How Do Bicycle Accidents Occur in Stockton?
In any personal injury case, California law requires the victim to prove that the defendant’s negligence caused their injuries. With respect to bicycle accidents, some of the more common negligence scenarios include the following:
- Reckless Drivers: Negligent and irresponsible drivers are the most common cause of serious bicycle accidents in California. A driver who fails to follow the “rules of the road” and hits a bicyclist is negligent. This includes motorists who drive in a designated bike lane, ignore traffic signals, or are simply driving their vehicles in an unsafe manner for road conditions.
- Product Liability: Some accidents are the direct result of a defect in the manufacture, design, or maintenance of the bicycle itself. California product liability laws hold manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and repair shops responsible when they allow a defective bicycle or related part to leave their custody.
- Improper Road Maintenance: Local governments in California are responsible for properly maintaining their roadways. If your bicycle accident was the result of a pothole or other roadway defect that the City of Stockton or other authority should have known about, you may have a claim for damages.
Under California law, an injured bicyclist can seek full compensation for their accident-related losses. This includes full reimbursement for the past and future medical bills, compensation for their lost income and diminished earning capacity, and even the cost of replacing their damaged bicycle and other personal property. Bicycle accident victims are also entitled to compensation for their non-economic damages, such as their pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and inability to resume their pre-accident activities, including their ability to use and enjoy their bicycle.
Reach Out to Our Stockton Bicycle Accident Lawyers
While California is an at-fault state with respect to bicycle accidents, that fault can cut both ways. Defendants in bicycle accident cases will often try to shift some–or all–of the blame onto the injured bicyclist. This is just one reason why it is essential to work with a qualified Stockton bicycle accident lawyer. The team at Venardi Zurada LLP understands how to build a winning personal injury case. Call us today at (833) 893-6763 to schedule a complimentary initial consultation. We work on a contingency basis, so we do not collect any fees until we recover compensation for you.
