Penney and Associates hits a substantial $14,000,000 (14 million dollar) case in Riverside County for their client, a fast food restaurant cook.
Bicycle Accident ATTORNEYS
Bicycles are becoming increasingly common throughout California. The city of Sacramento is creating new stretches of protected bike lanes on some of its busiest downtown streets, and other cities are following suit. Unfortunately, this means bicyclists face considerable risks every day, as they share the streets with cars and other motor vehicles.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, Penney & Associates can help you hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their actions, and give your family the means to fully recover from these challenging circumstances. We have represented thousands of personal injury victims throughout California, and we have the expertise to help you win your case.
YOU CAN AFFORD A BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
At Penney & Associates, we understand the challenges that all bicycle accident victims face, and that is why we accept personal injury cases on a contingency basis. We’re paid only after you win the compensation you deserve.
Bicycles offer riders little protection from other vehicles and the world around them, which can make any accident potentially life threatening.
You might get lucky and walk away with scrapes and bruises, but a more serious accident could result in broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries, all of which could affect you for life.
Recovery can take a very long time, during which you may be unable to work.
Bills from hospital visits and your insurance can quickly pile up, and your family could be under serious financial pressure trying to take care of you and pay off growing debts.
HOW WE WILL HELP YOU FILE YOUR BICYCLE ACCIDENT CLAIM, ANDWIN YOUR DAY IN COURT.
Penney & Associates has extensive experience in preparing for personal injury lawsuits. We have successfully recovered millions of dollars in damages for thousands of clients, and will leverage this experience to help bring your case to a successful resolution.
We offer free consultations for personal injury cases, allowing our attorneys to establish the facts surrounding your claim without forcing you to commit right away. Many accident victims have questions about what they need to do to get started. We can answer these questions, go over any available evidence you have, and explain what you may still need to do before you begin filing a claim.
After retaining our services, we will begin the process of pulling police reports, medical records, and any other evidence related to your case.
If a poorly maintained street was responsible for your accident, we will look to see if the hazard was reported recently to determine whether action was being taken.
Your attorney will work with independent experts to recreate your accident if necessary. In addition, we will help you deal with claims adjusters sent by your insurance, who will look for any way to limit what they pay out on injury claims.
FEATURED BLOGS
Read our blog posts below to learn more about this area of personal injury law, and how it affects your rights as an injury victim.
Distracted Driving: The Most Dangerous Cities for Pedestrians
What Are 10 Common Accidents in the Summer?
The Alarming Rise of Cycling Fatalities: How to File a Lawsuit
WHAT ARE COMMONBICYCLE ACCIDENT CAUSES?
While most bicycle accidents involve single motor vehicles, there are other factors to be aware of.
- Motor Vehicles: Drivers represent the greatest danger to bicyclists in urban areas, where most bike accidents statistically occur. A combination of the lower visibility of riders, and driver recklessness or negligence, has contributed to a significant portion of fatal accidents involving motor vehicles.
- Distracted Driving: All drivers are expected to maintain reasonable care while on the road. However, mobile phones and other distractions have taken attention away from the road, and from the pedestrians and cyclists drivers share the streets with, resulting in accidents that should have been easily avoidable.
- Alcohol and Drugs: Alcohol impairment can make it impossible for drivers to properly react to the presence of a rider until it is too late. Other risk factors include drugs, prescribed and recreational, which can slow reaction times or increase recklessness and aggression.
- Reckless Driving: Speeding, and other dangerous driving behaviors make it that much more difficult for drivers of vehicles to identify bicyclists or road hazards until it is too late. But some reckless behaviors are less overt, such as a simple failure to signal a turn, or not looking before turning on an intersection.
- Road Conditions: California’s road infrastructure is always in need of maintenance. When this is neglected, potholes and other obstacles can make even designated bike lanes unsafe to ride in. The city of San Diego faced a barrage of lawsuits in 2018 due to inadequate maintenance of its roads and sidewalks, injuring pedestrians and cyclists alike.
- Poor Lighting: Statistically, most bicycle accidents occur during the day. But poor lighting of streets threatens anyone out on the roads at night, making it difficult for cyclists or other potential obstacles on the road to be seen.
- Lack of Bike Lanes: There is a concerted effort throughout California to make urban environments more accommodating to bicyclists. However, there are still large stretches of roads in every major urban center that do not have proper bike lanes. This inevitably puts riders closer to vehicle traffic.
- Bike Defects: Avid bicyclists understand that maintenance of a bike is important to ensure it is safe to ride. But if brakes or other bike components fail due to mechanical defects, manufacturers could be found liable.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to hold a driver, property owner, or even a local government responsible for your bike accident. You must be able to demonstrate that any of the above failed to exercise reasonable care, and that their conduct directly contributed to your accident.
If you can meet these requirements, the responsible parties can be held liable, and you can recover damages from them. Your medical bills, the nature of your injuries, and how your quality of life was affected can all factor into your settlement.
Penney & Associates is ready to help you win a fair settlement, and the peace of mind you and your family deserve.
HOW YOU CAN PREPARE FOR TAKING YOUR BIKE ACCIDENTCLAIM TO COURT.
Penney & Associates has extensive experience in preparing for personal injury lawsuits. We have successfully recovered millions of dollars in damages for thousands of clients, and will leverage this experience to help bring your case to a successful resolution.
We offer free consultations for personal injury cases, allowing our attorneys to establish the facts surrounding your claim without forcing you to commit right away. Many accident victims have questions about what they need to do to get started. We can answer these questions, go over any available evidence you have, and explain what you may still need to do before you begin filing a claim.
In the aftermath of any bicycle accident, there are things you can do to make filing a claim much easier. California’s statute of limitations requires that you file any personal injury claims within two years of the date you were injured. However, if your claim is against a city, county, or a state government agency, California Government Code Section 911.2 limits you to six months from the date of your injury. Being prepared allows you to file your claims on time, and offers the best chance to win a fair settlement!
- In the aftermath of any bicycle accident, wait for the police to arrive. While a rider’s injuries often prevent them from leaving the scene, many bike accidents do involve minor injuries that a cyclist can ride away from. Do not do this. Call the police, call for medical assistance if needed, and wait for them to arrive. You want your account, and that of anyone else involved, in the police record. Even if a driver flees the scene before police arrive, leaving immediately after an accident can affect your claim in the future. Your insurer, or that of other involved parties, may try to argue that your injuries were not as severe as claimed.
- Get contact information of witnesses or anyone else involved with the accident. Whether its a driver of the vehicle that hit you, or another driver that saw the accident happen, you want their contact information. Witnesses are especially important, as a bike accident can result in head injuries that may make it difficult to remember specific details about the accident in the future.
- Maintain your medical and financial records. An accident can be expensive to recover from, and during that time you may be unable to work while also racking up considerable medical and insurance bills. Keep track of everything, collect relevant banking statements, and keep it all in a safe place. When you do file a claim for your injuries, these records can influence the size of your settlement.
- Avoid speaking with claims adjusters. Whether it’s your insurer, or the one representing others involved in your accident, claims adjusters are trained specifically to find any evidence that could be used to disprove your claims, or at the very least limit what their company will pay out on their policies. The attorneys of Penney & Associates are not only familiar with these tactics, many of them come from a background in the insurance industry. We know their tactics, which is why we recommend you direct any inquiries from insurance agencies to your lawyer.
- Be wary of what you post on social media after an accident. Insurance companies and attorneys have all used what is posted on social media in personal injury cases across the country. Your injuries may be painful, but you may have also recovered enough to be able to do some basic yard work or exercise. We strongly recommend that you do NOT post pictures of your activities on social media, especially any that could be considered strenuous. We also recommend that you do not discuss the accident in significant detail.
Whether your injuries are minor, or you have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Reach out to Penney & Associates today to start the process of filing your claim, and get on the road to recovery.
The Penney & Associates® firm has offices in Sacramento, Roseville, Santa Clara, Chico, Rocklin and Irvine with satellite offices in Fairfield, Sunnyvale, San Francisco, San Diego and Southern California.