San Diego Bicycle Accident Lawyers Case Experience

Casey Gerry is one of the oldest and most respected plaintiff's personal injury firms in California, and bicycle injury cases are an important part of our practices. Senior partner David S Casey Jr. bicycled across the United States as a young man, and he believes strongly in the need for a safe roadways and trails for bicyclists. For over 60 years Casey Gerry lawyers have successfully handled cases involving serious injury and fatalities for bicyclists in San Diego and throughout Southern California. Some of these individuals had suffered serious physical injuries including brain damage and spinal cord injury. Other clients have been families in which a loved one suffered a wrongful death in a bicycle crash. We have secured judgments for our clients that have enabled them to live with security and dignity.

When Casey Gerry takes on a bicycle injury case, a senior bicycle accident attorney assumes responsibility for the case, and assembles a legal team of attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and other staff to investigate and research the case. We aim to understand all that occurred in the crash, to carefully assess the evidence, the site of the crash and surrounding area, and all relevant circumstances. We evaluate the quality and functioning of the bicycle and of safety equipment, especially helmets. We review medical records to determine the full extent of the injury. We will look first at your medical needs, to assure that you are getting the appropriate medical care and the rehabilitation you need.

Casey Gerry's bicycle accident attorneys work closely with each client to make sure we understand their needs and concerns, and to see that these are addressed, so that the client can be completely focused on his recovery and rehabilitation. Our wide experience with many bicycle cases enables us to lay out a plan of action that will take a client to the conclusion of their case with minimal anxiety and stress. The most helpful service our bicycle accident lawyers can render our clients is to prosecute their case aggressively, helping them achieve the fairest monetary result we can obtain. At the same time we try to help our clients return to the life and activities they enjoyed before the collision.

At Casey Gerry, our bicycle injury attorneys in San Diego are committed to a thorough and accurate investigation for any client we represent. Unlike most personal injury firms, we maintain full-time investigators on staff that we can deploy to thoroughly investigate every aspect of your cases. In bicycle injury cases, gathering the facts and evidence as soon as possible can be critical to the success of a case. Casey Gerry offers its clients the best resources to accomplish the necessary investigation.

Partner Gayle Blatt represented a young woman who was injured when her bicycle tire jammed in the slot of a roadway grate installed in the bicycle lane on State Route 56. The grate slots ran parallel to the bike lane, and held the tire so firmly that the rider's bike came to an unexpected, immediate and complete stop. The bicycles' carbon fiber fork frame cracked apart, and the rider was thrown over the handlebars and slammed to the pavement. Although she was wearing a helmet, she suffered a fractured wrist, severe strains to back and shoulder, and fractures of three teeth. This athlete and experienced cyclist experienced dizziness, persistent pain in her shoulder, back and neck, permanent scarring on her face and jaw, and weakness in her arm and shoulder.

Ms. Blatt demonstrated that the government entities involved in building and maintaining the road had created a dangerous condition. The signage in the area was misleading, and a Cal Trans design engineer testified that the area was hazardous for bicyclists, and should not have been used as a bike lane. She also showed that the areas of the bike lane had grates with cross-hatched slotting, establishing that a safe design alternative was available. The city, county, and state all agreed to settle for a sum that covered our client's current and future medical expenses, and also compensated her for the pain and suffering caused by their negligence.

Partner Thomas Penfield has represented several bicyclists who have suffered traumatic brain injuries when they crashed into the side of a truck or car that turned left directly in front of them.

In another case, teenagers who had been out drinking veered into a bike lane and intentionally opened their door to strike a bicyclist. Not only were they criminally prosecuted for their reckless endangerment, but Casey Gerry bicycle accident lawyers in San Diego were successful in obtaining a significant financial recovery for our client.

Negligence and Misconduct in Bicycle Crashes

Many serious bicycle injuries and fatalities result from negligence or misconduct by individuals, common carriers or government entities. California law provides that when a person is injured as a result of misconduct or negligence by an individual, a corporation, or a government, s/he may have grounds for a lawsuit. In the case of a serious bicycle injury, the long-term consequences in medical expenses and changes in lifestyle can be very significant, and the victim may need to seek financial compensation from a negligent party.

If you or a loved one has experienced a bicycle injury that you believe is the result of negligence or misconduct, you may wish to consult a plaintiff's attorney experienced in dealing with this kind of complex injury. It is important to start the investigation as soon as possible after an injury, while evidence is still available and investigators can find witnesses.

If you believe a corporation or government entity contributed to your injury, you should contact an attorney immediately for review of a potential claim. There are short deadlines set by laws which regulate the filing of lawsuits, called statutes of limitation, which vary state by state. If you believe that you or a loved one was harmed by a corporation's or government's negligence or misconduct, you should not delay in contacting an attorney. If the statute of limitations expires, your right to pursue a claim against the entity may be forever barred.