Bicycling is one of southern California’s most popular recreations. Unfortunately, a number of drivers don’t seem to understand that bicyclists have legal rights on the road. If you’ve been injured while bicycling by the negligent behavior of another driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at once about receiving compensation for your injury. Even when taking full safety precautions, bike riders can suffer serious injuries; obviously, they lack the safety advantages enjoyed by motor vehicle drivers. And while fewer than one out of every hundred persons using the road at any given moment is a bicyclist, they have a much higher risk of injury than the other ninety-nine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2010, accidents sent over 500,000 bicycle riders to emergency rooms and nearly 800 to their deaths.

Motor vehicle drivers aren’t always the only people who can be held liable for a bicyclist’s injuries. In 2009, a man riding in Malibu was permanently paralyzed in a bike wreck on a poorly paved road there. The victim and other injured bicyclists filed claims against the contractors who paved the road. The contractors agreed to settle the claims for $16.9 million.

Settlements and damage awards must consider both the victim’s past and future suffering. A bike crash victim with a permanent disability will require a lifetime of expensive medical care, and the only way funds can be obtained for those long-term expenses may be through a legal action. Claims for high amounts, seen from this perspective, aren’t expressions of greed; lifetime care for someone seriously injured and permanently disabled can cost millions. Of course, the health these victims once enjoyed can never be replaced.

If you are injured in a crash while riding a bicycle, an experienced personal injury attorney will fight aggressively for your rights. You may recover your medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Protecting your well-being and your legal rights must be your priority after any bicycle accident, and a good personal injury lawyer is the person who can help. In the San Diego area, if you or a member of your family has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact experienced California personal injury attorney Gary Sernaker at (858) 509-0188, or email him at Gsernaker@gmail.com to discuss your rights and options under California law.