As a cyclist, you have many of the same responsibilities and all the same rights as motor vehicle operators when you ride on public roads. If someone else violated your rights and caused you to suffer a serious injury as a result, you may be able to seek financial compensation from them through a civil lawsuit or settlement demand.

As any experienced personal injury attorney could tell you, getting a favorable result from this type of civil case may be difficult, even if you have evidence that a specific other person is directly at fault for your injuries. Seeking the help of a dedicated Santa Clarita bicycle accident lawyer from Swift Justice could increase your chances of securing the compensation you deserve.

Recoverable Damages in Bike Crash Claims

Money cannot completely erase the pain and trauma of a high-speed bicycle accident, especially if that accident involved a collision with a motor vehicle operated by an irresponsible driver. What civil compensation might do is minimize the degree to which that crash negatively impacts the injured party’s life in the following months, years, and decades—not just in financial terms but in physical and psychological ones as well.

Depending on the nature of a bicyclist’s injuries and how long they can expect to continue dealing with them in the future, compensable damages in a lawsuit over a bike wreck may include:

  • Costs of past and future medical treatment
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Decrease in working capacity or work earnings
  • Emotional trauma and distress
  • Out-of-pocket expenses for bike repairs, car rentals, disability aids, etc.
  • Loss of enjoyment or quality of life

A qualified attorney could discuss what losses should be factored into a Santa Clarita bike crash claim during a private initial meeting.

Overcoming Legal and Procedural Obstacles

Working with capable legal counsel may be crucial to building and filing a strong bicycle accident claim within the deadline set by the statute of limitations. As per the California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, an injured person usually has two years to file suit against whoever is at fault for injuring them. After this period, they may be permanently time-barred from ever seeking civil recovery for that particular injury.

Furthermore, a bicycle injury lawyer in Santa Clarita could contest accusations of comparative fault made against a cyclist by the person they are suing. These are allegations that the accident mainly occurred due to the injured bicyclist’s negligence rather than anyone else’s. Failing to be proactive in this regard could lead to a court substantially reducing the total amount of money available to an injured person in proportion to their assigned share of total fault for their own accident.

Talk to a Santa Clarita Bicycle Accident Attorney Today

Ideally, riding a bicycle would be no more dangerous than driving or riding in a car, truck, bus, or any other form of wheeled transportation. In reality, however, far too many drivers are reckless or careless around bicyclists, and that negligence sometimes leads to crashes with devastating repercussions for these bike riders.

A Santa Clarita bicycle accident lawyer at our firm is available to help you seek fair financial compensation for the harm you suffered in a bike crash. Call us today to discuss your potential claim.

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