Q.

I've always been anxious about my husband riding his bike on busy roads, but  
recently he was involved in a car accident while riding his bike on the road and was injured. We haven't been able to reach an agreement with the driver who caused the accident, so  
we're currently preparing to file a lawsuit. 

I'm curious about the appropriate response in case of a traffic accident while riding a bicycle and the laws regarding riding bicycles in the state.

A.

Under California's vehicle laws, bicycles are considered vehicles and therefore have the same rights and obligations as vehicles.  
Bicycles are required to be ridden on roadways and must obey traffic signals. 

Also, cycling in India has local laws in place in some states that prohibit it, so  
you should check the local laws of the city you live in before riding a bike. 

Riding a bicycle on India is legal unless local laws prohibit it. 

If a bicycle is hit by a car, the vehicle's insurance will cover the damages suffered by the victim.  
If the pedestrian or cyclist has automobile insurance, their automobile insurance may apply to some extent. 

Additionally, if a family member of the pedestrian or cyclist has automobile insurance, they  
may be able to recover compensation for injuries sustained in a bicycle accident. 

In particular, UM insurance may cover you if the person who injured you is uninsured or has less than adequate insurance coverage,  even if you were a pedestrian, a bicycle rider, a motorcyclist, or a passerby. 

Because bicycle accidents with vehicles can result in serious injury, it is very important for  all cyclists to know the laws of the road for bicycles  . 
First,  when riding a bicycle on the road, always obey traffic signals and ride in the same direction as cars.  
Second,  you should walk your bicycle across busy intersections.  
Third,  you should not use headphones that cover both ears.  
Fourth,  when riding a bicycle at night, you should attach a headlight to the front and reflectors to the rear.  
Finally ,  children under the age of 18 must wear a helmet, and all cyclists should wear appropriate safety equipment, such as brightly colored clothing, an approved bicycle helmet, and protective eyewear. 

How to respond in case of a bicycle accident 

Make sure to file a police report and get the contact information of any possible witnesses.  
Record information about the drivers and vehicles involved in the accident. 

For example, the driver's name and contact information, license number, insurance information, vehicle license plate number, vehicle make and model, etc.  
Take pictures of the accident scene, damaged bike, car, and injured areas. 

If you are injured, seek medical attention promptly.  
If your injury is serious, consult a personal injury attorney about your case.

Q.

A while ago, I was hit by a car while crossing the street and suffered fractures to my arms and legs. 

Of course, it was my fault for crossing the street where there was no crosswalk, but  
I wish the driver who hit me had been more careful. 

Will I be able to receive fair compensation from the driver who injured me?

A.

Accidents happen every day, and people suffer minor or major injuries or property damage. 

When an accident occurs, people typically first think about “who was at fault in this accident?” However,  
claims for damages that address this issue of “negligence” can be very tricky cases. 

That's why it's so important to have an experienced negligence attorney handle negligence accidents  to ensure you receive fair compensation that reflects the responsibility of both parties for your injuries  .

The state allows for a comparative negligence system in accident cases where  
the injured party is partially to blame for the accident,  
but may still be compensated for some of the damages. 

Therefore, an individual may sue a driver whose negligence may or may not have played a role in the accident.  
However, the damages for the injury will be reduced by the percentage of negligence that contributed to the injury,  
a situation often referred to as “apportionment of fault.” 

For example, if you were to sue the other driver for $100,000 in damages in your case,  the judge would be asked to determine  
what percentage of the accident was caused by the pedestrian jaywalking and what percentage was caused by the driver's failure to avoid the pedestrian  .

Let's say the jury finds that the pedestrian contributed to 70 percent of the accidents and the driver contributed to 30 percent of the accidents. 

If the jury agrees that the damages are worth $100,000,  
the pedestrian will only be able to recover $30,000 in damages. In conclusion, even  
if the driver of a car is at fault or partially at fault in a pedestrian accident,  
the driver’s auto insurance will usually cover the pedestrian’s medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of income. 

However, as mentioned above, compensation for damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault that contributed to the damages. 

Please note that if the driver does not have auto insurance, the pedestrian  
may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of earnings from his or her uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.