Man Injured in Hit and Run Bicycle Crash in Oakdale
A 54-year-old man from Waterford was injured in a hit and run crash while riding his bicycle near Oakdale in Stanislaus County on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 1, 2020. The bicycle accident occurred at approximately 3:25 p.m. on River Road in the vicinity of Sawyer Avenue, just east of Oakdale. The cyclist was riding westbound on River Road when he was struck by a car approaching in the same direction, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported.
A preliminary report by CHP traffic units revealed that the primary collision factor in the incident was the unsafe speed by the driver, who fled the scene of the cycling crash. The Modesto Fire Department said the cyclist was transported by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment of moderate injuries, including abrasions. Officials said the bicycle rider was last reported to be in stable condition, and the driver responsible for the hit and run bicycle accident has not yet been located.
What Type of Compensation is Available in a Hit and Run Bicycle Crash Case?
If you suffered an injury as a cyclist in a traffic collision caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to collect compensation for your injuries and damages incurred. These include past and future medical bills, lost wages, future lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Punitive damages may be available under limited circumstances. For instance, your Oakdale personal injury lawyer may seek punitive damages from a driver responsible for a hit and run bicycle accident if they acted egregiously in the moments leading up to the incident, like drunk driving or excessive speeding.
The goal of a personal injury claim for a bicycle accident is to make you whole again. If the driver responsible for the bicycle accident fled the scene, your options for recovery would lie with your insurance company or the policy of a relative if there is uninsured motorist coverage (UM) available. Speak to an experienced Oakdale personal injury attorney today to learn more about how UM coverage can come into play in your hit and run bicycle accident.
How Long Can I Wait Before I Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, the sooner you speak to an experienced and top-rated personal injury lawyer in Oakdale, the better. An injury lawyer can help conduct an independent investigation of the compensation claim. The closer in time to the bicycle accident you retain an injury attorney for your case, the more time your lawyer has to gather and preserve the evidence necessary for proving your compensatory damages.
The insurance company representing the negligent driver or even your own may attempt to assign some of the liability for the incident to you to mitigate financial responsibility. That is also why it is critical to get a lawyer involved as early as possible in the personal injury claims process. Your attorney can collect the evidence needed to prove negligence on the part of the negligent driver to ensure your legal right to full and fair financial compensation is protected.
Personal injury claims in California are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This usually means that you must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of a bicycle accident, or the court may dismiss your case, and your legal right to seek financial compensation may be lost. Speak to an Oakdale personal injury lawyer at AutoAccident.com to learn what filing deadlines apply to your claim. It pays not to wait too long to have an injury lawyer review your case and determine your options for recovery after a bicycle accident.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Oakdale
I’m Ed Smith, an Oakdale personal injury lawyer. If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident through no fault of your own, we invite you to contact our law firm for a free consultation. Call today at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to receive free, friendly legal advice on your case today. Our car accident lawyers handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
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