San Francisco Bicycle Versus Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Protecting Your Rights after a Bike-Pedestrian Collision
Both bicycle and pedestrian accidents that occur in the greater San Francisco area can lead to extremely serious injuries and other complications. For starters, bicyclists and pedestrians, unlike drivers and passengers in motor vehicles, do not have an outer covering or shell surrounding them at the time of their accident. Therefore, if a motor vehicle collides with them or they are otherwise injured in an accident, there is a good chance that their body will make direct contact with the ground, often suffering a serious injury in the process.
Although bicycle accidents can happen anywhere – even in designated bicycle lanes – pedestrian accidents are more common at traffic intersections where pedestrians tend to be present at crosswalks, as well as in parking lots and parking garages.
If you or a person you love has suffered an injury in a bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, it is important that you have legal representation on your side throughout the entire process. The experienced team of San Francisco bicycle and pedestrian accident lawyers at The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. will investigate the circumstances of your accident and can pursue the monetary recovery that you need.
Bicycle Accidents in San Francisco
Bicycle accidents can occur anywhere, but they are especially common near bike lanes and other areas zoned or designated for bicycle operation. Bicycle accidents typically occur when a motor vehicle operator behaves in a negligent manner under the circumstances. For example, the driver might be distracted or violating a rule of the road, such as by speeding or failing to yield the right-of-way. At other times, the motor vehicle operator might be intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, striking the bicyclist in the process.
Bicycle accidents can also occur when a road defect, such as a deep crack or pothole, exists. These types of road defects can cause a bicyclist to lose his or her balance and fall off the bike, sustaining serious injuries in the process.
If your bicycle accident occurred because of another driver’s negligence, you might be able to bring a claim or file a lawsuit against the negligent driver. Alternatively, if your accident happened because of a roadway defect, you could bring a claim against the city or municipality. A San Francisco bicycle accident attorney can assist you with each step of the claims filing process.
Pedestrian Accidents in San Francisco
Like bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents often happen because a driver is speeding, violating a road rule, or engaging in distracted or intoxicated driving. However, pedestrian accidents are more common at traffic intersections, even when pedestrians are lawfully present in a crosswalk. In some instances, the driver might be in a hurry to get through the intersection and could collide with a pedestrian in the process.
Similarly, pedestrian accidents are common in parking lots and parking garages, where motor vehicle operators might fail to use their rearview or side-view mirrors, negligently backing into a pedestrian.
Contact an Experienced San Francisco Bicycle and Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
At The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc., our legal team is ready to assist you with your personal injury matter. To schedule a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a San Francisco bicycle and pedestrian accident attorney, please call us at (415) 433-0444 or contact us online today.
