At any one time, there are a lot of bikes in Davis. Around 20 percent of all commuters use bicycles and at least half of the students and faculty at UC Davis commute and use bikes as their primary means of transportation. With all these bikes out on the roads and paths, cyclists are going to get injured by other cyclists.
At Bay Area Bicycle Law, we have committed ourselves to helping injured cyclists get justice and compensation for their injuries. Unlike other accident attorneys, we exclusively specialize in helping cyclists. We know California bicycle law and personal injury law and have experience dealing with insurance companies and their attempts to pay as little as they can.
Who Pays for a Bicycle v. Bicycle Accident?
We know that when a car hits a bike and the driver is at fault, the driver’s auto insurance will pay for the damages. Even when the driver has no insurance, if the cyclist has auto insurance with uninsured and underinsured motorist’s coverage, then this will pay for the injured cyclist’s losses.
So, what happens when a cyclist is at fault? Because no automobile was involved, then the auto insurance companies won’t be paying any of the damages. This leaves the at-fault cyclist’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
These policies generally have a liability clause for the homeowner or renter in case they are at fault for injuring someone else in cases where an automobile is not involved. However, just because there is coverage, doesn’t mean that the insurance company is going to be fair and give you just compensation.
What do I do When I get into a Bike v. Bike Accident?
Most people in a bicycle accident don’t think of it the same as if a car was involved. If the injuries don’t appear significant, then they often brush off and continue on their way. However, then when they need to make a claim, they don’t have any information about the other cyclist nor any way to prove what happened.
If you get into a bike on bike accident, take these steps to ensure you get compensation.
- Check on immediate medical needs.
- Don’t move bikes/objects and get photos.
- Get other cyclist’s information.
- Get witness information/Take not of any surveillance cameras.
- Don’t repair the bike right away.
- Contact a trusted bicycle injury attorney.
Common Injuries in a Bike v. Bike Accident
When bikes collide, the impact is considerably less than it would be if a car was involved, but the injuries can be significant just the same. The cyclist is almost always ejected from the bike causing a second impact. Also, the bike itself offers little protection from the collision. This causes certain common injuries:
- Head Injuries
- Facial Bone Fractures
- Wrist Fractures
- Broken Legs
- Rib Fracture/Displaced Rib
- Road Rash
Contact a Davis Bicycle Accident Lawyer.
Bay Area Bicycle Law is the only personal injury law firm in Northern California to specialize exclusively in representing injured cyclists. Years of advocacy for bicycle victims have seasoned our attorneys with the necessary skills, knowledge base and familiarity to handle bicycle accident cases with the utmost level of professional expertise.
Contact us today for a free consultation. California cyclists who are injured by negligent drivers are entitled to a wide array of compensation. We will always offer you legal advice which is in your best interest.