Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Fremont support victims injured in left-turn bicycle accidents. If you or a loved one are suffering from injuries you received in a left-turn bicycle accident, the experienced accident attorneys of Fremont are here to help you get the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries. Contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Fremont today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Left-Turn Bicycle Accident in Fremont?
Unsafe left turns are covered by California Vehicle Law. According to California Vehicle Code 21801 (a), the driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left to complete a U-turn shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction, which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.
If you are involved in a left-turn bicycle accident due to a vehicle making an unsafe left turn, it is advisable to seek the counsel of an accident attorney. One of the initial steps of recovering damages from your accident will be to prove the other driver committed an illegal left turn. An attorney can help you prove this by conducting a formal investigation. An attorney’s investigation includes collecting evidence such as:
- Police accident reports
- Taking witness statements
- Retrieving traffic footage
- Collecting camera footage from surrounding businesses or neighborhoods where the accident occurred
Other forms of proof can come from legal processes, which an attorney will conduct against the liable parties. These processes include:
- Interrogatories
- Depositions
- Discovery
Left Turn Danger in Fremont
Left turns are a standard part of driving, but they can have devastating results if done wrong. According to a study done by the New York Department of Public Transportation, left-hand turns can create anxiety for drivers in certain situations, causing them to make irrational decisions such as speeding up or losing control.
With a population of nearly a quarter million people, and growing, traffic in Fremont is a common occurrence. Motorists can sometimes be forced to wait several minutes before they’re able to make a left turn. Within that wait time, drivers can forget to check the bike lane once their moment to turn arrives. This makes crossing intersections an even riskier task for bicyclists trying to share the road with other drivers. Other hazards bicyclists face while vehicles are turning left include:
- Lengthier turns: left turns cross the path of oncoming traffic longer than right turns. Drivers are usually driving faster on a left turn because they want to get out of the way of oncoming traffic, however, they often forget to check for bicyclists.
- Visibility: drivers are usually looking out for other vehicles and larger trucks. In high-traffic situations, drivers will block out the smaller stuff such as pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists in order to make a quick turn. This leaves bicyclists extremely vulnerable to careless drivers who are not looking out for bicyclists who also have a right to be on the road.
- More complicated turns: left turns require more maneuvering on the road. A driver must process multiple lanes of traffic, people in crosswalks, as well as parked cars along the road. This extra data can be overloading and cause some drivers to lose track of everything around them.
Right-of-Way Laws for Bicyclists in Fremont
California Vehicle Code 21200 awards cyclists the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. This entitles bicyclists to the right-of-way just like all the other drivers on the road. However, it is important to remain aware of motorists as not everyone recognizes this law, or respects the rights of bikers on the road. Other laws outlining the rights of bicyclists on the road include:
- California Vehicle Code 21209: this law prohibits other drivers from driving in the bike lane except to park in permitted areas, or when leaving or entering the roadway.
- California Vehicle Code 22517: this statute covers dooring. Dooring is when a driver opens their vehicle door into the path of an oncoming rider. Under this law, no driver shall open the door of their vehicle on the side that is available to moving traffic unless it can be done in a reasonably safe manner and without interfering with moving traffic.
- Bicyclists in traffic: cyclists are required to ride as close to the right side of the road as possible except when they’re trying to avoid a hazard, turn left, or when passing. They are also required to signal their movements when turning or preparing to change lanes.
- Riding on sidewalks and crosswalks: California allows cyclists to ride legally in crosswalks. Some cities permit cyclists to ride on sidewalks, but some cities have banned cyclists from using the sidewalks. In Fremont, no one over the age of 16 is permitted to ride their bicycle on the sidewalk according to the City of Fremont Bicycle Code.
What is the Typical Compensation for a Left Turn Bicycle Accident in Fremont?
There is no set dollar amount for the trauma and pain experienced by bicycle accident victims. However, an experienced accident attorney will help you understand the value of your case by calculating your economic damages (such as lost wages and medical bills) and non-economic damages (emotional harm, depression, and anxiety). These damages combined include:
- Special Damages: medical bills, ongoing treatment, costs that accumulate when you’re unable to work, like rent or mortgage payments
- General Damages: these are non-economic hardships like pain and suffering, anxiety, depression, mental trauma
- Wrongful Death Damages: these damages may be sought by a spouse or close relative for funeral arrangements, burial expenses, and medical treatment before a loved one’s death
- Punitive Damages: these damages are rare, but if the driver engaged in reckless driving with the intention of hurting you, then you could sue for punitive damages
In most cases, the more severe your injuries and the longer they impact your life, the greater your compensation will be.
Contact a Left-Turn Bicycle Accident Attorney in Fremont
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a bicycle accident in Fremont, the Fremont bicycle accident attorneys can help you obtain the compensation you need. We know how traumatic and overwhelming a bicycle accident can be to accident victims and their families. That’s why we’ll exercise every avenue of the law to get you compensated for the full extent of your damages. Contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Fremont today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront costs, and you don’t pay a cent until we’ve won your case.