Cyclists in Santa Rosa and across California must endure so many hostile drivers, and sometimes motorists just plain ignorant of the law that they may come to expect it.
To add insult to injury, some drivers won’t stop driving even if they hit a bicyclist. Their inattention sent a rider to the ground and then the driver decides to speed away to avoid the consequences.
Support for Bicycling Victims of Hit-And-Run Drivers
Innocent victims on bicycles will certainly face the consequences. A rider struck by a motorist could face weeks in the hospital and also the heartbreak of not being able to return to his or her bike right away. The pain and suffering from the injury as well as the stress of not knowing if anyone will take responsibility for the physical and financial damages you’ve endured can be overwhelming.
We are Bay Area Bicycle Law. Our attorneys are cyclists themselves. We understand the helpless feeling after an accident and that’s why we’ve supported and protected injured cyclists for a decade now. If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run driver, let us worry about getting your medical bills paid and recovering your lost wages from work. You should be focused on getting better and getting back on your bike as soon as possible.
Hit-And-Run Dangers in California
Hit-and-run cases are on the rise in Northern California and the prospect of it happening to anyone on bikes or on foot continues to grow.
The Times Herald found that hit-and-run deaths in the Bay Area make up a considerable portion of the region’s traffic fatalities each year. In 2018, 30% of San Francisco’s traffic deaths involved a hit-and-run. In San Jose, these cases made up 17% of roadway fatalities. A member of the AAA Foundation told the Herald that fatal hit-and-runs accounted for nearly 10% of California’s traffic deaths in a single year.
The act of leaving the scene of an accident is not only irresponsible, but it can also prove fatal to the victim who may have to wait longer for the accident to be reported and for lifesaving help to arrive. For survivors of bicycle accidents, the recovery can be a long, lonely ordeal, and the worry over hospital bills and lost work hours will fall directly at the feet of the innocent victim.
Options for Victims In Hit-And-Run Bicycle Accidents
Justice will remain out of reach as long as the person responsible for the accident goes unidentified. The cyclist will also struggle to find closure as they try to heal from the injuries.
The questions will naturally arise in the victim’s mind. How do I get help in my recovery if the driver is unknown? Will I have to cover my medical costs myself?
Here are two of the possible outcomes that may determine how a victim can proceed.
- The At-Fault Driver is never identified. In this case, an injured cyclist can still hope to get help with medical costs and other damages from the accident if they have a car insurance policy or are on a family member’s policy. The expenses could be recovered by making a claim on the victim’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The important thing to keep in mind is that even though it’s your company involved, they can still treat you unfairly. Your insurance company will still want to pay out as little money as possible and it will still be up to you or your attorney to prove just how much you’ve suffered and lost financially due to the accident.
- The At-Fault Driver is found and arrested. This will be good news on many fronts. The driver to blame will face consequences for your accident. They will be facing a criminal trial, but your claim for damages will be a separate civil lawsuit that can move forward at the same time. Your claim can demand reimbursement for hospital bills and lost paychecks from the work you’ve missed. You can even be paid for any time you’re expected to be out of work in the future. Permanent disfigurement or disability can be compensated in an award. You can be compensated for your pain and suffering and the emotional trauma you’ve endured.
Contact a Santa Rosa Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you were the victim of a hit-and-run driver let our bicycle accident attorneys protect your rights and make sure you don’t have to face a long recovery alone. We will work tirelessly so that you can reover financially as you focus on healing physically.
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 left 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.