EXPERIENCED RIVERSIDE
BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Riding bikes is a common form of recreation in California, and Riverside County offers a widespread network of bicycle pathways, bike lanes, and recreational events for cycling enthusiasts, commuters, and fitness buffs. Besides being inexpensive, bike riding is a great exercise that doesn’t harm the environment. It’s no wonder that more and more cyclists are sharing the road with motor vehicles in Riverside to commute to work, run errands, or just have fun.
Unfortunately, this puts them at risk of serious injury and even death every time they go out on the road. Regardless of how careful they are, most cyclists have had to perform evasive maneuvers at least once to avoid an accident with a car or truck on local streets and highways. Hundreds have experienced serious injuries, and more than a dozen have died in bicycle accidents in Riverside County in recent years.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you need an experienced, aggressive Riverside bicycle accident lawyer on your side to protect your rights, explain your legal options, and help you recover the fair and just compensation you deserve. The Riverside bicycle accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help!
Our personal injury lawyers handle a variety of accident claims, including bicycle accidents. With multiple offices located in Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Los Angeles, El Segundo, and San Diego, our accident attorneys represent injured cyclists across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with an expert Riverside bike accident attorney, please call 888-848-5084.
Bicyclists have the same rights as Motor Vehicle Drivers in California
Many drivers either don’t know or intentionally ignore the California law that states bicyclists have the same rights to area roadways as motor vehicles do. Riders also have the same responsibilities to abide by the rules of the road and respect the right-of-way of other vehicles as drivers do. There are some irresponsible cyclists who increase the chances of a vehicle striking them by weaving in and out of traffic, talking on cell phones, listening to music while riding, or disobeying traffic signals and stop signs. However, the vast majority of accidents, injuries, and fatalities involving motor vehicles and bikes are caused by negligent drivers.
Here are some common reasons drivers cause accidents with cyclists:
- Failure to honor a cyclist’s right-of-way
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driver fatigue
- Talking or texting on phones while driving
- Crowding bicyclists off the road
- Running stop signs and red lights
- Changing lanes without looking
- Weaving through traffic
- Driving over the speed limit
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Engaging in road rage and intimidating riders with their vehicles
Contact an Aggressive Riverside Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was involved in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Consult with the Riverside bike accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates to protect your legal rights.
Unlike attorneys at other law firms who interview clients and pass cases to junior members of the firm, we handle each case personally. We give each client the individual attention they deserve. This has been central to our law practice from the very beginning and is why our clients choose us to represent them. We take our responsibilities to clients very seriously and work hard to help them receive the maximum compensation for their pain and suffering, lost time at work, medical expenses, and other costs.
With multiple offices located in Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Los Angeles, El Segundo and San Diego, our personal injury lawyers represent injured cyclists across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with an experienced Riverside bicycle accident attorney, please call 888-848-5084.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ride a bike on the sidewalk in Riverside County?
In the city of Riverside, you are not allowed to ride a bike on a sidewalk or parkway unless posted signs specifically permit you to on that sidewalk or parkway. An exception is that authorized police bicycle patrols are permitted to ride on sidewalks.
Is it illegal to ride a bike without a helmet in California?
When a cyclist is involved in an accident, a helmet can be instrumental in preventing serious head and brain injuries. Safety is a significant reason why a cyclist should always wear a bicycle helmet. However, California law states that only minors under the age of 18 must wear a helmet on a bikeway, street, or any other public path or trail. The helmet must fit properly, fasten correctly, and adhere to accepted safety standards. This law applies to riding or operating a nonmotorized scooter, roller skates, and skateboards as well. Even children who are riding as passengers on one of these vehicles must wear a helmet whether or not an adult is present. Violation of the state’s bicycle helmet laws can result in a fine of up to $25.
Can I wear headphones while riding my bike?
In California, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones or earbuds. However, you can ride a bicycle while wearing headphones or earbuds as long as you ride with one ear free. It is illegal to ride a bike with headphones covering both ears or earbuds in both ears.
Do bike riders in Riverside have the right of way?
In most states, bicycles are treated the same as motor vehicles for the purpose of traffic laws. Cyclists must follow all traffic laws that other motorists follow. The only exception is if following the law is impractical because of the nature of a bicycle. Cyclists are required to know and understand traffic laws the same as drivers are.
Cyclists must yield the right of way under the same conditions as motor vehicles. They must yield to pedestrians, stop at stop signs, and obey traffic lights. Cyclists must also use turn signals and travel with the flow of traffic. They must also yield the right of way when directed to do so by a yield sign. When entering traffic, cyclists must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic as a car or truck would.
Cyclists generally have the right of way when traveling in a designated bicycle lane, and motorists turning right through a bike lane should afford them that. This also applies to drivers making a left turn through an intersection when a cyclist is coming in the opposite direction.
However, just because a bicyclist has the right of way, it is no guarantee that a motorist will yield the right of way. Drivers often don’t see a bicycle approaching. Cyclists should never assume a driver will grant them the right of way and must always ride cautiously.
Who is at fault if a bicycle hits a car?
Accidents usually occur due to negligence, and it can be on the part of the driver or the cyclist. If a cyclist is handling a bike in a way that could be deemed negligent, he or she can be at fault. A cyclist who doesn’t obey traffic laws, such as running a red light, riding against traffic, or not yielding the right of way is responsible if an accident occurs. Even if a driver is found to be negligent in an accident, it doesn’t absolve a negligent cyclist.
Bicycle Accident Statistics and Trends
Free Consult
Call 24/7