Bicycle accidents in California are very dangerous and, many times, deadly. On average, roughly three bicyclists died each week in traffic crashes in 2018. If you’ve been hit by a car, truck or van while riding your bicycle, it is essential that you obtain legal representation from a skilled Oakland bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you obtain legal counsel, the sooner your attorney can begin amassing the evidence that may be critical to proving that the person who hit you was also legally liable and that you are entitled to receive compensation.
Crashes where a vehicle – especially a large one like a commercial truck or van – strikes a bicycle can often inflict massive, or even fatal, injuries on the person aboard the bicycle. A 67-year-old Oakland woman’s recent death is yet another tragic example.
The woman was riding her bicycle on Second Avenue near her home in the Eastlake district. As she proceeded southbound, a delivery driver behind the wheel of U-Haul van turned left from East 12th onto Second and into the bicyclist’s path. The van struck the bicyclist, and the local woman was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, the Mercury News reported.
The accident happened shortly after 12 noon, and, according to the Mercury News report, alcohol was “not believed to be” a factor in the crash.
What all that information can tell you is that, even in broad daylight and even when all relevant drivers are completely sober, bicyclists are at risk. Too often, car, truck and van drivers simply do not maintain the proper degree of lookout to spot smaller vehicles like motorcycles and bicycles.
More than 50 bicyclists hit per month in Alameda County alone
Federal statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that California roads are quite dangerous for bicyclists. In 2016, Alameda County logged 638 collisions between bicycles and vehicles.
As noted above, if you’re hurt aboard your bicycle (or a loved one was killed), it is important to get started as soon as possible with getting the legal help you need. Your prompt action can allow your attorney to begin an investigation – such as accident scene investigation and analysis – quickly, obtaining important pieces of physical evidence that might otherwise be swept away.
Your legal team can also investigate the police response to the crash. If the other driver was cited or criminally charged, that evidence might bolster your case a great deal, allowing you to assert “negligence per se,” which is an additional theory of liability that can entitle you to compensation.
Depending on the specifics of your situation, your case may benefit from the services of one or more experts. This could include an accident reconstruction expert to provide an opinion about how the accident occurred and what the defendant’s role was. It may also include medical experts to opine about the nature of your injuries and an economic or vocational expert to testify about the monetary value of your losses.
To get the compensation you deserve, you need the right legal advocate working for you, helping you collect all of the evidentiary pieces and put them together into one cohesive and persuasive case. For powerful representation upon which you can confidently rely, contact the Law Office of Stephen M. Fuerch. Attorney Fuerch is a knowledgeable Oakland bicycle accident attorney whose extensive experience can help you get successful results. To learn more, contact us through our website or call our office at (925) 463-2575 to schedule your confidential initial consultation today.