Best Bike Accident Lawyer in Santa Monica

Santa Monica California is the ideal location for the two-wheel loving individual.

Amazing year round weather, incredible ocean views and ample bike storage make this one of the best places on all of Los Angeles County for the bicycle enthusiast.

Whether you’re out for a scenic beach cruise or commuting to and from work, navigating the City of Santa Monica is a breeze thanks to miles of dedicated bright green bike lanes and bike paths in an effort to keep cyclists safe and sound.

However, as valiant as these attempts are, wherever bicycles (or electric bikes) and motor vehicles share the road there are bound to be accidents.

A bike accident can occur suddenly when your neighbor runs you over while backing out of her driveway, or when an Amazon driver runs a stop sign, or even when a teenage driver makes a bad decision, you just never know.

And with the rise in popularity of on-demand electric scooters through apps such as Lime, Bird, Jump, Uber and Lyft, two wheel accidents are only going to increase with time.

If you or a loved one are involved in a Santa Monica bike accident, contact the best personal injury lawyer in Santa Monica here at The Law Office of Daniel Kim immediately for help.

Why Contact The Law Office of Daniel Kim

It doesn’t matter if you are in an Uber, driving your own car, or even on a public bus, anytime you are traveling on public roads with other vehicles present there is an inherent danger.

If you are involved in an accident with an Uber or as a passenger in a Rideshare vehicle, you will need a great local Uber accident lawyer to help you.

Do not just hire a friend or family member because you think you can save some money and help them out.

Once you start dealing with insurance adjusters, medical billing departments, auto body repair shops and more, you will find the process gets very messy very quickly.

Daniel Kim is an experienced bike accident lawyer in Santa Monica who ha been representing the good people of Santa Monica with motor vehicle personal injury cases for years.

Our professional legal team knows all the ins and outs of how the big insurance companies work and will aggressively negotiate your claim.

Here are some things to consider about our law firm:

Daniel Kim knows every single Uber law and loophole.

We have over 1000 positive reviews from past clients on Facebook, Yelp, and Google.

We can help you find immediate medical care and get you on the road to recovery.

We use only top investigators and methods to help prove your case.

You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Practice Areas We Specialize In

At The Law Offices of Daniel Kim, our bike accident lawyers in Santa Monica exclusively handle motor vehicle accident cases. This sets us apart from other law firms that take any case just to make a quick dollar. Our bike accident lawyers in Santa Monica focus on motor vehicle accidents. This allows us to offer the best service to our clients who want real experience and knowledge.

Car Accidents – This can involve any type of crash from an Uber wreck, to maybe a teenage driver hitting you, or maybe an old lady ran a red light and rear-ended your car. Call us for any automotive-related accident. 

Motorcycle Accidents – As we all know riding a motorcycle is very dangerous, and almost all motorcycle accidents lead to severe injuries.

Truck Accidents – there are actually quite a few semi-truck accidents in the area, but our law firm knows what needs to be done to protect your legal rights.

Pedestrian Accidents – These are always bad accidents because a pedestrian has no chance against a 2,000 lb. car that runs them over.

Uber Accidents – Uber and Lyft have become so popular that sometimes it seems like every other car on the road is an Uber or Lyft driver.  Uber has a unique commercial insurance policy. Uber passengers and other cars who were hit by an Uber driver can file a claim.

Common Causes Of Bicycle Accidents In Santa Monica

Even though Santa Monica calls itself one of the most bike friendly cities in California, it actually has high incidents of reported bike accidents.

In many bicycle accidents, motorists simply lack basic bicycle awareness skills needed to safely share the road with bike riders, especially in large numbers.

But bike accidents in Santa Monica do not always involve a motor vehicle.

Pedestrians, off leash dogs, and even other cyclists can be the cause of both minor and major bike injury accidents.

Some reasons for Santa Monica bike crashes could include:

Driver distraction – texting, checking social media, looking at GPS, and searching for parking are all leading causes of distracted driving.

Car door opening – this is very common, especially in bike heavy cities such as Santa Monica. “Dooring” as it is known, is when a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle opens their car door suddenly and without looking to see if the coast is clear, and a cyclist collides with it, often at high speed.

Speeding – the number one cause of accidents across the board. Speeding cars do not have enough time to stop and can cause major injuries to a bike rider. If you see a speeding vehicle, try and steer clear and just let them pass.

Dog attack – a dog that surprises a cyclist and attacks them as they ride can cause the rider to become unsteady and lead to accident, as well as severe injuries from being mauled by the dog.

Drunk driving – DUI driving is still a leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents, even in this age of Rideshare app services like Uber and Lyft. A motorist driving under the influence may find it even more difficult than usual see and cope with bike riders.

Bad weather – rain, fog and low visibility can all cause major problems on the roads, especially in a city like Santa Monica where the weather is generally pretty great all the time and drivers are not experienced with driving during inclement weather.

Side swiping a cyclist – quite often a car or truck will not give a bike rider enough room when passing and strike them. This happens a lot when a car is merging into another lane or turning a corner. Trucks and buses often cut corners very close when turning – back off and let them pass.

Reckless drivers, poor bike maintenance, dangerous road conditions, and being rear ended are also all major reasons for injuries sustained from a bicycle accident.

Common Injuries From A Bike Accident

No matter the cause of the accident, bike riders are at a greater risk of injury if involved in a crash than a driver of a car or truck that is protected by the steel frame and panels of a vehicle.

The slightest strike on a bicyclist from a car, truck or bus can cause major injuries and financial setbacks for years to come.

That is why you need a professional legal advocate like Daniel Kim on your side to fight for you, especially if the insurance companies are trying to deny liability.

Injuries sustained in a bike accident could include:

• Head injuries – concussion, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
• Broken bones – broken wrists and ankles are very common complaints after a bike accident.
• Cuts and bruises – widely reported after being knocked off a bike.
• Neck and back injuries – neck sprain and bulging or herniated discs are common.
• Loss of limbs – in a very serious accident where amputation is required.
• Death – the worst case scenario.

Common Injuries to Children

The following are very common injuries.

• common injured body parts included arm injuries, leg injuries, facial injuries, head and neck injuries
• Arm injuries accounted for 36% of all injuries
• Legs injuries account for 25%
• Facial injuries were about 15% of all reported injuries
• Head and neck injuries accounted for about 15% of all injuries
• The most common type of injury was bruises, scrapes, and cuts
• Cuts account for about 23% of child bike accident injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries account for about 11% of all reported injuries

How Bicycle Riders Can Stay Safe And Avoid Injury In Santa Monica

No matter how safely you ride your bike, there is always a risk when you share the roads with other cars, trucks, the Big Blue Bus, pedestrians and bikes.

In a city like Santa Monica where there is a excessive traffic and a lot of tourists, you have to be extra alert when riding a bike.

Here are some tips to help keep you safe while riding a bicycle:

Always wear a helmet – even though California law does not require a bike rider to wear a helmet the way it does for motorcycle riders, medical professionals agree that wearing a safety helmet while biking can drastically improve your chances of avoiding serious injury or even death.

Plan ahead – whether you are on a solo ride or group adventure, planning ahead and knowing your route as well as having a contingency plan if separated are great ideas.

Use front and rear lights on your bike – this is not just great advice for staying safe, but it is actually against the law to ride around without lights and reflectors on your bike.

Wear protective clothing – it is always a good idea to wear brightly colored clothing or a high visibility reflective vest when riding, especially at night.

Eye protection, elbow and knee pads, and gloves are also great ideas to help keep you safe.

Keep a safe distance from moving vehicles – this may seem like common sense, but often bicycle riders get distracted and wander into a lane with cars in it.

Stay alert – enjoy your ride, but avoid being distracted by listening to music, talking to another cyclist, and day dreaming.

Pay attention and respect the road.

Follow these tips to help maintain your safety, but if you are involved in a bicycle accident, call the best bicycle accident attorney in Santa Monica. Daniel Kim and his team are waiting for your call.

Car Accident Lawyer Daniel Kim – 다니엘김 교통사고 변호사
Address: 600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: (213) 839-3442

Santa Monica Bike Accident Stats

According to a report from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in 2012, Santa Monica ranked second for bicycle accidents out of 102 California cities of similar size.

In 2017, the Santa Monica Police Department report stated that pedestrians and bicyclists account for approximately two-thirds of all severe injuries and fatalities sustained in traffic accidents in the city.

Another 2017 City of Santa Monica survey showed that 40 percent of area residents are uncomfortable navigating city streets.

This led Santa Monica to initiate a safety plan called “Take the Friendly Road” which has been making changes to bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections for the goal of zero road fatalities by 2026.

The Most Dangerous Roads And Intersections In Santa Monica For Bicyclists

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, the worst roads for bike accidents include:

• 4th St and Broadway
• 11th St and Pearl St
• Main St and Pier Ave
• Main St and Ocean Park Blvd
• Ocean Ave and Colorado Blvd
• 4th St and Santa Monica Blvd
• Lincoln Blvd and Pico Blvd
• 28th St and Pico Blvd
• 17th St and Pico Blvd
• 4th St and Wilshire Blvd
• 2nd St and Colorado Ave

No matter where you are riding, always pay attention and ride safely.

If you are unfortunately injured in a Santa Monica bike accident, contact The Law Office of Daniel Kim immediately and let us help you.

We also serve the following Los Angeles County cities from our Los Angeles office: Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Burbank, Calabasas, Commerce, Cudahy, Culver City, El Segundo, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Huntington Park, Inglewood, La Cañada Flintridge, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Vernon, West Hollywood, Westlake Village.