Sacramento Bicycle Accident Lawyer
California is the deadliest state in the nation for bicycle accidents.
If you are going to be killed by a car while riding a bicycle, there’s a good chance you are male, older than 20 and living in California. California had the most bicyclists killed of any state in 2012.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Zappettini & Bradley, serve Sacramento and the surrounding counties, and are dedicated to winning justice for cycling accident victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in the Sacramento area, call today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
The increasing popularity of cycling for both recreation and fitness has changed the demographics of those most at risk of serious and fatal injuries. Today, middle-aged men are most likely to be seriously injured or killed in a cycling accident. In fact, federal statistics show the average age of an accident victim is on the rise. In the last decade, the average age of a cyclist killed has increased from 36 to 40, while the average age of a cyclist injured as increased from 28 to 32.
Riders ages 45-54 have the highest fatality rate. In many cases, the accident victim is a family’s primary wage earner, adding to the emotional and financial consequences.
Injury Claims for Bicyclists in Sacramento
Many people are surprised to learn that bicycle accident victims, and even pedestrians injured by a motor vehicle, are entitled to recover insurance benefits for personal injuries under their own auto insurance policies. Auto insurance coverage may also be available for children involved in bicycle accidents, or those who are injured by vehicles under their parent’s car insurance policies. Insurance proceeds can be used to pay for medical bills and pain and suffering. Our Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers understand California motor vehicle accident laws, insurance policies, and how the applicable law may apply to your case.
You should know that California law provides bicyclists the same legal protections applicable to motor vehicles. Likewise, cyclists must follow the same rules of the road.
Statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that between 2000 and 2009, traffic crashes claimed the lives of a total of 7,053 pedalcyclists. The NHTSA defines pedalcyclists as “riders of two-wheeled non motorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered solely by pedals.” Traffic data also suggests that, while there is oftem more emphasis on safety during nighttime bike rides, 72 percent of the bicyclists and other cyclists who were killed in 2009 (630 individuals, or 1.9 percent of the traffic fatalities recorded nationwide) lost their lives in wrecks that occurred between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 500,000 bike accident victims are admitted into the ER to be treated for their injuries on an annual basis. Statistical data also indicated that kids no more than 15 years old make up more than half (59 percent) of all bike accident-related emergency department visits.