Bicycle Accident Attorney in
Santa Barbara County, California

Protecting the Injured Since 1987

California has many cycling enthusiasts and more cyclist traffic fatalities than any other state. At Andrade Law Offices, our Santa Barbara injury attorney recognizes that cyclists have the same rights to the road as motorists in cars and trucks. If you are a bicyclist who has been seriously injured by a reckless or inattentive driver, we will take your concerns seriously, review the facts of your accident, and explain your legal options. When we identify driver negligence as a cause of the accident, we will move forward and aggressively pursue justice for you.

Even though cyclists are increasingly common on the highways of Southern California, motorists often fail to see riders because they are only looking for larger vehicles or they aren't paying sufficient attention. When you work with a personal injury lawyer at our firm, we will investigate all the contributing factors after a serious collision. Bicycle riders are vulnerable to serious injuries because they do not have the protection of a passenger compartment, seatbelt, and airbags. Bicyclists who survive crashes are likely to have broken bones, abrasions, contusions, back and spine injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, particularly if they are not wearing a helmet.

If you or a bicyclist you care about has been in a collision with a motor vehicle, you may be facing lengthy medical treatment and rehabilitation to recover from the accident. If the accident was someone else's fault, the injured cyclist may be entitled to compensation to assist with medical bills and other losses from the at-fault driver and their insurance company. The legal team at Andrade Law Offices helps injured bicyclists and their families obtain the compensation that they are due after accidents in Santa Barbara County and across Southern California.

For a free consultation and review of your bicycle accident claim, call us. We help cyclists.

We Help Bicycle Accident Victims & Their Families

When Californians operate motor vehicles, they have a legal duty to exercise the care necessary to ensure an accident does not happen. This includes sharing the road with bicyclists. Unfortunately, despite a variety of public awareness campaigns, as well as safety rules taught in driver's education courses, many motorists continue to engage in such careless and reckless behavior as aggressive driving, distracted driving, drunk and drugged driving, fatigued driving, speeding, failure to obey traffic signals, and failure to yield right of way.

When a bicyclist is struck and injured or killed because of a motorist's carelessness or recklessness, the at-fault driver should be held accountable. A Santa Barbara injury attorney experienced in these cases can help the injured cyclist or their family obtain compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost income, pain, suffering, and more.

At Andrade Law Offices, we have a successful track record of pursuing bicycle accident claims for injured cyclists and their families in Southern California. We have won hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and court verdicts for the injured and aggressively pursue compensation on behalf of every client we represent.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

Biking is increasingly popular, especially in Southern California, where the climate makes riding comfortable nearly year-round. Unfortunately, the increase in riders is reflected in a:

• 16% increase in bicycle accident fatalities from 2010 to 2012, according to a bicycle safety study by the Governor's Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

The surge in bicycle riders has resulted in more encounters between motorists and cyclists and an increase in adult bicycle accident injuries. The percentage of adults aged 20 and older who died in bicycle accidents increased from 21% to 84% from 1975 to 2012, the GHSA says. Meanwhile, the percentage of fatally injured bicyclists younger than age 20 decreased.

California has recorded more bicycle accident deaths than any other state in recent years, according to the GHSA:

• More than 330 riders were killed in collisions from 2010 to 2012. Bicycle accident deaths are more likely to occur in urban areas. More than a third of fatal accidents involving bicyclists occurred at intersections.

The most common accident scenario in fatal bicycle crashes is a vehicle traveling in the same direction as a bicycle that hits the cyclist from behind, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (HIS). Crashes involving turning vehicles and bicycles either crossing traffic or moving in line with traffic are the second- and third-most common crashes, respectively, but are not among the most common fatal crash scenarios.

Safely Sharing the Road with Bicyclists

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says drivers of motor vehicles must remember to share the road with bicyclists. Drivers should:

• Allow at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road.

• Look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space.

• Yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.

• Be especially watchful for cyclists when making left or right turns.

Failure to follow these simple rules could be the cause of a crash and a bicyclist's injury or death. California law requires motorists to allow 3 feet of clearance between a motor vehicle and a bicyclist, just as all riders in California are required to wear helmets.

Call Today About Your Santa Barbara Bicycle Accident Claim

Steven Andrade's more than 30 years of trial experience make him highly qualified to pursue high-stakes personal injury and wrongful death cases, such as those involving bicycle accidents. He has earned a reputation as a tenacious lawyer, unafraid of taking any case to trial.

Now is the time to contact Andrade Law Offices for a free, no-obligation initial legal consultation about your bicycle accident. In personal injury and wrongful death matters, you owe us nothing until we win your case.

Contact us today to start the work necessary to ensure a secure financial future for you and your family.