Bike Accident Attorney Serving Bakersfield for Over 26 Years

What should you do if you’re bicycling in the Bakersfield area, and you’re injured because a car or truck driver was negligent? Schedule a consultation immediately to discuss your legal rights with a Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyer at The Paris Firm.

Bicycle safety is a significant concern in Bakersfield, with 90 reported accidents and 4 cyclist fatalities in 2024. Bicyclists in the area face dangers such as poor road design and high-speed traffic.

For more than 26 years, The Paris Firm has represented those injured in bicycle accidents in the Bakersfield area. Attorney Eric Paris fights for the compensation and justice his clients need after they’ve been injured in bicycling accidents.

How Does California Law Protect Bicyclists?

California law explicitly provides that everyone riding a bike on a California roadway has the rights and is subject to the provisions applicable to the “driver of a vehicle.” A driver who injures a bike rider may or may not face a criminal charge, such as DUI or reckless driving.

Whether or not the authorities file criminal charges after a bike accident, California bike riders have protection under the state’s civil personal injury laws, which entitle victims of negligence to pursue compensation through the civil courts.

What Can Bike Accident Victims Recover?

Bicycles provide smart transportation and outstanding recreation, but a bicycle accident can cause serious, even catastrophic injuries. If another party injures you in a bicycle accident, California entitles you to pursue damages for your:

1. pending and projected future medical expenses
2. lost wages and projected future lost earning capacity
3. physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional distress
4. related losses

To prevail with a personal injury claim after a car vs. bike accident, you may have to prove that the other driver was negligent or reckless. You’ll need the advice and services of Bakersfield bike accident attorney Eric Paris at The Paris Firm.

How is Liability Determined in Bike Accident Cases?

In bike accident cases, liability and fault are determined by closely scrutinizing the accident details. If a bicyclist rolled through a stop sign or red light and an accident happened, the bicyclist may be partially or fully liable for the collision.

In investigations of bike vs. car accidents, eyewitness statements and the police report are reviewed. If there’s video of the accident, investigators examine it closely. If you’re injured, and you pursue compensation after a bike accident, these questions must be answered:

1. Is there evidence that the motor vehicle driver was negligent?
2. To any extent, was the accident the bicyclist’s fault?
3. Was the bicyclist wearing a helmet at the time of the accident?
4. If the accident was at night, was the bicyclist using reflectors and lights?
5. Is the bicyclist now unable to work due to a serious injury? If so, for how long?

Your Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyer at The Paris Firm will need the answers to these questions. Your lawyer may ask a medical specialist or an accident reconstruction expert to submit a statement or provide testimony that supports your personal injury claim.

What Injuries Are Frequently Sustained by Bike Riders?

In California, bicycle helmets are not legally required for adults (except for Class 3 electric bikes), but even when wearing one, a bicyclist has substantially less protection than someone in a car or truck.

When bicycles and cars collide, devastating and disabling injuries are inevitable. Traumatic brain injuries, fractures, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and road rash are the most common injuries sustained in bicycling accidents.

No helmet can provide absolute, one-hundred-percent protection in a high-speed accident. Any blow or jolt to the head may cause a traumatic brain injury. Helmets save many lives, but they cannot prevent all head and brain injuries.

Take These Steps After a Bike Accident

No Bakersfield bike accident attorney will be at the scene of a bike collision to advise you, so you must take steps to place yourself in a favorable legal position. These are the steps you should take after a bike accident, or if you’ve been seriously injured, ask someone to:

1. Call for police and medical assistance immediately.
2. Get as much insurance and personal contact information as you can from the other party.
3. Take photos of the crash scene, the damage to your bicycle, and your injuries.
4. If witnesses saw the accident, ask them for their names and contact details.

If you’re not rushed to a hospital or treated at the accident scene, obtain a medical examination as quickly as possible, even if you feel healthy. That exam will create medical records you may need if you bring an injury claim, and it should uncover any latent or difficult-to-find injuries.

When Should You Call The Paris Firm?

If a negligent driver injures you in a bike crash in the Bakersfield area, after you’ve been treated by a medical professional, call The Paris Firm immediately at 909-325-6185. If you wait, the evidence can become contaminated, deteriorate, or be lost or altered.

A personal injury claim is stronger when the victim’s accident lawyer can examine evidence while it’s fresh and question witnesses before their memories fade.

California’s statute of limitations for bike accident claims is two years from the date of the accident, but don’t wait until the last minute to file. Call The Paris Firm immediately after you’ve been treated for your injury.

How Does The Paris Firm Handle Bike Accident Claims?

If you proceed with a personal injury claim, attorney Eric Paris can negotiate with the at-fault motorist’s insurance company for a fair and reasonable settlement. In this state, most injury claims arising from car vs. bicycle accidents are resolved outside of the courtroom.

But if liability is disputed, or if no reasonable settlement offer is forthcoming in the out-of-court negotiations, attorney Eric Paris can take your case to trial, explain to a jury how (and how severely) you were hurt, and ask the jury to find in your favor and order payment of your compensation.

With your health and future in the balance, you can’t be represented by an untested or inexperienced personal injury attorney. At The Paris Firm, bike accident lawyer Eric Paris has the experience and courtroom skills you need. He knows how to:

1. Prove that someone else’s negligence directly caused your injury.
2. Negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
3. Advocate aggressively on your behalf if your case goes to trial.
4. Fight for the compensation and justice a bike accident victim deserves.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation

If you sustain injuries in a bike vs. car or truck accident in the Bakersfield area, and the car or truck driver was careless, distracted, or negligent, let The Paris Firm help. Your first consultation at our law firm is free, and you’ll owe no lawyer’s fee until we recover your compensation.

With more than 26 years of experience assisting the injured victims of negligence, experienced bicycle accident attorney Eric Paris knows what steps to take on your behalf. Let him be your trusted legal advocate.

Contact The Paris Firm in Bakersfield by calling 909-325-6185. At your free consultation, we can review the facts in your case and help you determine the best way to proceed with legal action.