includes any children who are being towed in a trailer behind a bicycle or sitting in a restraining seat on a bicycle. The helmet must meet the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation or American National Standards Institute and the bicycle helmet should have a label confirming it meets these standards.

Should A Bicyclist Ride With Traffic?

A bicyclist must ride in the same direction as traffic. This will make a bicyclist more visible to drivers coming onto a road or changing lanes. When a bicyclist is riding down a one-way street, they can ride on the left, however, they must still ride with traffic when going down the one-way street.

Once a bicyclist is noticed, a driver should be looking for any type of conflict.

Are There Bicycle DUI Laws in Los Angeles?

There are specific laws in the California Vehicle Code (CVC) that are designed for individuals who ride a bicycle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is against the law in California to ride a bicycle when under the influence of drugs or alcohol and should a bicycle rider be charged by law enforcement with bicycle DUI, a fine of up to $250 could be given to the guilty party. If the bicyclist is under 21, but over 13, they could have their driving privileges suspended for a year and if they are not eligible to drive, they could be required to wait an additional year before being eligible to drive.

For any legal battles, you may be facing as a bicycle accident victim, contact our Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers today by calling 213-985-1120.