Ontario Bicycle Accident Lawyers | Free Case evaluation
Representing Injured Cyclists in the Inland Empire
Have you or a family member been injured in a bicycle accident in Ontario? The award-winning bicycle accident attorneys at Wisner Baum are here to help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve.
With decades of experience representing injured cyclists, we understand the devastating impact these accidents can have on victims and their families. Even with a helmet, gloves, and other protective gear, a cyclist can suffer catastrophic injuries or death.
Why Choose Our Ontario Bicycle Accident Attorneys?
- Free Initial Consultation - Get experienced legal advice at no cost.
- No Fees Unless We Win - You pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
- Billions Recovered – Our attorneys have won billions for accident victims across all practice areas.
- Bilingual Staff – Our legal team is happy to assist Spanish-speaking clients.
Call (855) 948-5098or contact us onlineto request a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Ontario bicycle accident attorneys.
KEY POINTS ABOUT BICYCLE INJURY CLAIMS
- Bicycle Accident Stats – San Bernardino County
- Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Ontario
- Common Bicycle Crash Injuries
- When is a Cyclist At-Fault for an Accident with a Car?
- How Can a Bicyclist Recover Compensation For Injuries?
- What is the Payout for a Bicycle Accident Claim in Ontario?
- How Can a Bicycle Accident Attorney Help?
Bicycle Accident Stats – San Bernardino County
In an average year, over 200 bicycle accidents result in injuries or death in San Bernardino County. Below are the cities in San Bernardino County with the most bicycle accidents in an average year, according to recent data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP):
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Ontario
Collisions with Motor Vehicles: Many bicycle accidents in Ontario involve cars or trucks. These incidents often stem from:
- Distracted Driving: Motorists who text, use their phones, or are otherwise distracted may be less likely to notice cyclists on the road. Even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to accidents.
- Failure to Yield: Many accidents in Ontario occur when drivers do not yield the right-of-way to cyclists at intersections or when turning. This disregard for cyclists sharing the road can lead to accidents.
- Dooring Incidents: Parked cars pose a significant risk when drivers or passengers open doors without checking for oncoming cyclists, leading to potentially severe accidents.
Unsafe Road Conditions: Poorly maintained roads contribute to many bicycle accidents. The following often cause or contribute to bike accidents:
- Potholes and Debris: Cyclists are vulnerable to harm if city roads have potholes, debris, or uneven surfaces.
- Inadequate Bicycle Infrastructure: A lack of dedicated bike lanes forces cyclists into traffic, increasing the risk of collisions with motor vehicles.
- Poor Signage: Inadequate or missing road signs can lead to misunderstandings about the right-of-way and traffic flow between cyclists and motorists.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving: Speeding drivers are a serious risk to cyclists. Higher speeds reduce a driver's reaction time and increase the severity of injuries in the event of a collision. Cyclists are particularly at risk when drivers exceed speed limits or engage in aggressive driving behaviors, like following too closely or failing to share the road when cyclists are riding in the bike lane.
Common Bicycle Crash Injuries
The Ontario bicycle injury attorneys at Wisner Baum have experience litigating cases on behalf of individuals who sustain the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Road rash and soft tissue damage
- Internal injuries
- Wrongful death cases
When is a Cyclist At-Fault for an Accident with a Car?
While motorists are responsible for many bicycle accidents, cyclist behavior can also contribute to collisions. Riding against traffic, ignoring traffic signals, or cycling under the influence increases accident risk.
If you were partially at-fault for the accident that injured you, you may still be able to pursue a claim. California follows comparative negligence laws, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident.
Here's how comparative negligence works in a bicycle accident case:
Let's say you were struck by a distracted driver who ran a red light, but it's determined that you were riding without lights at night, which contributed to the accident. Under California law, your compensation would be reduced by your percentage of fault.
If it's determined you were 20% at fault, and your total damages are $100,000, you would still be able to recover $80,000 (the remaining 80% not attributed to your negligence). Our attorneys will fight to limit your liability as much as possible and get you the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
How Can a Bicyclist Recover Compensation for injuries?
In California, if a cyclist is injured due to the negligence of a motorist, there are several legal options available to obtain compensation:
- Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit: The injured cyclist can file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent motorist. To succeed in such a lawsuit, the cyclist must prove that the motorist breached their duty of care (such as by not following traffic laws or driving recklessly), that this breach caused the accident, and that the accident resulted in the cyclist's injuries.
- Insurance Claims: California law requires motorists to carry auto insurance, which typically includes coverage for bodily injury liability. The injured cyclist can file a claim with the motorist's insurance company to seek compensation for their injuries. This may involve negotiating with the insurance company or, if necessary, pursuing a lawsuit if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If the motorist responsible for the accident does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover the cyclist's injuries, the cyclist may be able to seek compensation through their own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, if they have such coverage as part of their auto insurance policy.
- Negotiated Settlements: In some cases, the cyclist and the motorist (or their insurance company) may be able to reach a negotiated settlement without going to court. This settlement would typically involve the payment of a certain amount of money to the cyclist in exchange for releasing the motorist from further liability.
- Mediation or Arbitration: Instead of going to court, the parties may choose to resolve their dispute through mediation or arbitration. In mediation, a neutral third party helps the parties reach a mutually acceptable settlement. In arbitration, a neutral arbitrator hears the evidence presented by both sides and makes a binding decision to resolve the dispute.
What is the Payout for a Bicycle Accident Claim in Ontario?
Because each case is unique, we cannot estimate case value until we investigate the circumstances of the accident that injured you. That said, the payout for a bicycle accident claim hinges on your claims for damages, which may include:
- Medical Bills: Includes past and future medical expenses.
- Lost Wages: When cyclists can't work due to their injuries, we make sure they are compensated for all lost income, bonuses, and benefits.
- Pain and Suffering: Bicycle accidents often result in immense physical and emotional anguish. This might include severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), debilitating anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares related to the trauma of the crash.
- Rehabilitation Costs: We fight to get our clients the best possible care, including coverage for physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical equipment, and home modifications.
- Wrongful Death: Tragically, some bicycle accidents result in the loss of a family member. When this happens, we work tirelessly to obtain justice and fair compensation for the family.
Whatever injuries you may suffer, you can count on our Ontario bicycle accident attorneys to aggressively pursue every dollar you deserve.
How Can a Bicycle Accident Attorney Help?
The experienced bicycle accident attorneys at Wisner Baum provide comprehensive legal support to help you recover the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing. Here is how we help people injured in bicycle accident claims:
Conduct a Thorough Investigation: Once you decide to hire us, we dispatch a team to thoroughly investigate the accident, preserve critical evidence, and document the circumstances. This lays the groundwork for building a strong case.
Expert Consultation: We work with top accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and other professionals to analyze the evidence, determine fault, and calculate the full extent of your injuries and damages.
Insurance Negotiation: Going up against insurance companies on your own can be daunting. We handle all communication and negotiations with the insurers so you don’t have to. Let us fight aggressively to maximize your settlement.
Court Representation: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair accident settlement, we will not hesitate to take your case to trial.
With our bicycle accident attorneys on your side, you can focus on your recovery while we handle every aspect of your legal case. We aim to hold all defendants accountable for their wrongdoing and recover the maximum compensation allowable to help you move forward with your life.
Contact us now for your free case evaluation:
- Call: (855) 948-5098
- Fill out our online contact form
- Visit our Ontario office
We serve bicycle accident victims throughout Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, San Bernardino, and the entire Inland Empire.
Our Case Results
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$265 Million Settlement Fatal Train Crash
In 2016, Wisner Baum attorney Timothy A. Loranger and six other attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Management Committee were able to secure a $265 million settlement for victims of the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, one of the largest in the U.S. for 2016.
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$3.5 Million Settlement Fatal Train Crash
Wisner Baum secured a $3.5 million settlement on behalf of an individual who died on a train.
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$2.8 Million Settlement Wrongful Death
Wisner Baum obtained a $2.8 million wrongful death settlement for a train passenger.
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$2 Million Settlement Fatal Train Crash
Wisner Baum obtained a $2 million settlement on behalf of a passenger who died on a train.
Client-Focused Representation
REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS
We believe our track record speaks for itself. But you don’t have to take our word for it. See what our clients have to say about working with us.
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Multiple lawyers recommended Wisner Baum to me and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work.
- Best Law Firms Survey -
Wisner Baum are not only amazing attorneys but more importantly, they are activists. They are about changing the systems which got us into trouble in the first place. They understand their role in the process of making change.
- Kim Witczak -
The Wisner Baum firm has some of the top legal minds in the country; they are driven, determined, trustworthy, ethical and passionate.
- From Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms