The scenery in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County can turn anyone into a bicycling enthusiast. The rolling hills and cool air along wine country and the North Bay can envigorate riders.
The challenges and rewards for cyclists are plentiful, but with such beauty, it’s more than just riders who will be attracted. Motorists will be driving in to enjoy the region’s bounty as well. That mean’s traffic and distracted drivers will remain a constant threat to anyone on a bike.
We are Bay Area Bicycle Law
At Bay Area Bicycle Law we advocate for bicycling concerns across Northern California. We are cyclists ourselves and we want safe journeys and more protective laws for every rider in California.
Bay Area Bicycle Law is the only law firm in Northern California to specialize in supporting and representing injured cyclists. In the event of a tragic accident, we want to make sure the victim right’s are protected. We will fight to make sure victims don’t face medicals bills and other financial burdens alone.
If you’ve been seriously injured due to the negligence of a careless driver, please contact our attorneys for a free consultation to determine your best course of action.
Biking Accidents In Santa Rosa
Overall, Santa Rosa gets a less than positive score for its bike paths and options. Walk Score gives the entire city a Bike Score of 51 out of a possible 100 points. That means the city has some bicycling infrastructure but is still largely reliant on cars to get anywhere easily. Other parts of the city do get scores in the 70s and 80s individually though, meaning Walk Score ranks those sections are “very bikable.”
The rates for bicycle accidents in Sonoma County also illustrate a problem locally. The California Department of Public Health looked at bicycling accidents over 7 years and found that when adjusted for population, Sonoma County’s bicycling accident injury rate was in the top third of the state’s 58 counties. The county saw 1201 bicycle accident injuries over that period.
Vulnerable Cyclists in Collisions Involving Vehicles
Any contact a motorist makes with a rider is too much contact. Cyclists are the least protected travelers who use the roads. They might have a helmet and some thin clothing, but generally, that’s all that cushions them from an impact with a vehicle or the pavement.
The threat from careless drivers is a constant hazard. For some reason, motorists in cars, SUVs, or trucks don’t always notice the smaller bicycles traveling nearby. They can glance down at their phones and veer into a lane occupied by a cyclist or turn right in front of a cyclist. Every mistake a driver makes can inflict severe injuries on a rider. The consequences can be permanent and a collision can even claim a life.
Common Biking Accident Dangers in Sonoma County
Every experienced bicyclist has probably learned to spot the most dangerous situations for a rider. They might see the hazards on almost every ride. Things like the signs of an inattentive driver, or an approaching tight spot that could leave them little room to navigate out of a potential accident. They also understand some of the scariest and serious outcomes possible for each accident.
Here’s more on some of the threats cyclists deal with when they ride and some of the frightening outcomes from impacts that are possible:
Help for Scooter and E-Bike Accident Victims
Nowadays, cities move faster with the help of electric scooters and electric bikes. These rideshare options allow you to order up transportation with your cell phone.
E-Scooters and E-Bikes can get you across town with little effort but, unfortunately, riders must still contend with traffic and the dangers of using the streets.
At Los Angeles Bicycle Law we also work hard to protect anyone seriously injured by a careless driver while using rideshare bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other forms of micromobility. These accidents can involve claims against the driver’s insurance company, but in some cases lawsuits can include rideshare companies like Lime, Bird, and Jump.
More information for victims of these accidents can be found below:
- Scooters
- Smart Bikes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I win a bicycle accident claim if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Yes.
You can still file a claim for damages against an at-fault driver even if you weren’t wearing a helmet. If the lack of a helmet contributed to the severity of your injury, some of your award may be reduced depending on how much liability you are forced to accept.
In California, you can be assigned part of the blame for your injuries if you didn’t have a helmet on, but the at-fault driver can still bear the bigger part of the responsibility and be forced to compensate you for your hospital bills and other expenses. If the lack of a helmet contributed to the severity of your injury, some of your award may be reduced depending on how much liability you are forced to accept.
What if the driver who hit me took off?
If you were the victim of a hit-and-run driver and the person responsible is never found you have at least one option to get help with your physical, emotional, and financial recovery. If you have your own auto accident insurance, you can file a claim against your own policy’s uninsured/underinsured coverage.
Be aware that just because your personal insurance company is involved doesn’t mean they’ll treat you fairly. Insurance agents will still try to weaken your claim and pay out as little as possible. An attorney working on your case can make sure your insurance agent doesn’t get away with a lowball offer.
How long do I have to file a claim for my bicycle accident injuries?
2 Years.
As an accident victim in California, you are given up to two years to file a civil lawsuit to recover damages for your injuries.
You shouldn’t wait long to file your claim unless there’s a specific reason to. The sooner you file the easier it will be to build a strong case. Evidence will be easier to gather and documents you’ll need will be more readily available. Witnesses can also move across the country or just across town and be harder to locate the more time that passes.
Contact a Santa Rosa Bicycle Accident Attorney
At Bay Area Bicycle Law, we concentrate our practice solely on bicyclists and other micromobility riders who have been injured as a result of the carelessness and negligence of others. We are dedicated and effective Northern California accident lawyers. If you were injured in a bicycle collision in or around Santa Rosa or anywhere else in Sonoma County, contact us right away for a confidential, free consultation and case review.