Sacramento Bicycle Accident Lawyer

California residents who enjoy bicycling have a right to be safe on public roads, whether on the street or designated bike lanes, paths, or trails. However, California bicycle accident statistics continue to show a significant number of bike-vehicle collisions each year This indicates that negligent motorists and other hazards pose a serious safety concern.

People involved in bicycle accidents caused by negligent or reckless motorists often suffer life-altering injuries such as:

Traumatic Brain Injury
Back and Spinal Cord Injury
Broken Bones
Death

They face long, tough, and uncertain recoveries, as well as mounting financial pressures.

Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Sacramento, CA

At Demas Law Group, our dedicated Sacramento bicycle accident attorneys understand the extensive damage a car or truck can do when it hits a bicyclist. Our legal team has helped countless individuals and families recover the full amount of compensation they deserve after these serious accidents. Now, we stand ready to help you.

Bicycle accident victims from across Northern California have turned to our respected biking accident injury lawyer for help because:

With 25 years of experience, we know how complex these personal injury cases can be and what it takes to win.
Our firm has a 99 percent success rate in recovering compensation for our clients.
Our legal team treats each client like a VIP deserving of our personalized attention and sincere compassion.
Our clients benefit from our “no win, no fee” guarantee, which ensures our services don’t cost a penny unless we recover compensation for them.
Our firm’s core belief is in justice for the unjustly injured, so we fight relentlessly for every client.

After a serious bike accident, you should be focused on your health, not fighting the insurance company. Let our knowledgeable Sacramento biking accident lawyers manage all the details of your injury claim while you concentrate on your physical and emotional recovery.

Schedule a free consultation today if you have been hit by a car. Our bicycle accident lawyer Sacramento will review the details of your case and discuss all your legal options for pursuing compensation that will allow you to move forward with your life.

Notable Bicycle Accident Case Result

At Demas Law Group, we have a track record of obtaining significant settlements and verdicts for our clients. One such example is the $10.2 million jury verdict we secured for Carol K. and Ken K., who were injured in a bicycle collision on the American River Bike Trail in Folsom, California. Despite a $150,000 initial offer from the insurance company, our persistent and dedicated legal team was able to secure justice for our clients, recovering the compensation they deserved. To learn more about this case many other cases visit our case results page.

I was struck by a car while riding my bike. What should I do?

The first thing you should always do in any bike injury accident is seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries appear to be minor. Don’t try to be tough and shrug it off. If the accident was caused by someone else and you’re contemplating legal action, receiving prompt medical treatment will be beneficial to your case. Make sure to keep copies of your medical records. If you are unable to afford medical treatment, please contact us for advice. In many cases, our attorneys can help you get the treatment you need.

There are also other steps you can take. It’s vitally important for anyone injured in a bicycle accident to document the incident as thoroughly as possible. Get the names of the motor vehicle driver, police officers at the scene and any witnesses. Take photographs of your injuries and the accident scene. As soon as possible, write down every detail you can remember about the accident before your memory fades. Accomplishing these tasks can help develop a stronger case.

How do you deal with a bike hitting your car?

If you get a biker hitting your car, resulting in serious damage to the bike or your car, or both, or personal injury to the cyclist, then you deal with it as you would with any traffic collision; bicycles are subject to the same traffic laws as motor vehicles.

Do I need a bicycle accident attorney?

Please contact us if you have been injured in a bicycle accident caused by someone else. Chances are you will not receive fair compensation negotiating with the insurance company and other parties involved in the case by yourself.

Who can be held liable for a bicycle accident?

Anyone who caused the accident can be held liable, although different laws may apply to each case. That’s one reason why it’s important to choose a full-service personal injury law firm such as Demas Law Group, P.C. Liable parties in bicycle accidents include:

Negligent drivers who are found to be fully or partly responsible for the accident.
Negligent manufacturers, retailers or distributors of bicycles can be sued for selling defective products.
Negligent repair shops can be held liable for shoddy repair work that caused an accident.
Negligent city, county or state agencies responsible for maintaining safe roadways can be sued if poor maintenance or design caused the accident.
Negligent property owners may be liable if improperly maintained property caused the accident.

If the accident was partially my fault, do I still have a case?

Yes. Unlike pedestrians, who have the right of way, bicyclists must follow the same rules of the road as automobiles and other motor vehicles. Sometimes, bicyclists fail to follow these rules and an accident results. However, just because the bicyclist may have violated a traffic law does not necessarily confer full fault for the accident. In many cases, the cause for the accident is still partially attributed to the negligent vehicle driver. When this is the case, any settlement you recover will be based on the percentage of fault attributed to the driver.

Can I file a claim if I wasn’t struck by a vehicle but sustained injuries trying to avoid one?

Yes. Often, bicyclists are injured taking evasive action in order to avoid a negligent driver. The bicyclist avoids colliding with the vehicle, but the evasive action causes the accident. In these cases, the driver of the vehicle is just as liable as if he’d struck the bicyclist. Sometimes, drivers will attempt to flee, which is considered leaving the scene of an accident (or a hit and run accident), even if they didn’t strike the bicyclist. It’s very important to track such drivers down in order to file a case.

Where can I find additional information about filing a bicycle accident claim?

For more information, please visit our General FAQs page for answers to the following questions and more:

How long do I have to file a case in a bicycle accident?
What can I be compensated for in a bicycle accident?
What is my bicycle accident case worth?
How much does it cost to hire a Demas Law Group, P.C., bicycle accident attorney?

Where can I find more information on bicycle injuries and crashes?

Below we have compiled a list of resources you may wish to consult:

The American Family Physician’s excellent guide to bicycle injuries: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0515/p2007.html
Discover the rules of the road for bicycling in California: http://www.bikelink.com/law_safety.asp
The California Highway Patrol offers comprehensive data on bicycle accidents: https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/programs/california-motorcyclist-safety
Are you a cyclist in Sacramento? The Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates website offers useful safety information and updates on local programs and projects. http://sacbike.org/

Get Your Free consultation

meet our team

John Demas

Founding Partner

Brad Schultz

Personal Injury Attorney

Jacqueline Siemens

Personal Injury Attorney

Kate R. Ebert

Personal Injury Attorney

Tim Spangler

Personal Injury Attorney

Erik Gutierrez

Personal Injury Attorney

We’ve all seen it, crazy driver on the road. Driving too fast, texting & driving, weaving in & out of traffic. How many times over the years, all of a sudden everyone is breaking. So close, but you continue unscathed. Then, one day, it happens, you become the statistic, the one everyone slows down to look at. You’re in shock, what do you do? No one seems concerned, not the police, not the doctors. You need support, guidance, and protection. Who do you call? Lucky for me, that was Demas law. From day one they provided all the help, guidance, compassion, & support that lead me from A to Z. The entire team was professional and kind. My gratitude and appreciation for all they’ve done for me far exceeded my expectations. If you’re in need, don’t waiver, go with Demas law group, it’ll be the best thing you could ever do for yourself!

Matt Young at Demas Law did a fantastic job representing our car accident case. Matt was very knowledgeable, kind, and very thorough. He was very flexible with his time, made sure all our questions were answered, and was able to secure a settlement in a really difficult situation. The insurance company we tried working with before hiring an attorney pretty much told us “sorry we can’t help you”. Matt turned that around quickly and got the highest payout for an uninsured motorist case. The rates were more than reasonable and we would not only recommend the firm but also use them again if the unfortunate happens. M.A.

Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys will Seek Compensation

Immediately after a serious bike accident, no one can give you an accurate estimate of how much your injuries will truly cost you. That’s a fact to keep in mind if you hear from an insurance adjuster soon after an accident.

A quick insurance settlement offer is likely to be for much less than what your claim is worth. So you should not accept it or sign anything presented by the insurance company until you have spoken with a knowledgeable attorney.

As your attorneys, we will consider several factors to determine how much your bicycle accident claim is worth. In general, this will include:

Medical expenses. We want to develop a full accounting of the costs of emergency care, hospitalization, diagnostic tests, surgery, physical therapy, medication, etc.
Future medical bills. The cost of any anticipated medical treatments required by your injury should be part of a claim, too. This includes estimates of the costs of in-home assistance and/or vehicle and household modifications, such as wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, etc., if necessary.
Lost wages. This includes all the money you didn’t earn due to lost time on the job while you were recuperating, as well as missed work for doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, etc.
Diminished earning capacity or future lost wages. This is the estimated amount of income that will be unrealized if your injury prevents you from working in the future, limits the type of work you can do, or forces you to take a job that pays less than your education and experience or previous employment indicates.
Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering damages are meant to compensate you for how your injury has traumatized you in general. Factors used to calculate pain and suffering damages include physical pain, stress, emotional turmoil, disruption of lifestyle, loss of enjoyment of life, etc. This calculation is based on medical records and statements by you and/or others close to you before and after the accident.
Property loss or damage. This includes the cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle.

Our experienced Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers will develop a full accounting of what your claim is worth by examining:

Your Medical Bills
Work Records

Bicycle Repair or Replacement Costs
Any Additional Documents

We will then press insurers for full payment to you.

Contact Us Now For A Free Case Evaluation!

Related Information

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Sacramento

Because of its health-conscious, “green” culture and temperate climate, California has been at the forefront of the nation’s embrace of bicycling for recreation and transportation in recent years. Unfortunately, more bicycles sharing the road with automobiles means more bicyclists being hit and injured by cars and trucks.

Our experienced legal team has seen how and why bicycle accidents happen. Very often, if a car is involved, we can identify driver negligence. In addition to the usual driver negligence that causes accidents — distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, aggressive driving, etc. — common causes of bicycle accidents include:

Failure to look and yield right of way. There are several variations on a motorist simply not taking the time to look, see a bicyclist, and give the person on the bike room:
A “right hook” accident is a motorist passing a bicycle and then making a right turn in front of the cyclist, which causes the bicyclist to crash into the vehicle. This can often happen in crosswalks.
A “left cross” is a motorist making a left-hand turn into a bicyclist’s path, or straight into the bicycle.
In an unsafe pullout from a side street, driveway, parking lot, etc., the motorist may pull into a bicyclist’s path to cause a collision, run directly into a bicycle, or make a right- or left-hand turn and hit a bicycle rider.
Dooring. Bicyclists are “doored” when someone in a parked vehicle suddenly opens a door into the path of an oncoming bicycle. The cyclist who is unable to stop in time collides with the door. Although California law (CVC section 22517) states that “no person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so,” many people open their car doors right into the path of oncoming bicyclists.
Shared-lane accidents. Sometimes motorists, electric scooter riders, and pedestrians will attempt to ride alongside a bicycle instead of allowing the bicyclist to use the full width of the lane, as a bicycle rider has the right to do. It’s easy for a sideswipe collision between a car and a bike to occur if the driver misjudges the size of his or her vehicle and/or the width of the lane, or drifts into the bicycle. The threat of a vehicle encroaching on a bicyclist may force the rider off the road and into a crash. Drivers of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles also attempt to pass bicycles without providing sufficient space, and cyclists are sometimes run off the road or hit.

In other cases, unsafe roadway conditions, such as potholes or debris, cause a bicyclist to lose control of the bike and wreck. Certain government entities and contractors are responsible for maintaining roads and addressing safety issues in a timely fashion. A bicyclist who suffers injuries in this type of accident may sue the government entity or contractor responsible for the road where the incident occurred.

Cycling Accident Lawyers in Sacramento: Common Injuries We See

The severity and extent of a bike crash victim’s injuries may depend on various factors, such as the speed of the vehicle and/or bike, whether the victim was wearing a helmet or other protective gear, and other circumstances.

The most common bike crash injuries include:

Closed head injuries, such as concussions or more severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Back and spinal cord injuries, which may include paralysis
Damage to vital internal organs, such as bowels, liver, lungs, heart, etc.
Fractured bones, usually arms, legs, and ribs
“Road rash” contusions and abrasions

These types of injuries often require extensive medical treatment, including costly diagnostic procedures such as CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays, as well as surgery. Some patients require lengthy recuperation, which includes physical rehabilitation. In some cases, bicyclists are disabled by crash injuries and can no longer work for a living or perform other daily-life activities.

In the worst cases, crash injuries prove fatal for bicyclists, forcing families to cope with the unexpected loss of a loved one. Our dedicated attorneys can help families pursue wrongful death claims on behalf of their loved ones.

How Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers Investigate Claims

Our skilled legal team will immediately launch an investigation into your bike accident to determine:

How It Occurred
Who Should Be Held Responsible
How Much You May Be Entitled To

We will build a solid case to combat any driver’s denials or insurance adjuster’s cheap tricks aimed at keeping you from obtaining the compensation you deserve.

When you choose Demas Law Group, you can trust that our team will work quickly to:

Gather all the necessary evidence to support a personal injury claim. We will obtain and analyze police accident reports, weather and road conditions for the day of your accident, debris from the crash scene, and your damaged bicycle. We will find and interview any witnesses to the crash, as well as search for video surveillance cameras that may have footage depicting the accident.
Work with you and your doctors to thoroughly document your injuries. We’ll obtain copies of your medical records and have independent professionals review them to assess your injuries and prognosis. If necessary, we can connect you with additional medical specialists who can help. We will also talk to you about creating a journal to document your injuries and recovery and to show how the accident has affected your day-to-day life.
Consult with experts to build a solid case for full compensation to you. When necessary, we work with accident reconstruction specialists who can determine exactly what caused a crash and explain it in terms a jury will understand. We also work with medical specialists and life-care planners to document costs a disabled client will face in the future due to injuries suffered in a bike accident.
Aggressively negotiate from a position of strength. We will present clear demands backed by solid evidence when we begin negotiations with insurers. Our attorneys are known for their negotiation skills and for not backing down from demands for what our clients deserve.
Passionately argue your case before a judge and jury. Our respected litigators prepare every case as if it will be tried in court, and we prepare to win. Insurance companies that refuse to settle soon learn that we are not intimidated.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident involving a motorist or another negligent party, do not wait to get legal advice on your options for pursuing compensation. Our Sacramento bicycle accident attorneys will review your case for free, and we will be straightforward about our findings, even if we think you don’t need an attorney.

meet our team