Los Angeles Injury Lawyer Blog

This past week the Los Angeles City Council approved a landmark ordinance - the "Prohibition Against Harassment of Bicyclists" providing bicyclists much greater protection from harassment and assault. Harassing bicyclists is now illegal and victims of harassing behavior can sue aggressive drivers in court.

If you have been subject to harassing behavior by drivers - or passengers - contact an experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer to learn about how this new law affects you.

According to LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, one of the bill's sponsors, "The car culture is over." NBC new reports that bicyclists have been increasingly worried about their safety ever since a Brentwood doctor was convicted of intentionally causing a bicycle accident involving two cyclists with his car, resulting in serious injuries. Just last week a Los Angeles bicyclist was killed in a case of road rage. Another bicyclist told the council that while biking on La Brea Avenue, a passenger leaned out the car window to push him over.

Continue reading "New Los Angeles Bicycle Law To Protect Bikers From Harassment And Assault" »

Los Angeles news reports that a 17-year-old boy was killed in a Canoga Park hit and run accident. The high school senior was riding his bike along De Soto Avenue near Valerio Street when someone driving a small Toyota sped up and hit the boy, then continued driving away.

Anyone with knowledge of this bike accident is encourages to contact the police. If you have or a loved one has suffered a serious injury as the result of another's recklessness or negligence, it is critical to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer immediately to begin investigating the accident and protecting your rights.

Here, several issues need to be addressed. In addition to calls for the driver to come forward, neighborhood residents complain about De Soto Avenue itself, calling it a "death trap" and noting that, "It's awful. ...from Sherman Way to Saticoy Street, De Soto is a racetrack." Where roadway design and maintenance create a dangerous condition, a town or municipality may be held responsible for injuries that are caused as a result.

Continue reading "Hit-and-Run Diver Kills Boy In Canoga Park Bicycle Accident" »

With great weather and miles of coastline, cycling conditions in Southern California are ideal. It's important though to keep in mind a few safety tips to protect yourself and make sure your day's ride doesn't end up in a bike accident. A recent report by KABC- Los Angeles highlights some tips and safety advice for those getting back on their bike this spring.

One consideration is making sure the bike you ride has a perfect fit. Several considerations go into finding the ideal bike - including the distance from the saddle to the handle bars and the right type of bike for your riding needs.

Other considerations include proper maintenance - including using a bike lubricant every couple of weeks and having a bike shop tune up your bike twice a year.

Perhaps the most important items affecting your bike riding safety concern clothing and protective gear. Wearing bright colors that help others see you and wearing helmets can go a long way in keeping you from getting in an accident and protecting you from serious injuries if you do. Statistics report that 75% of cycling fatalities result from head trauma. Wearing a helmet prevents brain injuries by 90%.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Bike Accidents - Safe Cycling Tips To Avoid Injuries" »

After suffering injuries from a Los Angeles bike accident, Mayor Villaraigosa has approved of a plan to develop more than 1,680 miles of bicycle lanes to improve safety for Los Angeles bike riders.

If you have been injured in while riding your bike, contact an experienced Los Angeles bike accident lawyer to begin an investigation into the accident and help you obtain compensation for your injuries.

The ambitious plan seeks to provide 100 miles per year new lanes for the next 5 years, plus 40 miles for each year after that. Los Angeles hopes that with the addition of bike lanes, the frequency of Los Angeles car accidents involving bike collisions will decrease. Villaraigosa notes that the city is "focusing our efforts in transforming the city from just the single-passenger automobile city to a city where we share the road."

In fact - it is often the failure to share the road that leads to car/bike accidents. In some cases, a bicyclist may signal he or she is turning, but a car fails to acknowledge the bicyclist's gesture and collides with the cyclist as he's trying to negotiate a turn. Other times, bicyclists attempt to use traffic slow downs to maneuver and pass several vehicles, creating unseen hazards for cars unaware of their presence.

Continue reading "New Los Angeles Bike Lanes Approved To Reduce Southern California Bike Accidents" »

Bicycling for transportation, exercise and enjoyment has increased in popularity throughout the Los Angeles area, including Long Beach. Unfortunately, with the increased number of bikes on the road, the number of Long Beach bike accidents has also increased. The Long Beach Post reports that this past week a 48-year-old man was struck and killed while riding his bicycle in the Traffic Circle.

Despite being named a bike friendly town, Long Beach ranks #4 in the highest number of bike accidents involving serious injuries and fatalities. If you have been injured in a Long Beach bike accident, contact an experienced Los Angeles bike accident lawyer to discuss your options.

One cause for serious bike accidents is drivers and bicyclists failing to share the road. Rather than competing for position on the road, motorists need to respect different modes of transportation and allow for safe passage - especially in congested areas such as in traffic circles and other dangerous intersections. When accidents do happen, the injuries are often severe including head, brain, and spinal cord injures.

Continue reading "Fatal Bike Accident In Long Beach Traffic Circle" »

Despite Santa Monica's bike friendly attitude - or perhaps as a direct result of the number of bicyclists - ridng in Santa Monica can be dangerous. In fact, Santa Monica ranks third highest for number of collisions involving bicyclists in the state.

Worse yet, it took the number one spot for pedestrian accidents, with more occurring in Santa Monica than 102 other comparable California cities.

In 2008, 110 serious bike accidents were reported and 105 serious pedestrian accidents. These accidents resulted in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, broken bones, as well as back, neck and head injuries.

As stated by a Parks and Recreation Commission member, "That Santa Monica should rank so highly in accidents is so disappointing...They're just horrifying numbers. " He added, "We have to do more to make our streets safe for bicyclists."

As a Southern California personal injury attorney, I agree. Far too many accidents occur in Santa Monica and other cities and towns throughout California as a result of driver distraction, DUIs, or simply failing to obey traffic rules.

Hopefully this study will serve as a wake up call to make Santa Monica streets safer for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike.

Continue reading "Santa Monica Top In Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents" »

On Friday, Los Angeles bicycle enthusiasts will take to the road in a monthly "Critical Mass" bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and assert cyclists' right to the road. However, the celebration has turned violent in recent months with police officers caught on tape kicking at a cyclist during a bicycle demonstration in May.

The Los Angeles police department has planned a press conference to discuss the Critical Mass ride, starting at 7:30 this Friday on Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue in Koreatown.

The attention these rides draw to the plight of bicyclists is necessary. Bike activists have claimed that the LAPD has been heavy handed when enforcing traffic laws against cyclists and that, at the same time, the department has failed to pursue hit-and-run drivers who have collided with bicyclists. Since the clash in May, the LAPD has begun investigated bike crashes as car crashes.

Car collisions with bicyclists are serious matters. If struck by a car, a bicyclist may suffer catastrophic, even fatal, injuries. Further, cars drivers often carry insufficient insurance to cover the medical costs associated with serious bike injuries. As such, bicyclists may have to look to their own un- or underinsurance policy in order to obtain compensation for their injuries.

Bicycling's popularity will only increase as more Californians look to cycling for recreation, exercise and transportation. It's crucial that we find ways to eliminate the dangers associated with bikes sharing the roads with cars.

Continue reading "Upcoming Critical Mass Ride Underscores Need To Address Bike Safety" »