After graduating from the San Fernando Valley College of Law in Woodland Hills, CA, Mr. Joseph Ryan became a member of the State Bar of California in 1982. He has dedicated his legal career of over 40 years to fighting for his clients' rights and interests. As an expert in personal injury and workers' compensation cases, Mr. Ryan knows how to negotiate and litigate effectively.

• Distracted driving: Distracted driving has become an epidemic in the U.S. Drivers who are distracted by their phones, other passengers, or other things inside or outside of their cars are more likely to fail to see cyclists and cause a crash.
• Failure to yield the right of way: Drivers sometimes fail to yield the right of way to bicyclists at intersections, crosswalks, driveways, or bicycle lanes. This can result in turning or pulling out in front of a bicyclist and causing a crash. 
• Speeding: Speeding drivers have less time to react to hazards, and are more likely to hit cyclists. 
• Improper lane changes: Drivers who make improper lane changes without checking their blind spots or using their signal are more likely to hit cyclists. 
• Passing too closely: Drivers are required to give at least three feet of space when passing a bicyclist on the road. Passing too closely can cause a driver to sideswipe a bicyclist or force them off the road
• Dooring: This is when a car door is opened into the path of a cyclist, causing a crash. Dooring is especially common in areas with high concentrations of parked cars, like Balboa Island.
• Poor visibility: Bicycles are small and can be difficult to see, especially in poor visibility conditions such as darkness, rain, or fog. Drivers who are not paying attention or who are driving too fast are more likely to hit cyclists in poor visibility conditions.

Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care in a given situation. If a driver hit a cyclist because they were speeding, distracted, drunk, or ran a red light, they may be found negligent.

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule for personal injury cases. This means that each party's fault is compared and their damages are reduced accordingly. For example, if a cyclist was 20% at fault for an accident and suffered $100,000 in damages, they would only be able to recover $80,000 from the other party. Therefore, it is important to have strong evidence and an experienced bicycle accident lawyer to establish liability and maximize compensation.

Even low speed accidents can cause serious injuries to cyclists. This is due to the fact that cyclists have little protection on the road, aside from a bicycle helmet and protective clothing. Motor vehicles that collide with a bicycle can cause severe injuries that may require extensive physical therapy and treatment. While riders over the age of 18 are not required to wear a helmet, it is strongly recommended to wear one. Multiple studies have shown that helmets reduce the risk of serious head injuries by 60%. Some of the most common bike accident injuries include:

Injured bicycle accident victims may be able to recover damages, or losses, in a bicycle accident claim. The amount of damages will depend upon the injuries sustained, the extent of the victim’s lost income, the impact on the quality of life, and more. Below are some of the types of compensation available in a personal injury claim:

All of this is normal. If you were seriously injured, call 911 immediately and seek medical treatment. Whatever you do, do not leave the accident scene until a police officer responds and creates a police report. This report is a critical piece of evidence in a personal injury claim. 

If you are able to do so, take pictures of your injuries, your bike damage, the vehicle that hit you, and any other relevant information. Exchange your contact information with the driver and get their information. If there are any witnesses, ask them to give a statement about what happened. When you are home, keep track of your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses that you incur from the accident. Finally, contact a Newport Beach bicycle accident attorney to find out how to file a claim against the driver.