Bicycle accidents involving cars can be complicated, especially when multiple drivers are involved. If you’re a cyclist who has been injured in such an accident, it’s important to understand how liability works and who may be held responsible. In California, multiple drivers can be liable for a single accident, depending on the circumstances.
Here we’ll look at how multiple parties may be sued by our Los Angeles bicycle accident attorneys in a bike accident.
Understanding Liability in a Bicycle vs. Car Accident
Liability refers to legal responsibility for damages caused by an accident. In most traffic accidents, liability is determined based on negligence, which means failing to act with reasonable care. In bicycle accidents, a driver may be found negligent if they violated California Vehicle Code (CVC), such as by speeding, running a red light, or making an illegal turn.
More than one driver may be responsible for causing the accident. This is where the concept of comparative negligence comes into play. In California, more than one party can be held liable for an accident, with fault distributed based on the degree of responsibility each driver had.
Even if the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, they may still be eligible to make a claim for compensation. Learn more about helmet laws and liability in bicycle accidents.
Can Multiple Drivers Be Held Responsible for My Bicycle Accident?
When a bicycle accident involves multiple vehicles, it’s possible for more than one driver to share responsibility. Let’s explore two common scenarios where multiple drivers may be held liable for a cyclist’s injuries:
- Chain Reaction Accidents: In a chain reaction accident, one car may rear-end another, causing a series of collisions that ultimately involve the cyclist. Both the initial driver and any subsequent drivers could be held liable.
- Simultaneous Collisions: In some cases, two cars may collide at the same time, with the cyclist being caught in between. Both drivers may be found negligent, depending on the circumstances.
In these scenarios, gathering evidence such as eyewitness testimony, video footage, and accident reconstruction reports is crucial to determining liability among multiple drivers.
Other Legal Theories for Multiple Drivers
Multiple drivers do not need to violate traffic laws to be held liable in a bicycle accident case. Negligence or failure to exercise reasonable care may also establish liability. There are other legal theories that may apply in cases involving multiple drivers:
- Vicarious Liability: If the vehicle’s owner allows an irresponsible driver to operate their car, both the driver and the owner could be held liable for the accident. For instance, if someone lends their car to a person with a suspended license and that driver hits a cyclist, both the driver and the car owner may be responsible.
- Respondeat Superior: If the driver involved in the accident was operating a vehicle as part of their job, the employer may also be liable. For example, if a delivery driver hits a cyclist while making deliveries, the company that employs the driver could share responsibility for the accident.
Factors That Determine Liability
When it comes to determining who is responsible for a bicycle vs. car accident, several key factors are considered. Understanding these elements can help clarify how fault is assigned and who may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
- Driver behavior: Were any drivers speeding, distracted, driving recklessly, or failing to yield or obey traffic signals at the time of the accident?
- Road conditions: Were the roads properly maintained, or were there hazards like potholes that contributed to the accident?
- Weather conditions: Poor weather can make it harder to determine fault, but it doesn’t eliminate liability if drivers were not exercising appropriate caution.
Can I Get Compensation From Multiple Drivers for My Bicycle Accident?
When two drivers are sued, each party’s liability is determined based on their percentage of fault. However, under California’s joint and several liability rule, any driver found liable may be required to cover the full amount of economic damages, regardless of their degree of fault.
This theory is applicable when both parties contributed to the bicyclist’s injury. In this case each party could be responsible for up to 100% of the financial obligation regardless of their share of fault.
Under California law, joint and several liability applies to economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, are apportioned according to each defendant’s degree of fault under Proposition 51.
Types of Compensation Bicycle Accident Victims Can Receive
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident involving multiple drivers, you may be entitled to several forms of compensation to cover your losses. Here are the most common types of damages you could recover:
- Medical Expenses: This includes the cost of hospital visits, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and any future medical treatment related to the accident.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be able to recover compensation for lost income, including future earning potential if the injuries have a long-term impact on your ability to work.
- Property Damage: Compensation for damage to your bicycle, helmet, or any other personal belongings that were damaged in the accident.
- Pain and Suffering: This covers the physical pain and emotional distress you’ve experienced as a result of the accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries have affected your ability to enjoy activities you once loved, you may be entitled to compensation for this loss.
- Punitive Damages: In cases where the drivers acted with oppression, fraud, or malice—such as extreme recklessness or intentional misconduct—you may be awarded punitive damages to punish wrongdoers and deter similar behavior.
Need Help Getting Compensation From Multiple Drivers?
Accidents involving vehicles and bicycles are complex. This is especially true when there are multiple defendants who are represented by different attorneys. If you were injured while bicycling it is important to get legal help right away. Contact a bicycle accident attorney at El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers for a free consultation to learn about your legal options and who may be held responsible.
Fill out our form today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step towards justice.
