Bakersfield And Los Angeles Bike Accident* Lawyer
Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer Jim Pocrass is dedicated to successfully representing cyclists who suffered serious personal injuries or families who lost a loved one in a wrongful death because of the negligence or carelessness of another.
Pocrass & De Los Reyes takes bicycle accident cases on a contingency basis. This means YOU PAY NOTHING until your case is resolved. Contact Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer Jim Pocrass for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.
As a recreational cyclist himself and as a Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer, Jim Pocrass is an active member of the Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike community. With more than 25 years of representing cyclists injured by negligent drivers, Jim Pocrass determined he wanted to be part of the solution to making cycling safe for all.
Supporting the Bike Community
Jim Pocrass sits on the board of directors of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, where he served two terms as vice president. Pocrass & De Los Reyes also sponsors a variety of programs, including rides, programs, and educational materials for the California Bicycle Coalition, LACBC, Bike Bakersfield, and many local bicycle advocate organizations.
Knowing, understanding and following the rules of the road can reduce bicycle accidents. In that effort we are frequent contributors to www.BikinginLA.com, the leading Los Angeles bike blog. For more bike news, particularly legal bicycle news, follow our Facebook Bicycle Law page and visit our Bike Law Blog.
Jim Pocrass believes that a bicyclist’s best defense is a good offense, which means knowing – and following – the rules of the road. That’s why Pocrass & De Los Reyes sponsors the LACBC’s “Rules of the Road,” a FREE, pocket-size brochure downloadable here in English or in Spanish.
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Types of Bike Accidents
If you are in a bicycle accident the parties that may be responsible for the bike accident may not be as obvious as you think. Yes, the driver of the motor vehicle accident may be liable for the accident. Others may be, too. After your Los Angeles bike accident lawyer investigates, he may find that, for example, the city, county, or state also are liable for your injuries if there are dangerous road (or signage) conditions.
Police Reports
Often the police report will automatically find the cyclist at fault. But just because the police claim that you are fault, doesn’t mean it is so. Police reports are typically not admissible in court because they’re hearsay, meaning the police are taking the word of the parties involved and of witnesses, if there are any. The police themselves, in most cases, did not witness the bike accident.
Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer Jim Pocrass says that of the hundreds of bike accident cases he has handled, probably 7 out of 10 police reports are inaccurate. Though that complicates your case in that the insurance company often uses that as an excuse not to compensate the cyclist, Jim is extremely experienced in showing the police officer’s inaccuracies during a deposition, where the officer gives sworn testimony usable in court.
So why even bother with a police report? Nowadays, in many cities — including the City of Los Angeles — the police will not even show up to bike accidents in which there are no injuries. Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer Jim Pocrass says that the factual information (where, when, weather conditions, witness information, etc.) is typically correct in a police report, so they can be helpful to him.
What to Do If You Are In a Bike Accident
If you are in a bike accident (or any accident):
- NEVER admit fault.
- Get prompt medical assistance.
- Do not talk to insurance people. No matter how “nice” they seem, they are not your friend. Their job is to pay out as little of the insurance company’s money as possible.
- Put NOTHING – photos or comments – on social media. The insurance company and defense attorneys will be monitoring your AND your friends’ and family’s social media accounts for information they can use against you.
- Preserve evidence (bicycle, clothing, bike parts, photos) and give only to YOUR lawyer.
What the Bike Accident Attorneys at Pocrass & De Los Reyes
Can Do For You
If you suffer serious personal injuries or if you lost a loved one to a wrongful death because of a bike accident, you may be eligible for compensation for:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages and Benefits
- Repair or Replacement of Your Bike and Other Property
- Pain & Suffering
- Funeral Expenses
Your Uninsured – Underinsured Motorist Insurance
The amount of compensation depends on your injuries and on what you lost. The amount also is dependent on how much insurance the party that is liable has. If the other party has $100,000 worth of insurance and your medical bills are $200,000, you only get $100,000 from the insurance company.
That is why is it critical that every cyclist have uninsured motorist insurance (under-insured motorist insurance is part of uninsured motorist insurance). Your uninsured motorist insurance would pay the $100,000 difference in our example above.
Do You Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
In order to bring a lawsuit you must have suffered serious damages. Damages are typically serious personal injuries, a wrongful death of a loved on, and/or significant property damage. If any or all of these apply, you absolutely need an experienced Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer.
If your damages are small, you may be able to negotiate with the insurance adjuster yourself. If the damages are less than $2,500 and if your efforts at negotiation with the insurance company are unsuccessful, you may want to take the insurance company to small claims court.
For the answers to the top bicycle lawsuit questions I’m typically asked, visit our Bike Law blog. But whatever your situation is, Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer Jim Pocrass offers you a free, no-obligation consultation. to discuss your specific bicycle collision with you and to let you know your legal options.
Even if your bike accident case is too “small” for a lawsuit, he can assist you with tips on what to do and how to do it to ensure you are treated fairly by the insurance adjuster. Contact Bakersfield and Los Angeles bike accident lawyer Jim Pocrass.
Pocrass & De Los Reyes takes bicycle accident cases on a contingency basis. This means you pay nothing until your case is resolved.
Bicycle Accident Results
$2.3 Million+ Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A bicyclist was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. The driver claimed she didn’t know she’d hit anyone, but witnesses got the car’s license plate. The bicyclist suffered extremely serious personal injuries and a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
$320,000 Settlement
Bicycle – Pedestrian Accident
In Pacific Palisades a 15-year-old girl was buying ice cream from a truck when a bee supposedly flew into her hair. She ran backwards about eight-feet, running into a 70-year-old cyclist, who went over the handlebars, breaking his cheekbones and nose and causing disk damage.
$238,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A Santa Monica cyclist was hit by a car when the driver made a right turn into him, causing the cyclist to suffer a herniated disk in his neck.
$200,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A cyclist suffered serious personal injuries when his front wheel lodged into a deep crack in the street.
$200,000 Settlement
Bicycle – Dog Accident
While riding a tandem bicycle, a couple noticed an unleashed dog running towards them. They stopped the bike and as the wife was getting off the back seat of the bike, the dog caused her to fall. She broke her ankle, which required surgery.
$175,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A cyclist suffered serious personal injuries when he was hit in an intersection with four-way stop signs. The woman claimed she never saw the cyclist.
$100,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A bicyclist was riding on Wilshire Boulevard and was side-swiped by a car. She went over the front of the bike, hitting the handle bars as she flew. She suffered serious personal injuries in the bike accident.
$50,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A bicyclist was hit by a motor vehicle making a right turn into a driveway while riding on Griffith Park Boulevard in Los Feliz. Our client suffered serious personal injuries as well as a damaged bicycle. The case settled for policy limits.
$30,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A bicyclist suffered serious personal injuries when a motor vehicle made a left turn in front of him in Malibu. Ironically, the police had found the cyclist at fault because he was wearing all black. The accident happened in November at 4:55 p.m.
$25,000+ Settlement
Bicycle Accident
While hauling kids’ bicycles to a charity event in Downtown Los Angeles, our client was clipped by a car. The car did not stop was found due to a witness’s identification of the auto’s license plate number. Settled for policy limits and a personal contribution by the driver of the car.
$25,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
Our client suffered serious personal injuries when he was rear ended by a car coming off the La Cienega off-ramp of the 10-East freeway while on his bicycle. Settled for policy limits.
$15,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A car pulled out of a driveway and collided with a cyclist causing serious personal injuries to the cyclist.
$15,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A cyclist was injured when he was “doored.”
$15,000 Settlement
Bicycle Accident
A car exiting the freeway made a right turn onto the street, right in front of a cyclist. He suffered severe soft tissue injuries. The case was settled for policy limits.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. At Pocrass & De Los Reyes, you pay nothing until your case is resolved.
* This does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.