San Jose, the biggest city in northern California, is great for cyclists. It’s a beautiful and enjoyable city to ride around in. However, it’s also facing the challenge of making its roads safe for everyone, including cars, walkers, and cyclists.
Frustrated drivers often succumb to road rage, and the heavy traffic can lead to frequent lane changes without signaling. Ridesharing service vehicles like Uber and Lyft may illegally block or park in the limited designated bike lanes.
Despite these obstacles, San Jose is committed to improving its streets for cyclists and pedestrians. Efforts include expanding bike lane networks, raising public awareness, and enforcing traffic regulations more rigorously.
These initiatives create a safer and more harmonious urban environment accommodating all modes of transportation, making San Jose a model for inclusive and sustainable urban mobility in northern California. Our bicycle accident lawyer in San Jose is your ally in navigating legal processes for injuries. Seek rightful compensation and support.
Table of Contents
- San Jose Bicycle Accident Compensation
- What Are the Most Common Bicycle Accidents in San Jose?
- What are the Most Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries?
- How Can a San Jose Bicycle Accident Attorney Help Me?
- Call Us After a Bicycle Accident in San Jose
Why Choose Our San Jose Bicycle Accident Attorney?
Wilshire Law Firm stands out in San Jose for its outstanding reputation in handling bicycle accident cases. Our dedicated team has 15 years of experience in California’s accident laws, and we are deeply committed to our clients’ welfare.
You won’t pay until we successfully secure your compensation, ensuring that our interests match yours and provide accessible legal services, no matter your financial circumstances.
We provide a free, no-obligation consultation to review your bike accident case. We help you understand your legal options and get to know our San Jose personal injury lawyers without any pressure to sign on with us.
Recognitions and Awards
Wilshire Law Firm has garnered numerous accolades and recognitions, proudly reflecting our commitment to achieving legal excellence:
- Best Law Firm Awards: Recognized among the “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, highlighting our legal proficiency and commitment to client satisfaction.
- Recognized Legal Professionals: The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, among other respected organizations, acknowledges our attorneys as the Nation’s Top One Percent.
- Track Record of Success: Our record of garnering significant settlements and verdicts demonstrates our capability to handle complex car accident cases effectively. This shows in the $38.5 million motor vehicle accident settlement we recently recovered against a big insurance company refusing to compensate our client fairly.
Convenient Location
Our San Jose office is located at 4340 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 287, San Jose, CA 95129, for ease of access:
- Proximity to Key Areas: Our office is well-positioned in a popular city area located near John Mise Park and Harker Academy.
- Client Accessibility: Our location is strategically situated for our clients’ convenience. Settled in the bustling core of San Jose, it is close to myriad clients’ errands and interests.
Choosing Wilshire Law Firm’s San Jose bicycle accident lawyers is partnering with a team of legal distinction deeply dedicated to your needs.
After a bicycle accident, contact us for a free consultation to explore how we can assist you in achieving the compensation and justice you deserve.
San Jose Bicycle Accident Compensation
Understanding the full spectrum of compensation following a bicycle accident is one of the first important steps in your legal process.
With Wilshire Law Firm’s team of bicycle accident attorneys in San Jose, we carefully examine every component of your case to safeguard total compensation.
Types of compensation available in bicycle accident cases:
Medical bills
In bicycle accident claims, a big slice of your money goes to your medical expenses, including all costs associated with your accident-related treatment, encompassing emergency care, hospital stays, surgical procedures, prescribed medications, physical therapy, and any ongoing medical assistance you may require.
We meticulously collect all your medical documentation, bills, and professional assessments concerning your anticipated future medical needs to substantiate the accuracy of your expenses.
This painstaking approach ensures that your claim encompasses all the necessary funds to address your current and future medical bills.
Lost earning capacity
If your injuries prevent you from working, you can receive compensation for current and future lost income.
Our team includes professionals who evaluate these financial losses by examining your past earnings, potential job prospects, and how your injuries might affect your future income.
Pain and suffering
This compensation addresses all the distress you endured due to the accident, mentally, physically, and emotionally. It’s trickier than medical bills or lost wages to put an exact value on this damage.
Our lawyers demonstrate the extent of your pain and suffering accurately by deeply considering your experiences, seeking evaluations from psychological professionals, and illustrating how your life has been affected since the accident.
Punitive damages
In some cases, wrongdoers pay extra money as punishment to prevent future misconduct. This is called punitive damages.
We have 15 years of experience finding cases where we have asked for this extra punishment money, making strong arguments to get it.
Property damage
Property damage compensation includes fixing or replacing stuff like your bicycle, helmet, or other things broken in the accident.
We help by collecting estimates for repairs, the value of your belongings, and proof of their condition before the accident. This way, you’ll get the right amount to cover what you lost.
What Are the Most Common Bicycle Accidents in San Jose?
The top five most common types of bicycle accidents are:
- Left-Turn Accidents: Occurring when a vehicle makes a left turn in front of an oncoming cyclist, not giving them enough time to avoid a collision.
- Right-Hook Accidents: This type occurs when a vehicle turns right and collides with a cyclist traveling in the same direction, often at intersections.
- Single-Bicycle Accidents: These accidents involve only cyclists and factors such as road hazards, slippery surfaces, or mechanical failures.
- Side-Impact Collisions: Also known as T-bone accidents, these occur when a vehicle collides with the side of a cyclist, often at intersections or while crossing streets.
- Dooring accidents: A car door suddenly opens and hits a cyclist.
- Rear-end collisions: When a car hits a cyclist from behind, it typically happens at intersections or stoplights when a driver fails to notice them.
- Intersection crashes: These accidents occur when a vehicle fails to yield the right-of-way to a cyclist.
- Unsafe road conditions: Poor road conditions, such as potholes, uneven paths, or debris, can cause them to lose control and crash.
To enhance safety and minimize the likelihood of accidents, everyone should adopt preventive measures like using helmets, adhering to traffic regulations, and ensuring visibility, thus safeguarding cyclists.
What are the Most Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries?
A cyclist doesn’t stand much of a chance when a motorized vehicle collides with them.
The most common types of bicycle accident injuries include:
- Head Injuries: Head injuries are a significant concern in bicycle accidents. Even with helmets, cyclists can suffer concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) if they strike their heads.
- Fractures and Broken Bones: Cyclists often sustain fractures and broken bones, particularly in the arms, wrists, legs, and collarbones, when they fall or collide with vehicles or obstacles.
- Road Rash and Abrasions: When a cyclist slides on the pavement, road rash and abrasions can result, causing painful skin injuries that may require medical attention.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears of muscles, ligaments, and tendons are common bicycle accident injuries, often occurring in the knees, shoulders, and ankles.
- Spinal Injuries: Serious accidents can lead to spinal injuries, ranging from herniated discs to spinal cord damage, which can result in paralysis or long-term disabilities.
- Facial Injuries: Cyclists may suffer facial injuries, including lacerations, fractures, and dental injuries, due to impacts with the ground or objects.
- Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma in accidents can lead to internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding, which may not be immediately apparent and require prompt medical attention.
- Nerve Damage: Nerves can be damaged in bicycle accidents, leading to pain, numbness, or loss of sensation in affected areas.
- Psychological Trauma: Experiencing a bicycle accident can lead to emotional and psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Death: Unfortunately, some bicycle accidents result in fatalities, especially in collisions with motor vehicles.
Cyclists must be aware of these potential injuries and take safety precautions, including wearing appropriate safety gear, obeying traffic laws, and riding defensively to reduce the risk of accidents and minimize the severity of injuries in case of a crash.
Three Feet for Safety Law
California’s 3 Feet for Safety law, officially known as California Vehicle Code Section 21760, requires that when passing a cyclist traveling in the same direction, a motor vehicle must provide at least three feet of space between the car and the cyclist.
This law enhances the safety of cyclists on the road and reduces the risk of accidents caused by vehicles passing too closely.
Key points of the law include:
- Minimum Clearance: Drivers are required to give a minimum of three feet of space when passing a cyclist. If it’s impossible to provide three feet of clearance due to traffic or road conditions, the driver must slow down to a safe and reasonable speed until it’s safe to pass with the required clearance.
- Penalties: Violations of California’s 3 Feet for Safety law can result in fines and potential legal consequences for the driver. The penalties can vary depending on the circumstances and the location of the violation.
- Exceptions: There are some exceptions to this law. For instance, drivers are not required to maintain a three-foot buffer when passing a cyclist if the cyclist is traveling in a designated bike lane. However, drivers must still exercise caution and avoid collisions.
- Safety Precautions: In situations where it’s challenging to provide three feet of clearance, drivers are encouraged to exercise patience and wait for a safe opportunity to pass the cyclist while maintaining a safe distance.
This law aims to promote the safety of cyclists by creating a clear standard for the amount of space that must be given when overtaking a cyclist on the road.
It helps reduce the risk of accidents caused by close passes and provides legal protection for cyclists in California.
How Can a San Jose Bicycle Accident Attorney Help Me?
lawyer can provide valuable assistance after a bicycle accident in several ways:
- Legal Guidance: A lawyer can explain your rights and guide you through the legal process, helping you understand the steps you need to take to protect your interests.
- Investigation: Lawyers can investigate the circumstances of the accident, collecting evidence such as accident reports, witness statements, and any available surveillance footage. This helps establish liability and build a strong case.
- Determining Liability: Lawyers can assess liability by examining the actions of all parties involved, including the driver, other potential negligent parties, and even the road conditions to establish who was at fault.
- Medical Documentation: Your lawyer can help you gather and organize all medical records, bills, and reports on your injuries. This documentation is crucial in proving the extent of your injuries and the costs associated with your medical treatment.
- Negotiating with Insurers: Lawyers can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure you receive fair compensation. Insurance companies may try to minimize payouts, but an attorney can advocate for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve.
- Calculating Damages: Lawyers can help you accurately calculate your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. They work to ensure you seek the maximum compensation possible.
- Settlement Negotiations: Most personal injury cases are settled out of court. A lawyer can negotiate with the responsible party’s legal team for a fair settlement covering your losses.
A lawyer can provide critical support in the aftermath of a bicycle accident by ensuring your rights are protected, building a strong case, negotiating with insurance companies, and advocating for fair compensation.
Call Us After a Bicycle Accident in San Jose
If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident in San Jose, we can help.
Our attorneys can help you start the legal process, from filing a claim to negotiating with insurance companies and, if necessary, representing your interests in court.
We are committed to ensuring our clients receive the legal representation they deserve when they need it most.
After a bicycle wreck in San Jose, contact us online for a free consultation or call (415) 704-9912 to discuss your case.
Our San Jose Location
Wilshire Law Firm
4340 Stevens Creek Blvd UNIT 287
San Jose, CA 95129
Tel: (408) 560-4642
