When you’re riding your bike in San Francisco, you’ll come across various hazards. However, the most significant concern is often other drivers. Most people are cautious and attentive when they’re driving, which is especially crucial when you’re sharing the road with them on your bike.
However, there is always the chance that you’ll be involved in an accident with someone in a larger vehicle, especially if you’re riding in Union Square or Parkside. Not only are accidents common, some are more severe than others. One such type of accident is known as a “left hook” accident, which happens when a vehicle tries to make a left turn and collides with you.
Contact Experienced San Francisco Bicycle Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in one of these unfortunate incidents, remember that you have options. At the Law Office of Matthew J. Quinlan, our team of experienced San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers can guide you toward recovery by offering the necessary support and expertise
If you want to find out more about how we can assist you, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How Do Left Hook Bicycle Accidents Happen in San Francisco?
Bicycle accidents caused by left turns in San Francisco are like other accidents with vehicles and bicycles, but they’re extra risky for cyclists. This is because of how these accidents happen. Generally speaking, a “left hook” accident happens when:
- A driver is turning left and a bicyclist is going straight or coming toward the turning car.
That’s when these types of accidents can happen, and they’re particularly dangerous for the cyclist. Left turn accidents happen for various reasons, often because a driver’s left turn falls into one of these categories:
- Illegal – These are left turns that go against the rules of the road.
- Misjudged or incorrect – These are turns where the driver doesn’t judge the situation accurately.
In situations involving illegal or misjudged left turns, different things might happen. For example, the driver of the vehicle may:
- Try to make a U-turn in front you.
- Not check if it’s safe before making the turn.
- Misunderstand your actions.
- Not be able to see well because of things like hills, trees, buildings, or other things.
- Quickly change lanes and turn without realizing you’re there.
- Make a turn that’s illegal
- Fail to yield when turning
So, left hook accidents can occur because of these different situations and factors. Again, these types of accidents are especially common in busier, more densely populated areas of San Francisco, although they can still happen anywhere you encounter a driver while you’re biking.
Common Left Hook Bicycle Accident Injuries in San Francisco
Like any bicycle accident, left hook accidents often result in serious injuries for you–or anyone else–that’s on the bike. The reasons for this aren’t complicated: being on a bike and being involved in an accident with a vehicle offers you precious little protection. As such, some of the more common types of injuries you could be facing include:
- Skull fractures – These occur when the bones in the skull break. They can be severe and may lead to various complications, including damage to the brain.
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions – These are injuries to the brain caused by a forceful impact. Concussions are a milder form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) but can still result in cognitive and physical symptoms.
- Broken bones, especially on the lower body – The impact from the accident can cause bones to break. Lower body fractures can affect the legs, hips, and pelvis, leading to mobility challenges.
- Soft-tissue injuries – These injuries involve damage to your muscles and tendons. They can result in pain, swelling, and limited range of motion.
- Back injuries – The force of impact in an accident can cause damage to the spine or muscles in the back. Usually, this results in chronic pain and decreased mobility.
- Road rash, cuts, and scrapes – These injuries occur when the skin makes contact with the road. They can vary in severity and may require medical attention to prevent infection and scarring.
- Internal organ damage – The impact can cause damage to internal organs, leading to serious complications. Internal injuries may not be immediately visible but can have long-term effects.
- Wrongful death – In the most tragic cases, left-hook bicycle accidents can result in the loss of life. This devastating outcome impacts the victim’s family emotionally and financially.
Every accident is different, but if you’re in a left-hook bicycle accident, chances are you’ll be facing some type of the above injury. It could take a long time to get better, even several months or years. Sometimes, you might not get completely better. If you’re hurt really badly or even lose your life in the accident, our team of experienced San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers will be there to help. We’ll explain what rights you have and help you figure out how to you can file a claim against the person who–or entity that–caused the accident.
Liability in a San Francisco Left Hook Bicycle Accident
While every left-hook bicycle accident is unique in terms of the cause that led to it and the injuries that result from it, it’s ultimately viewed like any other bicycle accident in legal terms. Legally speaking, when you’ve been injured in a left hook bicycle accident as a result of the other driver’s negligent actions, they are responsible for covering your injuries and damages.
However, depending on the circumstances, the driver may not be the only liable party. So then, when there’s a bicycle accident in San Francisco, any of the following parties could potentially be found liable for not upholding their duty to keep you safe:
- The driver or another driver involved
- Passengers or pedestrians
- The parts manufacturer
- The bicycle manufacturer
- The city or government entity responsible for maintaining the road
Obviously, determining liability is a key part of your ability to recover from the accident. While there’s no legal requirement in California that says you need to have a lawyer represent you, working with our team of experienced San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers can make this step much more efficient, ultimately allowing you to get what you’re owed.
Damages Available in a San Francisco Left Hook Bicycle Accident
Again, the purpose of filing a claim against the at-fault party is to recover financial support for your losses. In legal terms, these are known as “damages,” and usually include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses, including the medical bills you had because of the accident and the ones you might have in the future.
- Lost wages or loss of earning potential, which is designed to cover the money you couldn’t earn because of the accident and any money you might not make in the future.
- Pain and suffering, which covers the physical and emotional pain you went through because of the accident.
- Permanent changes and disability, which is for any lasting changes to your appearance or abilities due to the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life covers any injuries that stop you from enjoying life the way you used to.
- Funeral and burial expenses are available if your loved one died because of the accident, these costs are covered, along with other significant damages.
Every situation is different, and what you can ask for in a claim depends on what happened in your accident. It’s also important to keep up with your medical treatments and any damage to your property so you can show what you’re owed.
Caring San Francisco Bicycle Accident Lawyers Are on Your Side
Being in a bicycle accident is always challenging, regardless of the circumstances. However, when a driver hits you while making an illegal left turn, it can make the process much more frustrating. At the Law Office of Matthew J. Quinlan, we understand how difficult this situation can be for you and your family. Our caring and skilled team of San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers will be there to assist you with any legal or insurance matters after your left hook bicycle accident. Your satisfaction matters to us, and we take a personalized approach to each case.
If you want to learn more about how we can support you, contact us today for a free consultation.