Bicycle Accidents

Read This Before You Take Your Bicycle on the Streets of San Diego

Riding a bicycle can be a fun pastime or a great way to get to the office without sitting in traffic and wasting gas. However, you have to be safe when you take to the streets, especially if you don’t have a car surrounding you to protect you from others on the road. Here are a few of the most important tips to keep you safe while riding your bike around San Diego.

• Wear the proper protective gear – A helmet may not always be a fashion statement, but it gives you much better odds of surviving if you are in an accident while riding your bike. Wearing something reflective is also important, especially if you are riding at night.
• Have lights on your bike – While only certain lights are required by California law, the more visible you are to drivers, the safer you will be. Lights on the front and back of your bike during the daytime and at night will increase your visibility.
• Watch for right-hand turns – Cars turning right will have to cut through the bike lane. Always assume that the driver doesn’t see you, even if you are sitting next to him at a red light. If you both start going the second the light turns green, it is going to go much worse for you than the car.

Personal Injury Attorneys for Bicycle Accidents in San Diego

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in southern California, call the attorneys at Petrov Law Firm to get the help you need seeking a settlement. Dial 619.344.0360 to schedule an appointment now.

3 Safety Tips for San Diego Cyclists

Do you ride your bike to commute to work in San Diego, or even just as a hobby? If so, you want to be as safe as possible. While drivers are supposed to share the road with bicycles, people are more distracted than ever, and that can lead to some serious injuries. Here are a few ways to protect yourself on the road.

1. Watch for drivers making right turns. Since bike lanes are usually on the right and cyclists tend to stick toward this side of the road anyway, you are at greatest risk when a driver is making a right-hand If he or she doesn’t see you, they may try to turn with you right alongside them.
2. Exiting the Bike Lane. When the bike lane ends or when you need to leave the bike lane to make a turn, use extra caution. It is legal for you to leave the bike lane when approaching a place that drivers can turn right. Moving into the vehicle lane will alert drivers to your presence and protect you from the danger mentioned in point one.
3. When a Stoplight Turns Green. Don’t assume that driver next to you sees you or that they are using a turn signal properly. Always assume that the driver is going to punch it and make a right-hand turn in front of you when the light turns green. Better safe than sorry.

If You Have Been Injured in Bicycle Accident in California

If you are a cyclist who has been injured by a driver in California, seek the help of the experienced personal injury lawyers at Petrov Law Firm. We can help you get started on your case today. All you need to do is call 619-344-0360 to schedule an appointment.

This Bicycle Riding Tip May Save Your Life

If you regularly ride a bike on the roads of Southern California, there is something you should know. While it is not a law, the recommendation is to have lights on your bicycle at all times, both day and night. Why is this the recommended practice, and how may it save your life?

Visibility Is a Must for Cyclists

Drivers are evermore distracted, and while that isn’t your fault, making yourself as visible as possible to drivers may just save your life. Cyclists are required by law to have a front lamp lit while driving at night. A rear red reflector is also required by law. However, anything you can do to make yourself even more visible is a good idea because motor vehicle accidents involving cyclists never turn out well for the cyclist. It’s a matter of “better safe than sorry.”

What if the Accident Is the Driver’s Fault?

If you have been injured in a cycling accident, especially if the vehicle driver was at fault, contact the personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm. The lawyers at our San Diego and Chula Vista offices are experienced in auto accident cases.

If the vehicle driver was at fault, your settlement should include everything from medical costs and lost wages to pain and suffering costs. Before you sign anything from the insurance company, call 619-344-0360 to ensure you are being treated fairly and receiving what you deserve out of the settlement. We’re here to help!