Bicycle Accident Attorneys Rahman Law PC Cancel Exhibit at Biketoberfest Marin

Posted on October 14, 2017February 20, 2019 by Rahman Law PC

bicycle accident attorney biketoberfest San Francisco, CA — (ReleaseWire) — 10/14/2017 –Rahman Law PC announces the cancellation of their exhibit at Biketoberfest Marin on October 14, 2017 held in Fairfax, California. The Air Quality Index (AQI) reached an unhealthy 165 at 10:00 the morning of the event and was therefore cancelled by event coordinators Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Access4Bikes for health concerns. Biketoberfest Marin is a handmade bike show and brewfest event hosted by and benefiting the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Access4Bikes inclusive of all varieties of cycling enthusiasts drawing over 5,000 attendees. This would have been Rahman Law PC’s eighth year supporting the event.

The cancellation of Biketoberfest Marin is due to the unhealthy air quality from the thousands of acres burned by the wildfires in Santa Rosa, Napa, and Sonoma. Ms. Rahman and so many others had continued their plans to attend Biketoberfest for some needed community spirit, but at this time a focus on health is needed when so much of the event is about an activity that uses the cardiovascular system. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the fires right now. We thank the brave men and women out there fighting these fires working to save so many lives, too,” said Ms. Rahman. Shaana Rahman, principal and founder of Rahman Law PC, is a member and long-time sponsor of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, sharing in their mission “to promote safe bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation,” as well as promote advocacy and “give cyclists a voice.” The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is also on a mission to build the bicycle community, which they do through events like Biketoberfest Marin.

Biketoberfest attracts mountain bikers (Fairfax, CA is regarded as the birthplace of the mountain bike), road cyclists, BMX riders, commuter cyclists, as well as fixie and cyclocross riders, just to name a few. Many cyclists are curious about their rights as a person who bikes and are eager to ask a bicycle accident attorney. Common questions from the cycling community include: what to do if you have a collision or incident on the road; how to talk to the police and lawyer; and what the options are for personal insurance coverage for people who bike.

During Biketoberfest Marin, Ms. Rahman and her team planned to engage participants in safety games and broadcast messages about why they love to ride using Facebook Live on the Rahman Law PC Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/RahmanLawSF). Rahman Law PC’s Facebook page is a place for free tips about cycling rights, pedestrian rights, safety, and information about the advocacy work and speaking engagements of the bicycle accident attorneys of Rahman Law PC. It is also a place to find out about future workshops on learning about your rights as a person who bikes. The last “Know Your Rights” workshop Ms. Rahman gave was in conjunction with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition on October 5^th for Women Bike SF.

About Rahman Law PC

The personal injury lawyers at Rahman Law PC are powerful advocates for people who have been injured through no fault of their own with experience as bicycle accident attorneys. What makes Rahman Law PC different from other personal injury lawyers is they care about what happens to their clients; they aggressively advocate for their clients’ interests and have a personal relationship with each client, taking the time to listen and figure out solutions that make sense from a legal point of view but also from a human perspective. By providing the highest quality legal services to those who have been injured or have suffered wrongdoing at the hands of other individuals, corporations, or public entities, the personal injury lawyers and trial lawyers at Rahman Law PC have a proven track record of results and have successfully recovered millions of dollars for clients throughout California. Rahman Law PC offers clients attentive service backed with big firm experience, making them ready to take on any opponent. To learn more about the personal injury lawyers at Rahman Law PC, visit http://www.rahmanlawsf.com or call 415-956-9245 in San Francisco, 805-619-3108 in Paso Robles, California.

Personal Injury Lawyer Tips Regarding Liability in Student-on-Student Assaults

Posted on October 11, 2017September 12, 2018 by Rahman Law PC

best-personal-injury-attorney-student-assault Back-to-School is a busy season for students and parents, but after the initial excitement starts to settle sometimes the tension boils over between students and we unfortunately begin to see the rise in physical and sexual assaults of students by other students while at school. We all want what is best for the children in our care and physical and sexual assaults should never be tolerated. When something more than pride is damaged, the assaulter, his/her parents, and the supervising teachers, school officials, school employees, and even the school district may be responsible. It is necessary to evaluate the situation which is why it is best to speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

One of our most popular blog articles has been one about school district liability and student assaults.

Here are some tips and more details regarding liability in student-on-student assaults to help parents and guardians better understand the severity of the situation or to be more informed should something happen in the future:

Your child has an inalienable right to attend a safe, secure, and peaceful school environment.

A relationship has been established when a parent sends their child to school and the school district oversees all reasonable steps to protect its students. (Ed. Code § 48200)

Are the premises secure? In large school campuses there may be dangerous areas away from visibility of faculty and staff where a student may be sexually assaulted or injured. This may be a dangerous condition of public property.

The following excerpt has been taken from Shaana Rahman’s publication in Plaintiff Magazine, “Establishing School District Liability in Student-On-Student Assaults,” 2010:

Government Code section 840.2 provides that “[a]n employee of a public entity is liable for injury caused by a dangerous condition of public property if the plaintiff establishes that the property of the public entity was in a dangerous condition at the time of the injury, that the injury was proximately caused by the dangerous condition, that the dangerous condition created a reasonable foreseeable risk of the kind of injury which was incurred, and that either: (a) [t]he dangerous condition was directly attributable wholly or in substantial part to a negligent or wrongful act of the employee and the employee had the authority and the funds and other means immediately available to take alternative action which would not have created the dangerous condition; or (b) [t]he employee had the authority and it was his responsibility to take adequate measures to protect against the dangerous condition at the expense of the public entity and the funds and other means for doing so were immediately available to him, and he had actual or construction notice of the dangerous condition under Section 840.04 a sufficient time prior to the injury to have taken measures to protect against the dangerous condition.” (Gov. Code § 840.2.)

Your child will be supervised on campus in California.

“Every teacher in the public schools shall hold pupils to a strict account for their conduct on the way to and from school, on the playgrounds, or during recess.” (Ed. Code § 44807)

The following excerpt has been taken from Shaana Rahman’s publication in Plaintiff Magazine, “Establishing School District Liability in Student-On-Student Assaults,” 2010:

Pursuant to Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, §5551 a principal is responsible for the supervision and administration of his/her school. Also, section 5552 provides, “[w]here playground supervision is not otherwise provided, the principal of each school shall provide for the supervision by certificated employees of the conduct and safety . . . of the pupils of the school who are on the school grounds during recess and other intermissions.” As many incidents occur during recess periods, this statute is particularly useful in establishing the parameters of the liability. The purpose of the foregoing laws is to regulate students’ conduct “so as to prevent disorderly and dangerous practices which are likely to result in physical injury to immature scholars.”

The school has a duty to inform you, the parent or guardian.

Failure to inform the parent/guardian can become compelling evidence of a failure to supervise when the school district claims they failed to inform on the grounds that they themselves did not know of the event(s). In many cases, this liability gives rise to an independent cause of action and is best handled by a personal injury lawyer for damages to the parent who may now no longer feel safe leaving their child in the hands of any other school or person for fear of their safety.

What to ask for

If you have concerns about an incident (or potential incident) at your child’s school, public record act requests have made it possible for you to access the information that will answer many of your questions. Additionally, you should know that consultations with a personal injury lawyer at RAHMAN LAW PC are free and confidential. Here are a few resources to ask for that may cover your concerns:

School policies on acceptable/unacceptable behavior between students
School employee safety training protocols
School training manuals/handbooks (which may outline the first two items)
Administrative regulations for the city/county (usually covers student safety)
Sexual Harassment or “Touching” policy
Disciplinary policies
Child abuse prevention training and policies

At RAHMAN LAW PC, we handle a variety of personal injury cases, but even the best personal injury lawyer in California may not have experience in student liability, which is why the best thing for any parent or guardian to do is start with a free and confidential consultation. We believe in taking the time to listen to our clients and we know when a child is involved the case is going to be emotional for you. Contact us today and find out for yourself why we have 10/10 ratings and founder Shaana Rahman was selected as the Best of San Francisco Magazine’s Top Women Attorneys in Northern California.

If You Ride – Do you Text and Drive? Preventing Bicycle Accidents by Putting Down the Phone

Posted on September 29, 2017September 29, 2017 by Shaana A. Rahman

distracted driving bicycle accident attorney

You don’t have to look very far on the Internet to find a case in California where a driver was distracted by their cell phone, usually texting, and hit a bicyclist or pedestrian and either killed them or catastrophically injured them. The California DMV has an FAQ page devoted to the Wireless Communications Device Law and Wireless Telephone Law. A surprising truth: these began in 2009 and 2008, respectively. As bicycle accident attorneys in San Francisco and Paso Robles, these laws are just a few of the things we stay up-to-date on for our clients because, sadly, distracted drivers are a contributor to collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists.

According to the most recent report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is increasing rapidly. They estimate 660,000 drivers are using electronic devices while driving per day (nationally) which caused 3,477 deaths in 2015. Are you one of these distracted drivers?

Think about this for a second – we are all pedestrians every day. We walk to and from our cars at the very least, and walk more in urban areas like San Francisco, which puts you at risk from someone driving while distracted. And if you ride a bicycle like we do (remember, we’re the attorneys who ride, too!), you’re at risk from someone veering off the road, even for a second or only by a couple of feet, but at the wrong second and colliding into you on your bike, right? Each year, San Francisco averages about four fatalities on bicycles each year due to vehicle collisions. Is that text message worth knowing you, a cyclist, hit or even killed another cyclist on the road for? Not likely.

So if you are a pedestrian (which you are) or if you are a cyclist, then why would you ever be part of the problem and risk creating a pedestrian or bicycle accident that might kill someone? Don’t be a distracted driver. We don’t ever want to see an electronic device in your hand while you’re driving (unless you’re dialing 911 because calling an emergency service is currently allowed without a “hands-free” device). And if you do see others driving distracted, it may be hard, but please don’t create an accident by trying to correct them. As bicycle accident attorneys, we want you to be safe!

Rahman Law PC Sponsors Pedalfest Seventh Consecutive Year to Advocate Bicycle Safety

Posted on July 20, 2017February 20, 2019 by Rahman Law PC

bicycle accident attorney advocacy pedalfest San Francisco, CA — (ReleaseWire) — 07/20/2017 –In their continued dedication to advocacy towards reducing the number of bicycle accidents in San Francisco, Rahman Law PC announces returning sponsorship of Bike East Bay’s seventh annual Pedalfest held in Oakland at Jack London Square. Pedalfest is a festival free to all ages celebrating bicycles, cycling, family, food, and fun with live music on a pedal-powered stage. Keeping in-line with Bike East Bay’s mission of education, Pedalfest will also include opportunities for education and advocacy outreach.

Shaana Rahman, principal and founder of Rahman Law PC, is a member and frequent sponsor of Bike East Bay. The goals of Bike East Bay are advocacy, education, and community engagement. As bicycle accident attorneys in San Francisco, Rahman Law PC supports these goals as part of a mission to improve access and safety for bicycling as an integrated part of San Francisco’s transportation system. To further the advocacy of bicycle access and safety, Ms. Rahman is also a member and sponsor of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, and Bike SLO County (formerly the San Luis Obispo County Bike Coalition).

Ms. Rahman has sponsored Pedalfest all seven years. She and members of the Rahman Law PC team will be participating at Pedalfest in Oakland to help raise awareness of safety through visibility and bicycle lights in particular this year. They will be offering a raffle of a Monkey Light from MonkeyLectric, a San Francisco bicycle wheel light company (http://www.monkeylectric.com). Rahman Law PC wants to help increase bicyclist visibility and talk to cyclists about other education and advocacy opportunities underway designed to decrease collisions between bicyclists and vehicles, including Vision Zero SF, the road safety policy with a mission to bring traffic deaths in San Francisco down to zero. Anyone interested in stopping by Rahman Law PC’s booth will also have the opportunity to Go Live on Facebook with them for a free messenger bag with the Rahman Law PC bicycle logo.

“We want to participate in events like Pedalfest with Bike East Bay where education and advocacy are promoted within the community because they generate a positive public image of bicyclists,” said Ms. Rahman. “Community involvement is crucial in making our streets safer to reduce bicycle collisions, which is why we believe in spending so much time advocating on behalf of bicyclists.” The bicycle accident attorneys at Rahman Law PC participate in City hearings, advocacy meetings, public events, and private speaking engagements to continue their work on making the streets safer for bicycles.

More information about Rahman Law PC’s bicycle advocacy can be found on their website at: http://www.rahmanlawsf.com/personal-injury-lawyers-practice-areas/bicycle-accident-attorney/

About Rahman Law PC

When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer: Tips from a San Francisco Personal Injury Law Firm

Posted on June 16, 2017February 20, 2019 by Shaana A. Rahman

Personal Injury Lawyer San Francisco

When we’re out at community events and a passerby grabs a business card off our table, they inevitably say “I hope I never need you.” Our response is always the same: “We hope you never need us.” It might seem weird to hear that personal injury lawyers in San Francisco actually would rather folks NOT be injured, but that’s how we roll. And we try to channel our optimism into practical community advocacy work to help make communities safer for you. The other thing we are known for is giving honest, straight-up advice about whether you really need to hire a personal injury lawyer if you are injured in a collision. If it’s the kind of personal injury accident case you can do on your own, we’ll tell you that and then take the time to walk you through the steps you need to take. That’s gratis. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. We’re big on that. And in big cities like San Francisco we know it’s hard to find simple, real, honest advice. So here are a few tips to help you decide if hiring a personal injury lawyer is right for you.

Were you injured?

First, let’s define a “personal injury”. Obviously, it means an injury to your person. An injury can be physical, like a broken wrist, fractured ankle or torn ligaments, or psychological, like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or anxiety. Often, people who have been involved in a car accident, bicycle accident, motorcycle accident or injured as a pedestrian have both physical and psychological injuries. If you were injured, then move to question 2. If you weren’t injured, but your property was damaged, stay tuned for the next part of our series which will take you through handling property damage claims.

Did someone else cause your injuries?

Were you hit by car, bus, taxi, Uber, or were you injured by someone else’s actions, like a passenger flinging their car door into traffic?

Did you incur damages?

Damages can be both economic like medical bills or lost wages and non-economic like the pain, suffering, anxiety and inconvenience that come with being injured.

If you answered “yes” to all 3 questions above, then the short answer is that you may have a claim against the person who injured you. This is when it can be best to start making phone calls to get free consultations with personal injury lawyers like us in San Francisco or Paso Robles. You may not know what damages to look for: past medical bills, medical bills for medical treatment you may need in the future, lost sick or vacation time from work, future time off from work you may need to heal from your injuries or for more medical treatment, or the type and severity of your injuries. These are all factors to consider when deciding if you need to hire a personal injury lawyer.

For example, if you were rear-ended by another car at low speed, went home were a little sore, saw your family doctor to get checked out and two weeks later you were back to 100%, this is the kind of thing you can do on your own directly with the other driver’s insurance company.

On the other hand, if you were taken by ambulance to the hospital or have more serious or complicated injuries, this is when to consider talking to a professional. Other deciding factors for clients in hiring a personal injury attorney include:

The pain and loss from the injury;
The financial insecurity as the medical bills stack up and income is lost;
The frustration when insurance companies don’t do the right thing; and
Wanting to have someone on their side, making sure the case is handled right from the start.

We hope we’ve given you a few things to think about but if you want our professional opinion on your case, we’re happy to talk to you, free of charge. Just keep in mind there are time limits for filing personal injury lawsuits (statutes of limitation) so it is usually better to seek help earlier rather than later. We like to do the heavy lifting for our clients straight away so this way they can focus on what’s really important–healing.

Share the Road this May: National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month 2017

Posted on May 23, 2017September 12, 2018 by Rahman Law PC

national motorcycle safety awareness month 2017

In 2014 (the most recent year with published statistics by the California Office of Traffic Safety as of May, 2017), San Francisco County has some serious motorcycle safety awareness statistics:

379 motorcyclists killed or injured in a collision

This puts San Francisco County at 1 of 58 for the OTS ranking which is how cities measure-up to other cities of similar populations.

At Rahman Law PC, we also have an office to represent motorcycle accident clients in San Luis Obispo County. This county ranks 29 of 58 on the OTS ranking with:

103 motorcycles killed or injured in a collision

Why are we bringing up these statistics? Because May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month! And this year we want to help raise awareness for safety to motorcycles, too! We are motorcycle accident lawyers in San Francisco and San Luis Obispo and safety starts with awareness, just like when we advocate for bicycle safety awareness.

What Can You Do For National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month 2017?

If you ride a motorcycle or know someone who rides:

Get your helmet checked for age, damage, and fit – take it in to an authorized dealer.
Wear reflective gear and consider adding a new piece to honor National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Wear protective gear with armor and pads from head to toe.
Brush up your skills – Many motorcycle riding schools offer advanced riding courses.

If you are an automobile driver (4 wheels and not 2):

Remember to look twice – motorcycles can be harder to see in mirrors.
Watch turns – motorcycle blinkers often do not have automated “offs” like cars.
Give extra space – motorcycles can use their clutch to slow down before they brake which will not show you a brake light (until they do brake) giving you less time to stop.

Motorcycles can be a fun way to get around and in San Francisco an easier way to find parking. If you or a loved one enjoys motorcycle riding for commuting or for cruising, be sure to share these tips for a safe National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month 2017 and let’s make every month a safer month for motorcycles and bicycles. Until Vision Zero becomes a reality in San Francisco and hopefully San Luis Obispo, too (vision zero means zero traffic deaths and was adopted to safety policy by the City and County of San Francisco in 2014), remember that the personal injury attorneys at Rahman Law PC are here for you whether you need a motorcycle accident lawyer, bicycle accident attorney, or other personal injury counsel, contact us today.

Share the Road this May: National Bike Month 2017

Posted on May 10, 2017September 29, 2017 by Shaana A. Rahman

National Bike Month 2017 San Francisco

Every month of our calendar year is full of so many nationally recognized days, weeks, and months that the honorable ones (the Friday before Mother’s Day is National Military Spouse Appreciation Day) get a bit diluted behind the amassment of others (I would like to know how May 3^rd became National Lumpy Rug Day – seriously?). However, May is a month near and dear to us here at Rahman Law because May is National Bike Month 2017!

See, we are more than just Paso Robles and San Francisco bicycle accident attorneys here at Rahman Law PC because we ride, too. And we advocate, which is why National Bike Month is exciting for us. Each Year, National Bike Month is a little different because it isn’t only about bicycle safety or bicycle commuting advocacy, it is meant to be about all things bicycle-related for children and adults, commuters and weekend-warriors.

Why National Bike Month is important:

A 2013 survey by SLOCOG in San Luis Obispo County showed only 26% of the population as uninterested in riding a bicycle (it was noted this percentage increased by age demographic), yet do you see the other 74% out there on bikes? No. The next 28% from the survey were interested but uncomfortable with traffic speeds and volume so they need bicycle paths and roads with wide bike lanes. In a place more urban like San Francisco, this group will have a harder time feeling safe. National Bike Month is about awareness for riders of all interest levels to enhance the enjoyment of riding along with the advocacy for change to make it possible for all ability levels to ride safely.

Here are some of the things going on this May in National Bike Month 2017:

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s Month-long Events (including family rides, a rally, happy hours, and more!) : All May Long
Bike to Work Day in San Francisco : May 11^th
Women’s Nights @ The Bike Kitchen in San Luis Obispo : Thursdays
Gals with Gears Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach and Back : May 14^th
Great Western Bicycle Rally in Paso Robles : May 26-29^th

There are many more events going on in your area to celebrate National Bike Month 2017; it’s just a matter of getting connected to your local bicycle advocacy and/or riding group. You can join this community on Google+ or look for a group on Facebook or Meetup that is closer to you. Remember to wear your helmet and be safe, then get out there are ride!

Street Safe Act 2017 for Pedestrian Accident Prevention

Posted on May 1, 2017February 20, 2019 by Rahman Law PC

pedestrian accident lawyer Last month, Assemblyman David Chiu said what I’ve been saying for some time now:

“Speed kills.”

(See my article titled “Speed Kills” in Plaintiff Magazine here)

But I’m sure I’m not the first to say it. The important thing is that Assemblyman Chiu has joined forces with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, the City and County of San Francisco, the City and County of San Jose, Walk San Francisco, and other officials and organizations to do something about it!

They have announced the Safe Streets Act of 2017. It’s a pilot program to reduce speeding utilizing cameras. The technique captures a photo of vehicles traveling over the speed threshold and is being used in other locations across the country. It is known as “ASE” and claims to be proven to reduce collisions resulting in catastrophic injury or death. The pilot program will be located in areas known for speed related in collisions.

In the press release announcing the Street Safe Act 2017, it was reported that in San Francisco, an average of 30 people are killed per year while approximately 500 more are hospitalized in traffic collisions. It did not specify pedestrians from vehicle drivers and passengers, but we know from other studies that in 2013, 21 pedestrians were struck and killed in San Francisco. The numbers of pedestrian accidents in San Francisco are staggering and while speed is a contributing factor in 30% of deaths caused by a traffic collision nationwide, in San Francisco in 2013, speed was the #1 cause of fatalities (sfmta.org/visionzero; SFPD Crossroads Database 2010-2014.).

So yes, speed kills. But people keep speeding. The ASE cameras might help make the streets safer.

This is the kind of technology that might put pedestrian accident lawyers in San Francisco and San Jose out of business you say? We frankly hope it will! It is part of the Vision Zero plan, a safety initiative with a two-year strategy in San Francisco for engineering, enforcement, and education with the vision that no one should die simply by trying to get around. At Rahman Law PC, we are advocates for safer roads. Shaana Rahman is on the Board of Walk San Francisco and we participate openly in the mission to make the streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair assisted pedestrians, and even motorcyclists; all of the modes of transportation where the human is more exposed and more likely to have a catastrophic injury in an accident with a vehicle. We are pedestrian accident lawyers to protect your rights when it’s needed and we’re excited about the Street Safe Act of 2017 because it has the potential to educate the public about road safety through enforcement which could save lives in the future.

Catastrophic Pedestrian Accident on Market Street Secures Improvements in San Francisco

Posted on April 3, 2017September 12, 2018 by Shaana A. Rahman

Last month marked the one-year anniversary of Thu Phan’s tragic death. She was killed while crossing Market Street at 7^th in her wheelchair. A ban on left turns onto Market Street had already been implemented to help mitigate the dangers of the intersection with an exemption covering City vehicles under certain duties.

The family became active in fighting for safety improvements after their catastrophic loss. Thu Phan’s sister reached out to Human Streets, Walk San Francisco, and San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets. Walk San Francisco reports that since the catastrophic pedestrian accident that took Thu Phan’s life, Walk San Francisco and their Vision Zero Coalition have worked to address the conditions that lead to her death.

As a result of these pedestrian advocacy efforts, San Francisco has now implemented:

Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs): walk signals to provide people crossing with a head start at six intersections along Market, including 7^th;
More visible turn restriction signage at Market & 7^th;
A City Administrator’s policy memo, which explicitly states that City drivers are not exempt from turn restrictions (a key factor in Thu Phan’s death);
A new, required driver training and education program for all City staff that specifically highlights how to drive safely around seniors and people with disabilities.

This last safety improvement deserves an extra comment. Seniors are five times more at risk of a serious/fatal injury as pedestrians than younger adults according to information gathered by Walk San Francisco.

Here are a few more statistics that may make you realize the importance of a pedestrian accident lawyer, or a catastrophic injury attorney for when a loved one is fatally or catastrophically injured by a vehicle:

In 2015, 5,376 people were killed in pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes – nearly 15 people per day (NHTSA)
California is the state with the highest number of pedestrian fatalities (NHTSA)
60% of all San Francisco’s traffic deaths are people walking – 4X the national average (Walk SF)

If you or a loved one is hit by a vehicle, know your rights and speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer in San Francisco or Paso Robles. At Rahman Law PC, we offer personalized attention to every client in a supportive and respectful way. We have offices in San Francisco and Paso Robles, California.

When the Worst Happens on Your Bike: Catastrophic Injury

Posted on February 18, 2017September 12, 2018 by Shaana A. Rahman

Prevention

We all like to talk about it: how to avoid the most common collisions on your bicycle, adding bicycle lanes, lights on bikes for visibility, law and regulation advocacy to prevent injuries… but all of these conversations come in the wake of something we don’t like to talk about – the catastrophic injury. We know which collisions on a bicycle are the most common because cyclists end up in the hospital for them, and that lights save lives because people on bicycles are killed every year when the driver says they “didn’t see them.” And so, we change the laws and regulations based on statistics of injuries and fatalities. This is a cold, sad truth. What if it happens to you?

Catastrophic Injury

Catastrophic injury covers a spectrum of the unthinkable: wrongful death, dismemberment, paralysis, severe brain damage, spinal cord injury, and the like. These injuries are life changing and life ending. This is why no one likes to talk about them. So rather than go into those details, I’d like to talk to you about what to do if this happens in your life (to you or a loved one).

Time Limits. Legal cases have time limits known as statutes of limitations. They are different for their type of case. It prevents someone from suing over a slip-and-fall that happened 80 years ago which would seem unreasonable. So it is incredibly important that you start having conversations with a catastrophic injury attorney early to determine your time limits.
Debt. The medical bills alone can be life changing for families. This is actually another reason why talking to a catastrophic injury attorney early is valuable. We can help you put a hold on those bills so that you are not being asked to pay them right now. The payee will wait until the settlement of your case to be paid and if you’ve seen the tens-of-thousands of dollars in medical bills generated by an automobile’s collision with a bicyclist, you’ll understand what a relief that can be. Insurance only covers so much, from either party.
The Future. A catastrophic injury isn’t about replacing a damaged bicycle and fixing a dented fender. Future lost wages, future increased medical costs, ongoing rehabilitation, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability coverage, and mental anguish are just a few of the considerations for the future for your and/or your family in the event of a life changing injury or wrongful death scenario. An experienced catastrophic injury attorney can help you plan, estimate, and navigate these considerations.

We’re here to help! The experienced attorneys at Rahman Law PC are riders, too. We understand rider safety and believe an ounce of prevention is absolutely worth a pound of cure. However, when the unthinkable happens, we’re ready for that, too.

If you’d like more information on preventing some of the more common bicycle collisions, the following five examples from Velosurance can help you avoid the most common collisions when riding your bicycle on the road. We are proud to be a trusted partner in their network of legal and bicycle repair shops (obviously, we’re the legal aid).

Smart.

Fierce.

Dedicated.

Experienced.

Personal Injury Lawyer