Long Beach has no shortage of bicycle riders. While people know to look out for bikes in the area, there is no shortage of accidents involving bikes. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you may be in pain, scared, and seeking the guidance of an experienced Long Beach bicycle accident lawyer.
If you have been seriously injured in an accident like this, speaking with Venerable Injury Law about our Long Beach personal injury lawyer may be a good move. Recovery can be grueling and require a significant amount of time and energy. With Venerable Injury Law in your corner, you can focus on recovering while we handle the legal side.
How a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Long Beach Can Help You
Long Beach is a place that is known for recreation and having fun. The Long Beach website cites itself as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. This makes it little surprise that bicycle fatalities and serious injuries account for 12% of total serious injuries in Long Beach. This number is staggering, considering cyclists only make up about 6% of traffic accidents in the most recent reporting year, according to the Safe Streets program data.
The vulnerabilities in bicycle accidents are similar to those in pedestrian accidents, which a Long Beach pedestrian accident lawyer can help you with. Bicycles offer little protection to the rider, and even when wearing a helmet, little protection is provided against a car or other motor vehicle collision.
This difference in size and weight alone often means higher rates of significant injuries and fatalities compared to other groups on the road. A minor fender bender in a car may mean significant and debilitating injuries for a cyclist. Even something as simple as hitting a car door that has unexpectedly opened can mean long-term consequences for a cyclist.
We will work tirelessly to help you recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life
Causes of Long Beach Bicycle Accidents
A significant factor to consider when considering the causes of Long Beach bicycle accidents is that it is a tourist-heavy town. The Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) reports that the city sees about six million tourists annually. While this is great for the local economy, it also means that there are drivers and riders who are unfamiliar with the landscape or navigating the area with so many cyclists.
Beyond those who are unfamiliar with the local roads, some other causes of bicycle accidents are:
- Distracted Driving
- Failure to check blind spots
- Intoxication
- Speeding
- Failure to follow traffic indicators
- Failure to indicate when turning
While human error is the cause of most accidents, some causes may point to fault by other parties. These may be things like potholes that should have been repaired by the city or bushes that significantly limit visibility, causing a hazard. These are some of the things that a bicycle accident attorney in Long Beach might investigate when considering the best approach to your case.
We will treat you with the respect and compassion you deserve.
Long Beach Bicycle Injuries
Injuries from a bicycle vs car collision can be significant. While a passenger or driver in a car may be a little rattled, the cyclist may have any number of more severe injuries. These may include:
- Lacerations and contusions
- Neck injury
- Spine injury
- Road rash or friction burns
- Internal bleeding
- Facial injuries and lacerations
- Broken bones
Beyond physical injuries, symptoms like depression, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder are not uncommon in accidents like this. Sometimes, the emotional distress caused by an accident can be treated with medication on a short-term basis or may resolve with longer-term therapy. Your Long Beach bicycle accident attorney with Venerable Injury Law can help guide you in the right direction to obtain the documentation necessary to recoup these costs.
Damages in a Long Beach Bicycle Accident
Damages in a personal injury case stem from the types of injuries the plaintiff sustained, as well as the costs incurred from the accident. These are typically broken into two categories: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are usually determined based on the monetary value of injuries, and these may be things such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Cost of supportive services
- Future medical expenses
When considering non-economic damages, these will be more subjective and tend to be more difficult to calculate. They may include the emotional cost of the accident, like time lost with family, pain and suffering, or overall loss of quality of life. Punitive damages and wrongful death may also fall under this category.
Punitive Damages and Wrongful Death in a Bicycle Accident
Punitive damages are awarded by the jury when a case fails to settle before going to court. These damages are not meant as compensation but as punishment to the defendant for genuinely abhorrent behavior. These are determined in cases where malice or intent was shown to have caused the accident.
If you have lost a loved one, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death suit. Our Long Beach wrongful death lawyer knows how delicate and painful these situations can be. We certainly cannot bring back your loved one, but we may be able to provide some relief from the financial stress of the loss.
You are not just a case number – you are our top priority.
Call a Long Beach Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
Venerable Injury Law has been actively fighting for your rights in California for years. Our bicycle accident lawyer in Long Beach knows that to be successful, you need real trust and real care regarding the way your case is handled. We know this is a difficult process to work through, and we want to provide you with the most peace of mind we can.
Don’t try to handle this alone. You deserve someone to advocate for your rights to compensation. Call us for a free case consultation today.
We believe that our experience, dedication, and personalized approach set us apart from the rest.
