Bicyclists Face Many Dangers in San Francisco
San Francisco Has More Bicyclists Than Any Other American City
San Francisco has more bicycle riders per capita than any other American city. Those of us working in Bay Area bike injury law realize that bike riders can be injured in a number of ways. Aside from being struck by a vehicle, bicyclists are also frequently injured by “dooring,” which happens when a person opens his or her car door without looking to see if a bike is coming. The law requires drivers to look carefully before opening their doors and holds them responsible for injuries to bike riders when they break this law.
California Permits Sharing the Road with Cars
California law permits bike riders full use of a lane whenever there is not enough room to ride safely next to a car. Some automobile drivers may believe that bike riders should not be sharing the road with cars, but the law is clear in stating otherwise. The injury attorneys at Callaway & Wolf have seen their fair share of bicycle injury cases. Our attorneys are avid cyclists and ride regularly through San Francisco’s busy streets—they understand the hazards bicycle riders face on a daily basis. For example, car and truck drivers often fail to look for cyclists or simply do not want to give them fair use of the road to which they are entitled.
Bicycle Accidents Can Result in Serious Injuries
The Bay Area is known for its enthusiastic cyclists, and many other cities in our area also have a large number of bicycle riders. However, since many streets in California do not have bike lanes, bike riders are forced to share the road with cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Last week, a 20-year-old bicyclist died after he was struck by one car and run over by another, reports the San Diego Union-Times. A woman reported to police that she had run over a man who had been struck by another motorist and knocked off his bicycle. Both motorists reportedly stayed on the scene and cooperated with the police. The bicyclist became trapped under the second vehicle and subsequently died.
Another California cyclist was recently struck by a car and killed while driving home from her job at Disneyland, according to the Los Angeles Times. Unfortunately, the woman was struck from behind by a vehicle, and it was not clear at the time whether she was wearing a helmet.
Ask a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
The San Francisco bicycle accident attorneys at Callaway & Wolf know that cyclists and other bike riders have the same rights under California law as car or motor vehicle drivers, except for the fact that bikes are not allowed on California freeways. If you or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle accident, please consider contacting the qualified legal professionals at Callaway & Wolf at 415-541-0300 for a free consultation. Our attorneys are experienced in handling bicycle injury claims, and can explain how the law applies in your specific case.
Boone Callaway is a personal injury & medical malpractice lawyer in San Francisco who has been working with clients in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Mr. Callaway is one of only a few personal injury litigators in San Francisco who is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated and is also a member of ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates.
