A bicycle accident in Oakland can bring your life to a halt, with serious injuries that are painful, expensive and interfere with your ability to work. Our law firm of bicycle accident lawyers are prepared to guide you through the medical and legal systems so that you can make a full physical, emotional and financial recovery.
We care about our clients and have been fighting for justice since 1972. Discuss your legal rights and options in detail after a bike accident with our legal team at no cost. Contact us today.
Why Clients Choose Jacoby & Meyers
- Your goals are our goals. Our Oakland personal injury lawyers strive to achieve the utmost in client satisfaction, success and recovery with high-quality legal services.
- We’ve been representing clients longer and collected higher settlements than any other law firm in California. Our past case results show over $2 billion won in settlements.
- Our team of lawyers have years of experience in the field – enabling us to generate bigger, better and more immediate results for our clients.
Why You Should Hire an Oakland Bicycle Accident Attorney
An insurance claim filed for a bicycle accident in Oakland can encounter numerous complications and challenges. The driver who hit you may deny fault for the crash, for example, or the insurance company may reject your claim for various reasons.
Hiring an experienced bicycle accident attorney to represent you is the most effective way to navigate the legal process. An attorney will have the knowledge, resources and expertise to build the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
Your lawyer can investigate the accident to determine fault and collect evidence of negligence, or someone’s failure to act with proper care. With this information, your lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement from an insurance provider or bring your bike accident case to trial, if necessary.
How Much Does a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Oakland Cost?
At Jacoby & Meyers, we don’t want to add to our clients’ stress after they’ve been involved in accidents and are already dealing with painful injuries and expensive bills. That is why we choose to represent clients for $0 upfront. You will not pay us unless we win your case.
If your bicycle accident claim does not result in an insurance settlement or judgment award, you won’t owe us a dime for our services. If we do win your case, we will take our fee directly out of the amount won; that way, you are never charged out of pocket.
California Bicycle Laws
Many bike accident cases filed in Oakland involve violated traffic laws. Every driver has a responsibility to know and obey California’s bicycle laws. Bicyclists have the right to the road and are considered vehicles in the eyes of the law under California Vehicle Code § 21200 – meaning motorists must respect them as equals.
California law permits cyclists to share the road with motor vehicles; in fact, bikes are prohibited on sidewalks in most downtown areas. Motorists must maintain a safe following distance when driving near and around cyclists.
If a motor vehicle driver cuts a cyclist off, fails to yield the right-of-way to a biker, makes an unsafe left-hand turn or engages in other dangerous practices that threaten the safety of cyclists, he or she can be found liable for a related bike accident.
Oakland Bike Accident Statistics
Oakland is recognized as a “Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community” and boasts 160 miles of bikeways, reflecting the city’s support for cyclists. However, despite these efforts, bicycle accidents remain a concern. Data indicates that Alameda County, including Oakland, faces significant risks for bicyclists. The city is actively working to improve safety through infrastructure improvements, educational programs, and safety initiatives.
- Over the five-year period from 2013 to 2017, Alameda County ranked 13th out of 58 counties in California for bicycle casualties, with around 600 casualties annuallyMore than 170 of these fatal and injury-causing bike crashes occurred in Oakland.
- Oakland averages a bicycle-involved collision approximately every other day.
- A City of Oakland safety analysis found that 1 in 4 local cyclists killed are hit by an impaired driver.
- Over 25% of fatal bicycle collisions in Oakland involve a speeding driver.
- In 2020, Oakland saw a spike in bicycle accidents and resulting severe injuries, coinciding with the start of COVID-19 quarantines.
- Ninety-seven percent of bicycle collisions in Oakland involve motor vehicles, and youth cyclists are disproportionately represented.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Oakland
Motor vehicle drivers in Oakland can make many mistakes that result in devastating bicycle collisions. Drivers have a legal responsibility to drive with care, caution and according to California’s traffic laws. Unfortunately, drivers can commit many careless and reckless actions that ultimately injure others.
Top causes of bike accidents in Oakland include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Speeding, especially in heavy pedestrian traffic areas
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Failing to check blind spots
- Opening car doors into cyclists (dooring)
- Making dangerous left or right turns
- Unsafe passing or overtaking
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Road hazards and defects (such as potholes)
Under California’s fault-based law, if a driver is at fault for causing an accident, his or her automobile insurance must pay for the injured victim’s medical bills and property repairs. However, some bicycle accident cases involve complicated issues of liability.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Oakland
Severe injuries from bicycle accidents can have life-altering consequences. Our Oakland bicycle accident attorneys have extensive experience handling cases involving:
- Head and Brain Injuries
- Spinal and Back Injuries
- Orthopedic Injuries
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Long-Term Complications
Who Is Liable for an Oakland Bike Accident?
Determining liability, or legal and financial responsibility, for a bicycle accident in Oakland depends on who is at fault for causing the crash. Liability could be assigned to various parties, including motor vehicle drivers, pedestrians, product manufacturers and government agencies.
If a motorist engages in dangerous or negligent behaviors, his or her automobile insurance will pay for damages. If the driver was working for a company at the time of the crash – such as a delivery driver, UPS or USPS driver, Amazon driver, federal government worker, or Uber or Lyft driver – the driver’s employer could be held liable, as well.
Finally, if an investigation finds that an external factor contributed to the accident, such as an unsafe roadway or defective bicycle part, the government or a manufacturer could be liable for the victim’s damages.
Types of Financial Compensation Available
In California, an injured victim could recover both economic and noneconomic damages in a bicycle accident case. The value of your case will depend on the circumstances, such as the gravity of your physical injuries and how much the bike accident has and will continue to affect your life.
The damages available may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Surgeries, therapies and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and lost capacity to earn
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Property damage repairs or replacement
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Wrongful death damages (after a fatal bicycle accident)
- Punitive damages, in some cases
If you wish to maximize your compensation for an Oakland bike accident case, seek immediate medical treatment and document your injuries. Gather evidence while you’re still at the scene of the crash and file a prompt insurance claim. Then, consult with a lawyer about your case before accepting a settlement.
Contact Our Experienced Oakland Bicycle Accident Lawyers Today
You may be eligible for financial compensation if you were hit by a car while on a bike in Oakland – but more than that, you may be able to seek justice and hold someone accountable for causing your injuries and losses, helping you to move forward.
At Jacoby & Meyers, we help bicycle accident victims rebuild their lives and become whole again. Find out how we can help you during a free case evaluation. Contact our Oakland office at (510) 616-9169 24/7.
We are located at 66 Franklin St, Suite 300, Oakland, CA 94607.