Bicycle accidents often can result in some extremely serious injuries. At times, they can even be fatal.
There are a number of injuries that can stem from a right turn accident. Head injuries are one of the most common, and the resulting brain injuries can be devastating. If driver negligence is found during a lawsuit, then the compensation for a brain injury can rightfully be substantial, usually much more than you’d get from the initial payout offer from an insurance company.
If you are the victim of a car striking you on your bicycle, remain as alert as possible and get medical attention even if it doesn’t appear you have injuries. Remember, avoiding the doctor is a sign to the other party that you don’t think you need to be compensated for any medical bills. But injuries can sometimes sneak up slowly, manifesting noticeably only after it’s too late.
Bystanders: if you witness such an accident, be sure to offer to be a witness and give your contact information to the victim. Cooperate with the police at the time of the accident and give your contact information.
There are a lot of things that have to happen after a bicyclist gets hit by a car turning right, and some of it will depend on the aftermath. It’s quite chaotic, and hard to follow along with all the things that have to happen, while at the same time trying to not only continue living your life, but recover your life’s routines.
One of the things that will happen at some point after a bicyclist is struck by a car will be determining liability. Both motorists and bicyclists have to abide by the rules of the road.
The first step in determining liability is to figure out if it was driver negligence or bicyclist negligence that caused the accident. Examples of biker negligence can include riding the wrong way on a one-way street, running a red light or a stop sign, or turning without warning into traffic.
On the other hand, if a motorist veers into the bicycle lane (which is typically the case when making a right turn), or is distracted while driving, or doesn’t look over their shoulder when they are turning, they could easily be found to be the negligent ones. Most commonly referred to as the “right hook” incident, in most situations a car turning right and hitting a bicyclist will be judged at fault.
That said: it’s never a sure thing, and you’ll definitely want to get bike crash attorneys in LA on your side.
Don’t get lost in the chaos until you’re stuck paying everything yourself when someone else is at fault. If you’ve been hit, call us right away. We’ll meet for a free consultation to talk about your case and what your options are, and what you may be owed.
You can rest assured that our Los Angeles bicycle accident attorneys go the extra mile for you if we believe you have a strong case. Contact the Power Legal Group today!