San Jose Bicycle Accident Attorneys

San Jose city leaders have created bicycle lanes and implemented a Vision Zero Action Plan to reduce the number of fatalities and severe injuries.

The statistics reveal that this problem is getting worse.

The Mercury News reports that San Jose is one of the most deadly cities in Silicon Valley for cyclists, with a staggering 3,745 bicycle collisions in a five-year period in the area. If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident, it is essential to work with an attorney who will pursue full compensation for all damages.

Choose an attorney with groundbreaking victories

Many law firms operate on a “volume” basis, taking on high numbers of cases and urging their clients to accept a settlement offer that the team at The Swanson Law Group would immediately reject. We are proud to have achieved many groundbreaking victories, and we have recovered millions in damages for our clients. While every case is unique and we can’t promise comparable results, here are just a few of our successes:

$5,000,000: Vehicle accident case
$4,400,000 Verdict: Neck injury; more than ten times the first settlement offer
$3,600,000 Verdict: Wrongful death; first settlement offer was $425,000

To see more, take a look at our case results page.

Bicycle accident injuries

A cyclist is at substantial risk of suffering serious, catastrophic, or fatal injuries when hit by a moving vehicle. The types of injuries cyclists sustain include:

Head injuries
Brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Hip injuries
Knee injuries
Foot and ankle injuries
Skull fractures
Concussion
Brain injuries
Face injuries (contusions, fractures, dental fractures, eye injuries)
Chest injuries (ribs, lungs)
Internal injuries
Pelvic fractures
Joint injuries (ankle, knee, shoulder, wrist, hip, elbow)
Soft tissue injuries (skin abrasions, lacerations, contusions)

Valuing a bicycle accident case: Our process at The Swanson Law Group

At The Swanson Law Group, we approach bicycle accident cases differently than most law firms. The first step is to ensure our clients have access to the best medical care and treatment possible, without the need to pay until the case is settled. Our focus is on helping our clients get better and restore their health as much as can be achieved with modern medicine, which is why we help you keep track of your appointments and follow-up care.

Our network of medical professionals is excellent, and who we would go to ourselves. We place value on a case based on the degree of the injuries, how long it will take to restore health, and how the injuries have affected the life and future of the injured person.

Our core values are client service, empathy, resolve, team, and results.

Who is liable?

After a vehicle hits a cyclist, liability must be established. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may attempt various strategies to reduce the value of a claim, bullying victims into accepting pennies on the dollar for their injuries. At The Swanson Law Group, the legal team of Ben Swanson, Esq., Zaneta Conroy, Esq., Greg Schaffer, Esq., our team takes down insurance companies with a no-compromise approach.

When an insurance company tries to pay our client less than they deserve, we’re happy to take them to court and have a jury decide. The last thing insurance companies want is to go to trial. Our founder, Ben Swanson, has spent the past 10+ years making insurance companies aware that they will lose every time.

What are the damages?

The damages sought in a personal injury claim come in three types:

Economic damages

The actual financial losses from the accident, including medical bills, hospital bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, lost earning capacity, medications, transportation, and all other actual financial losses.

Non-economic damages

A bicycle accident can leave a victim facing life ahead with many challenges. The emotional toll is extensive and these damages reflect pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, the emotional anguish associated with disfiguring injuries, cognitive changes, and the emotional anguish the individual suffers.

Punitive damages

In some cases, damages intended to punish the at-fault driver could be pursued. This can be possible when there is unmistakable evidence of extreme recklessness or in a case in which harm was intended.

Types of bicycle accidents

Bicycle accidents can occur due to several negligent behaviors, including:

Dooring: A driver parked at the side of the street must exercise caution when opening the vehicle door because if a cyclist is moving past, the door will cause them to fall onto the roadway. This could subject them to a secondary impact from other moving vehicles.
Rear-end accidents: Drivers may fail to see a cyclist ahead and hit them from behind.
Distracted driving: After an accident, it’s not rare to discover that a driver was talking on the phone, texting, eating, or other form of distracted driving.
Speeding: When a vehicle operator exceeds the posted speed limit, everyone is at risk — particularly cyclists.
Unsafe lane changes: A driver who changes lanes without checking to ensure no cyclist is nearby could collide with the cyclist, throwing them onto the roadway.
Weaving in lanes: Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers, as well as the right to cycle in lanes of traffic when necessary. When a driver weaves in and out of lanes, they run the risk of entering the bicycle lane or failing to see a cyclist, which means they could hit them.
Turns at intersections: A bicycle has a much smaller profile than a vehicle, and a driver may make a turn at an intersection through which a cyclist is moving, colliding with them.
Running red lights/stop signs: Drivers who make the decision to run a red light or stop sign put cyclists at risk of serious or fatal injuries.
Drunk driving/drug-impaired driving: A driver who has consumed alcohol or drugs can make poor decisions, drive erratically, or hit a cyclist.

Injured in a bicycle accident? Call The Swanson Law Group

At The Swanson Law Group, we offer a free case consultation. We want to hear your story, and we offer legal representation in both Spanish and English. All cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. This means you will owe us no legal fees unless we win. We understand the value of health, and our clients know after meeting with us that they are safe to heal and get results. Call now.