Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Southern Califorina

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents That May Require a Bike Accident Attorney

The vast majority of bicycle accidents involve a collision between a bicycle and a vehicle. Some of the most common causes of these accidents include:

Vehicle Right Turns: Many bicycle accidents occur when a car is attempting to turn right at an intersection, but the driver fails to see the bicyclist. A vehicle driver may be looking left for oncoming traffic, but fail to look right for bicyclists. In most cases, the driver of the vehicle is at fault in these accidents; however, a bicyclist can be held partially liable if they were not abiding by the rules of the road.

The “Left Cross”: The “left cross” accident occurs when a bicyclist and a motorist are approaching an intersection from opposite directions. If the motorist turns left while the bicyclist is in the middle of the intersection, the two may collide. This typically occurs when the motorist fails to see the bicyclist before making the turn, or when the motorist misjudges how long it will take the bicyclist to clear the intersection.

Stop Signs: Many accidents take place at intersections where the driver has a stop sign, but the bicyclist does not. In this situation, the bicyclist is free to pass through the intersection. If the motorist fails to stop and wait for the bicyclist to cross the road, thereby causing an accident, the motorist is considered at fault, as the cyclist had the right of way. 

Dooring Accidents: California Vehicle Code 22517 states: “No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of such traffic…”  

In most cases, a motorist will be held liable for injuring a bicyclist in a dooring accident. Nevertheless, insurance companies will attempt to evade full liability by claiming a bicyclist had enough time to avoid the accident.

Rear-End Collisions: Even a slight tap from behind can cause a bicyclist to completely lose control of their bike, which usually results in serious injuries. Bicyclists can be rear-ended by vehicles at any time of the day, but it is most common at night, when they become more difficult to see. This is why wearing reflective clothing and appropriate safety gear is a vital safety measure to prevent serious bicycle accidents.