The Pedal Lawyer: Helping People Injured In Bicycle And Pedestrian Accidents

Any auto accident can change lives, but victims of bicycle and pedestrian accidents are more likely to suffer severe injuries than those inside the protection of a vehicle. From broken bones to spinal cord injury or brain trauma, those injuries create personal and financial hardships.

Even though you are a bicyclist or a pedestrian, your own auto insurance covers you if a driver caused your injuries, and often provides valuable benefits to help you through the early days and weeks following such accidents, so do reach out to see if Sumner Law can help you identify such benefits right away, and also help you throughout your case to obtain compensation and justice.

Sumner Law provides decades of focused experience and strong representation if you or a family member has been injured in a bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, or you have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident. Our Walnut Creek personal injury firm represents individuals throughout Contra Costa County and the Bay Area.

An Attorney Who Knows Firsthand What It’s Like To Be Hit By A Car

Scott Sumner is known as the pedal lawyer because he is an avid cyclist, and has long advocated for bike safety, the cycling community and people injured while riding bicycles. As a three-time victim himself of car-bicycle accidents, he can uniquely appreciate the road to recovery and the loss of favorite activities and personal freedoms that come with such injuries.

Those personal insights motivate Scott to fight hard and fight smart on behalf of the injured. He helps clients stand up to insurance companies and hold the negligent parties accountable for the harm they have caused.

Who Is Responsible For Your Bike Or Pedestrian Accident?

We conduct a prompt and thorough investigation to identify the negligence of individuals or dangerous conditions that led to the accident. Sumner Law has brought successful legal action against:

• Careless, distracted and intoxicated automobile drivers
• Truck drivers and their employers
• Government entities responsible for hazardous road conditions or bad signage
• Manufacturers of defective or poorly designed products, such as helmets or bike components

Call The Pedal Lawyer – Also Representing Injured Pedestrians

Scott Sumner has a lifetime of experience as a bicyclist and 30+ years’ experience providing legal representation to bicyclists and handling product liability cases against major manufacturers, including bicycle manufacturers.

Scott applies the same rigor to pedestrian accident cases, including hit-and-run. People on foot who were struck by vehicles in parking lots, crosswalks and the shoulders of roadways often suffer similar injuries to those suffered by bicyclists. He will review all evidence, including police reports, photographs, witness statements and medical records, to present the strongest case for liability and damages.

Committed To Your Full Injury Compensation

Pedestrians and bicyclists are vulnerable to traumatic brain injury and other profound injuries. We pursue all applicable damages, which may include:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Long-term medical or nursing care
• Physical rehabilitation
• Current and future lost wages
• Job retraining
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

Scott Sumner at Sumner Law brings years of experience to the table. He may consult experts to predict your future medical expenses and lost wages. He knows how to negotiate a settlement that is in your best interest. He is an experienced trial lawyer who fights as necessary for you to receive all the compensation you are eligible for.

A Bicycle Accident Creates Many Problems And Lots Of Questions

No one knows bike accidents quite as well as Scott Sumner does. He is an accomplished personal injury lawyer, and he has himself been the victim – three times – of cycling accidents.

At Sumner Law, we understand what you are going through. We understand the anxiety about recovering from your injuries and recovering compensation. Please reach out to us when you are ready to talk to an attorney. Our Walnut Creek firm serves Contra Costa County and the Bay Area.

Whom Can I Seek Compensation From After My Bicycle Accident?

The real question is who or what caused the accident? If a negligent driver hit you, your claim would be against that driver’s insurance. If a truck driver or Uber driver hit you, their employer might be liable. A bicycle manufacturer or bike shop could be at fault for a defect or negligent repair. Or you might have a claim against the city or county for creating road hazards that caused you to crash. Compensation could even come from your own auto insurance policy if your bike accident was a hit-and-run or if the driver was uninsured. We explore all sources of liability and insurance coverage.

How Is Fault Determined In My Bicycle Accident With A Car?

Auto drivers commonly point the finger at the cyclist. In reality, the driver might be mostly at fault. Scott Sumner has represented many cyclists whom police reports wrongly blamed for their accidents – injured bicyclists whose case other firms refused to handle on the basis of police report errors. At Sumner Law, we know how to review the evidence gathered by the police or available at the scenes of accidents and make an assessment independent of what law enforcement may think. Remember – the police were not there to see your accident, so the opinions they form from talking to an involved driver are not something courts and juries can consider.

In legal proceedings, each party is assigned a percentage of fault based on evidence presented in court. Under California’s comparative negligence law, compensation is reduced accordingly. If you were deemed 30% at fault, your recovery would be limited to 70% of the damages awarded. It is critical to hire a lawyer who knows how to properly investigate a bicycle accident.

What Should I Say To The Driver’s Insurance Company About My Bicycle Accident Injury?

As little as possible. The claims adjuster is fishing for information they can use to deny or reduce your compensation. Do not discuss fault or go into details about your injuries. Do not agree to a settlement or sign a waiver before you have talked to a lawyer.

Can I Still Recover Compensation In My Bicycle Accident If I Wasn’t Wearing A Helmet?

Yes, you can still recover compensation. Under California’s comparative negligence law, the defense may argue that riding without a helmet was negligent. However, California does not require bicycle helmets for adults, so that fact alone is not a bar to compensation. The defense has the burden to prove that the lack of a helmet caused a specific injury (such as brain trauma) or made your injuries worse.

We might argue that a bike helmet would not have made any difference in your case or that the collision would not have occurred at all if not for the driver’s careless or reckless behavior. If the helmet defense succeeds, your compensation would be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.

This Firm Will Fight For You

At Sumner Law, we have a soft spot for people injured on two wheels or two feet. To discuss your bicycle or pedestrian injury case in a free consultation, call our Walnut Creek office at 925-464-1593 or email us today. We welcome cases throughout the Bay Area and beyond.