California Bicycle Accidents Attorney

Perceptions and Reality

In discussing bicycle accidents, it's important to separate perception from reality. For many non-cyclists, the perception is that cyclists take their lives into their hands on the streets - that in some sense they are "asking for a bike accident" by riding recklessly or by venturing onto the streets in the first place.

In reality, most cyclists are extremely alert when riding on the city streets, and bicycle accidents are much less common than those involving pedestrians or motor vehicles. This is not to say that cyclists don't face danger every day. However, many of the any Southern / Northern California bicycle accident attorney agrees that bike accidents could be avoided with public education and more care on the part of pedestrians and motorists, abetted by enforcement and other policies to reduce the amount and aggressiveness of motor vehicle use.

Any cyclist knows that bike accidents come from three sources: reckless, belligerent or blindsided motorists; swinging car doors; and jaywalking pedestrians. Cyclists must somehow be alert to these dangers while simultaneously keeping a close eye on the pavement for potholes, metal plates and other ground-level hazards.

The Ten Most Common Bicycle Accidents:

1. The Right Cross: Car pulls out of a side street, parking lot or driveway on the right causing a bike accident.

2. The Door Prize: A driver opens his door right in front of you.

3. The Crosswalk Slam: You're riding on the sidewalk and cross the street at a crosswalk, and a car makes a right turn into you causing the bicycle accident.

4. The Wrong-Way Wreck: You're riding the wrong way (against traffic, on the left-hand side of the street). A car makes a right turn from a side street, driveway, or parking lot into you.

5. The Bad Pass: There is a red light. Two cars stop in front of you. You pass on the right and, as the light turns green, the first car turns into you.

6. The Right Hook: A car passes you and then tries to make a right turn directly in front of you.

7. The Right Hook, Part Two: You are passing a slow-moving car on the right, when it unexpectedly makes a right turn into you.

8. The Left Cross: A car coming toward you makes a left turn right in front of you.

9. The Rear End: You innocently move a little to the left to go around a parked car and you get hit from behind by an oncoming car.

10. The Rear End, Part Two: A car runs into you from behind. This is what many cyclists fear the most, but it is actually not common, comprising only 3.8% of bicycle accidents.

Northern and Southern California Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Cunningham & Lansden are Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers with offices throughout Southern and Northern California. Our bicycle accident attorneys are located in our regional California offices in Camarillo, Sacramento and Placerville. A bicycle accident lawyer will come to you if you cannot come to us. You are welcome to contact one of our Camarillo, Sacramento and Placerville bicycle accident lawyers by email or telephone for a free case evaluation.