Bicycle Accidents in Monterey, CA

Monterey Personal Injury Lawyer Helping Injured Bicyclists

Bicyclists have much less protection than other travelers on the roadways. Unlike the drivers of cars, vans and trucks, bicyclists do not tons of metal protecting them. For this reason, if a bicyclist is involved in a traffic accident, it is much easier for that accident victim to suffer from catastrophic injuries. Unfortunately, there are many drivers on the road who fail to keep proper watch for bicyclists or who fail to give bicyclists the appropriate amount of space. Are you a bicyclist who was injured because of a negligent driver in the Monterey, California area? If so, our Monterey personal injury attorney at Swartz & Kennedy is here to help you file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault individual. With our help, you may be able to obtain a sizeable settlement or court judgment that will properly compensate you for your losses.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

In 2011, 48,000 bicyclists and other cyclists were injured and 677 were killed in vehicle-related traffic accidents in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTS). The number of fatalities listed here represents a 9% increase when compared to 2010 bicyclist and cyclist fatality data. In the state of California, there were 114 bicyclists and other cyclist fatalities in 2011, which represented 4.1% of all traffic-related fatalities in the state for that year. In comparison, bicyclist and other cyclist fatalities only made up 2% of the total traffic fatalities on a nationwide scale in 2011.

Causes of Bicycle Accidents

In addition to other drivers simply not paying enough attention to bicyclists, bicycle accidents can also be caused by drunk drivers, reckless drivers, distracted drivers, etc. Bicycle accidents can also be due to faulty bicycle parts, as well as by unsafe conditions on a road, sidewalk or parking lot. In these types of cases, a claim or lawsuits can be filed against the negligent bicycle part manufacturer, or against the appropriate government entity or property owner (such as in a premises liability case). In some cases, claims can even be filed against other bicyclists. Our firm can help you determine which party you should be seeking compensation from.

Why should you file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim?

If you do not seek compensation from the at-fault party, you may be forced to pay for the damages from your accident out of your own pocket. This can potentially cause you a great amount of financial hardship, as well as stress. If you are successful in obtaining compensation from the negligent party, you may be able to recover damages for your medical expenses, lost earnings, physical pain, emotional trauma and more.

Contact our firm by calling (831) 373-3235 so we can help you take action following your bicycle accident!