San Francisco Motor Vehicle Making A Right Or Left Turn In Front Of Bicycle
One of the main risks that bicyclists face on the roadway are vehicles turning in front of them or into the side of them. Both right and left-hand turns that drivers make in front of a bicycle can lead to devastating injuries for the cyclist. At Choulos, Choulos & Wyle, our San Francisco bicycle accident attorneys want to discuss who is at fault if an injury occurs after a vehicle turns in front of a bicycle. We are here to help if you or somebody you love has been injured in a bicycle crash caused by the negligence of another driver.
Why Turning In Front Of A Bicycle Is A Problem?
Many drivers may not realize that bicyclists have the right to be on the roadway and should be considered vehicles for the purposed of traffic flow and other traffic laws. This means yielding the right of way to a bicyclist when appropriate and giving bicyclists the appropriate amount of space.
However, some of the most common causes of accidents involving bicycles revolves around vehicles making right or left-hand turns and striking bicyclists.
Right-hand turns often happen when a vehicle and bicycle are traveling in the same direction. In these cases, a vehicle may turn right soon after passing a cyclist, ramming right into the bicycle or causing the cyclist to slam into the back of the vehicle.
A vehicle that turns left across oncoming traffic may do so right into the path of an oncoming bicyclist. In many cases, a driver makes a left-hand turn knowing full well that there is a cyclist there but expecting the cyclist to yield. However, in these cases, the bicyclist has the right of way, not the driver. In a left-hand turn incident, a bicyclist could slam into the front or side of the vehicle making the turn.
What Are The Most Common Injuries In These Incidents?
There are various types of injuries that can occur in a vehicle versus bicycle accident. At Choulos, Choulos & Wyle, our San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers regularly help clients who have sustained the following in an incident:
Each of these injuries requires immediate medical attention. Depending on the severity of the injury, a bicycle accident victim may require long periods of time to recover. In some cases, a victim may be temporarily or permanently disabled.
Can You Secure Compensation For These Incidents?
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a bicycle accident caused by a driver turning in front of the bike, seek legal assistance today. You may be entitled to various types of compensation, and the team at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle is ready to help. We regularly help bicycle accident victims secure the following types of compensation:
Coverage of any medical expenses related to the incident
Any lost wages or benefits the victim incurs
General household expenses
Pain and suffering damages
Possible punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or intentional actions
