Santa Monica Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Santa Monica and the surrounding area have an ideal climate for outdoor activity, a health-conscious focus, and have put in effort to make alternative modes of transportation to driving a vehicle more convenient and safer. The large number of tourists in the Santa Monica area and large population of bicycles on or near the Boardwalk and beach give rise to a large number of bicycle accidents and injuries annually. In addition to manufacturing defects resulting in a bicycle wreck, collisions with pedestrians, other cyclists, or scooters such as Bird are common causes of injury-causing accidents.

Motor vehicles also commonly overlook bicycles due to their smaller size and produce serious injuries and fatalities. Unsafe driving behavior such as texting while driving, driving under the influence, and failing to check mirrors and look around for riders before shifting lanes or pulling onto a roadway result in numerous accidents and injuries each year. Bicycles are at an additional, significant risk for injury or death due to their lack of the extra protection offered by metal frames found on motor vehicles on the roadways.

If I Am Hurt in a Bicycle Accident, What Is My Case Worth?

Bicyclists involved in accidents in and around Santa Monica – even when safe bicycling behavior occurs and safety equipment is worn – are at an increased risk for severe injuries and fatalities because of the high concentration of motor vehicles and a bicycle’s small status in comparison to these vehicles. Common injuries include head and neck injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries that can affect a victim for their lifetime.

A bicyclist who can demonstrate someone’s negligence caused their injuries may receive compensatory damages for their physical injuries, financial injuries due to bills and loss of earning capacity, and psychological damages such as pain and suffering they can prove in court. In some cases, damages can even be awarded to punish extremely bad behavior by the injuring party. Because establishing negligence and proving damages can be tricky, relying on an experienced Santa Monica bicycle accident attorney is a wise idea to avoid potentially costly legal pitfalls.

If I Am Involved in a Santa Monica Bicycle Accident, What Should I Do?

Even though it may seem overwhelming, if you were hurt in a bicycle accident in Santa Monica or the surrounding area taking a few simple steps can greatly help you care for your health and the health of any claim you may file for compensation.

Get Immediate Medical Attention

Even though many bicycle accident injuries are obvious, it’s important you be seen by medical professionals as soon as possible to be evaluated for less obvious injuries. In these cases, common harms suffered by bicyclists such as traumatic brain injuries may not present symptoms for days or weeks after an accident. Not only for your health but for the health of any legal claim you file for compensation, you should not only seek medical care as quickly as you can, but follow treatment plans exactly, attend all medical and physical therapy appointments, and take prescribed medication exactly. You should also keep copies of any medical records provided to you, as well as any expenses you incur as a result of your Santa Monica bicycle accident.

Gather Helpful Information

It’s critical for you to gather as much important information as you can to help any legal case you may bring. It is also important to find this information as quickly as possible, because California has a 2-year statute of limitations for bringing any personal injury lawsuits in civil court to recover damages for your injuries. If you can, take photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, get contact information for any witnesses, notify law enforcement and cooperate to help completing a detailed accident report, and keep information related to your medical treatment and expenses incurred from your injuries – this includes pay stubs, damage to your bicycle, and hospital bills.

Contact a Santa Monica Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Santa Monica or the surrounding area, contact the skilled lawyers at Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC today. Our talented attorneys have over 20 years’ experience providing knowledgeable, personalized representation to clients like you and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries. Los Angeles Magazine and Thomson Reuters News Service have both named Steven M. Sweat a “Super Lawyer” – an honor reserved for the top 5% of all bicycle accident attorneys in California. Contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (866)-966-5240 or on our online Contact Page to schedule your no-obligation, risk-free initial consultation today. The evaluation is free, and you pay nothing until we win your case. Let us review your case and help you secure the best possible outcome from an unfortunate situation starting today.