Category Archives: Bicycle Accident
Formal and Informal Defenses in Bicycle Crash Claims
The evolution of bicycle crash negligence defenses is one reason the plaintiffs’ winning percentage in civil claims has plummeted since the 1990s. As late as the early 1990s, even mediocre lawyers could obtain maximum compensation in these matters. After a cursory investigation, a lawyer made a “take it or leave it” settlement offer. Because… Read More »
Multi-Million Dollar Settlement in Bicycle Accident Claim
The City of San Diego agreed to pay $7 million to resolve a claim that improper street maintenance caused a 2022 fatal bicycle crash in Old Town. According to court documents, the victim was riding his bike home from his job at the San Diego Zoo when a car backed into the road on… Read More »
Breaking Down a Bicycle Accident Claim
Most bicycle accident claims are based on the concept of negligence, which is basically a lack of care. That lack of care is usually a failure to properly look out for bicyclists, usually because the tortfeasor (negligent driver) was impaired or driving aggressively. More on that below. Bicycle crash injuries are usually catastrophic. Because… Read More »
Bicycle Accidents and Head Injuries
Bicycle crash victims sustained head injuries in about a third of bicycle accidents. That’s a third of all victims, not just serious crash victims. Many of these incidents aren’t classified a ”serious” because the victim sustained no other serious injuries and didn’t immediately require extended hospitalization. Diagnosis and treatment issues plague these injuries, often… Read More »
Possible Defenses in Bicycle Crash Claims
Bicycle-vehicle collisions have a much higher serious injury rate than vehicle-vehicle collisions. Bicyclists account for about 1 percent of the traffic on California roads. But bicycle riders account for about 2 percent of roadway fatalities in the Golden STate. Bicyclists, unlike vehicle occupants, have no safety restraint systems to protect them. Compensation in serious… Read More »
Do Safety Laws Keep Bicyclists Safe?
Bicycle safety is a top priority for many decision makers. These riders make up about 1 percent of vehicle traffic. But they account for twice as many (2 percent) vehicle fatalities. Safety groups and other advocacy groups loudly pressure lawmakers to “do something” about this problem. Governments often respond with policy changes, like mandatory… Read More »
