Bakersfield Bicycle Crash Lawyers
Bicycle accident lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark protect the rights of cyclists who were injured by negligent and careless drivers in Bakersfield. If you were seriously injured in a bicycle crash that was not your fault, call us at 661-616-9829 to schedule a free case review. We are standing by to help you.
With the city committed to creating safe bike lanes and routes, an active cycling community, and access to scenic routes like the Kern River Parkway Trail, Bakersfield is an ideal place to go biking.
But there’s a darker side to the picture. Over the last ten years, Bakersfield has averaged 72 injury accidents involving bicycles each year—including 2.4 fatalities annually.
That may not sound like a lot of accidents in a city of more than 400,000, but to our team at Chain | Cohn | Clark, it’s excessive. And if one of those accidents has touched you or a loved one, even one bicycle crash is too many.
Bike safety—and how cyclists are treated in our community—is something we take personally. Managing partner Matt Clark, a Bakersfield native, is a cyclist himself. And our firm has teamed up with Bike Bakersfield to distribute free bike lights and helmets.
Our analysis of data from UC Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) shows a recent spike in bicycle crashes and indicates that Bakersfield is one of the most dangerous places in the country to ride a bike.
If you want to receive the compensation you need and deserve for your injuries, you need experts on your side who can balance out the equation. It shouldn’t be a fight to get what you deserve—but it is a fight nonetheless.
Chain | Cohn | Clark’s personal injury lawyers have garnered more multimillion-dollar personal injury case results than any other law firm in Kern County. With one of our Bakersfield car accident attorneys on your side, you’ll finally be facing a fair fight.
Our savvy, local bicycle accident attorneys will…
- Provide personal service that takes the pressure off of you as you recover from injuries
- Investigate and clearly document the details of your case
- Identify any third parties fully or partially responsible for your accident
- Handle claims and negotiate with the insurance company
- Find expert witnesses, build a convincing case, and be ready to present it in court, if necessary
Injured in a Bike Crash?
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Bicycle injury claims can be complicated. On the one hand, a cyclist has the same rights and responsibilities on the road as the driver of a motor vehicle. On the other hand, drivers often don’t give cyclists the same space and respect they afford other cars and trucks.
Even if you do everything right—wear a helmet, use hand signals for turns, stop at red lights, and so on—drivers often pass too closely, honk, turn into your path, or open car doors in front of you. On top of that, a driver’s tendency—one that often extends to the insurance company—is to blame you, the cyclist, for any accident that occurs.
The bicycle crash lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark are committed to fighting for justice for cyclists injured by negligent drivers. That’s why our lawyers work on contingency. Contingency means you don’t pay anything up front as we pursue your bike injury claim. Instead, your lawyer is paid a pre-agreed percentage of your settlement or jury award.
Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Client Stories
At Chain | Cohn | Clark, we’re not shy about tooting our own horn because we’re proud of our 90-year history of fighting for the underdog in Bakersfield and Kern County.
But if you were injured in a biking accident, we think it’s best if you hear about us from those we’ve served. Our client stories include people like:
Ryan, whose wife was injured when a driver ran a red light and struck her car in downtown Bakersfield: “We could not pay out of pocket for anything, and we were completely lost and felt helpless because the insurance companies were giving us the runaround,” Ryan says. “After one meeting with [attorney Matt Clark], we immediately had the answers, and my wife was able to get immediate physical therapy. Our medical bills were able to be pushed back until the case was resolved and the opposing insurance company would agree to pay for them.”
Alexis, who was injured in a hit-and-run accident: “The only reason I’m not drowning in hospital bills right now is because of the Chain Law firm,” she says. “The driver who originally hit me was trying to deny our claim. I thought I would be fighting tooth and nail to get a reasonable settlement, but the Chain Law team took care of it for me without any trouble.”
Frank, who was hurt when he was rear-ended on Rosedale Highway: “I was in a financial bind with missing work (after the accident), and I had medical appointments out of town. The firm helped pay. There wasn’t that added stress about finances along with my health. It made me feel like family. That’s something you’d expect from a family member.”
Marilyn, who was injured when a driver ran a stop sign and hit her car broadside: “They are the best lawyers in town. They came to see me in the hospital after my accident, and I was so nervous,” she says. “But they reassured me everything was going to be okay, and I didn’t have to worry about anything.”
Case Results
Not every case ends in a million-dollar settlement. But thriving under the pressure of handling high-profile cases is an indication that Chain | Cohn | Clark is ready to take on virtually any personal injury case.
We’ve garnered more multimillion-dollar settlements and decisions for our clients than any other law firm in Kern County—nearly a billion dollars (and counting).
$8
million
A truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit and killed the plaintiff’s husband as he was jogging on the sidewalk.
$4.75
million
The defendant pulled out in front of our client as he rode his motorcycle down the street. Our client was thrown through the air and severely injured.
$1
million
A wrongful death action on behalf of a bicyclist who died from his injuries after he was hit and dragged by a Bakersfield city garbage truck.
$1
million
Our client was injured when he was sideswiped by a truck as he rode his motorcycle down Highway 119.
Local Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Many L.A. and national law firms advertise in Bakersfield—often trying to pass themselves off as “local.”
Six of Chain | Cohn | Clark’s attorneys went to high school in Bakersfield, and another grew up in nearby Arvin. So when we say we’re local, it’s deeper than our firm’s 90-year history in Kern County and our extensive community involvement. Bakersfield and Kern County are home to us, and we view you as a neighbor, not a number.
We’re a truly local law firm.
Personal injury law is, at its core, personal. If you’re coming to us, you’re feeling hurt and confused—most likely with a traumatic accident in your recent past. At your first meeting with Chain | Cohn | Clark, you’ll meet the lawyer who will handle your case—and you’ll have access to your lawyer throughout the process by phone, text, and email.
Don’t expect the same with a big-city law firm.
On top of the personal attention we give our clients, Chain | Cohn | Clark is known and respected in the Kern County legal community and among the insurers that operate in the area. When you choose Chain | Cohn | Clark for your bicycle accident legal representation, you can rest assured that your case will be taken seriously.
$22.1
million
Pedestrian Accident
$11
million
Auto Accident
$10
million
Oilfield Accident
$10
million
Motorcycle Accident
$9
million
Industrial Accident
$8.8
million
Police Misconduct
$8
million
Pedestrian Accident
$7.5
million
Pedestrian Accident
Frequently Asked Questions
California uses a legal principle called pure comparative fault. Under pure comparative fault rules, you can still collect compensation for injuries resulting from a bicycle accident even if you were partly to blame. However, you must be able to show that there was some negligence or lack of reasonable care on the part of the driver involved in the accident.
For example, suppose you were not wearing a helmet and suffered head injuries when a driver turned in front of you and hit your bike. A jury might determine that although the driver of the car caused the accident, your injuries would not have been as severe if you were wearing a helmet. If the jury says that you are 20% at fault in the accident, you can collect only 80% of any compensation awarded: the full amount minus the 20% that you’re responsible for.
You can bring an injury claim for a bike accident caused by road conditions if you can show that the road conditions were the result of some party’s negligence. For example, suppose the city has been informed of a dangerous pothole multiple times, and it is a known road hazard. You hit the pothole, crash, and are injured. You may be able to collect compensation for your injuries.
If you’re not sure if you have a case, contact us for a free consultation.
The statute of limitations (or time limit) for making a bicycle accident injury claim in California is two years from the date of the accident. However, if your claim involves a government entity (e.g., a city vehicle), you only have six months to file a claim. It’s wise to find legal representation as soon as possible after an accident to ensure that you don’t miss any deadlines.
Bicycle accident injury compensation falls under two main categories:
- Economic damages cover defined expenses like ambulance, hospital, and doctor’s bills, rehab costs, and wages lost while you’re recovering from your injuries.
- Non-economic damages cover the intangible consequences of your injuries—things like pain and suffering, disfigurement, or the loss of a limb.
In cases of extraordinary carelessness or negligence, a jury may choose to impose punitive damages on a defendant.
Why Hire Chain | Cohn | Clark?
Here’s what you can expect from our experienced bicycle accident lawyers:
Personal attention
You'll meet the lawyer who will handle your case at your first appointment, and you’ll have access to your attorney throughout the process—by phone, text, or email.
Support
We'll handle the paperwork, legal deadlines, investigation, research, and negotiations. And, if necessary, we'll argue your case in court.
Communication
We don’t want you to feel pressured or overburdened, but it’s still your case. So, we’ll give you the information you need to make the best decisions for you and your family.
We’ll help you get the information you need. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
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