Vancouver Bicycle Accident Lawyers
The city of Vancouver prides itself on being a bike-friendly community. Vancouver boasts more than 450 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes, a widely-used public bike-share program, and an ever-growing of cyclists on the road. Bike riding is the city’s fastest-growing mode of transport. It is no surprise that Vancouver was recently named one of the best major cycling cities in North America.
Unfortunately, looking at recent data from during the pandemic, in just one year, the number of local cyclists hospitalized due to accident-related injuries skyrocketed by 25%. When negligent drivers fail to consider the potentially harmful consequences of their wrongful actions behind the wheel, unsuspecting, vulnerable road-users can lose their lives, or sustain injuries with lifelong effects.
In accordance with British Columbia’s Motor Vehicle Act, drivers are required to safely share the road and exercise a reasonable degree of caution while operating their vehicles to reduce the risk of fatal or injurious collisions.
If a driver fails to uphold the duty of care, they are legally required to provide other road-users, innocent lives can be lost in tragic, violent, and ultimately preventable accidents. In June 2024, the government beefed up the protection of cyclists under the Motor Vehicle Act. That is when new rules that require drivers to exercise “proper precautions” around cyclists and other “vulnerable road users”, like pedestrians or electric wheelchair users, came into effect.
If a driver’s wrongful actions (or inactions) on the road leads to a collision in which another road-user is injured, the at-fault motorists might be considered negligent. Examples of driver negligence that frequently cause serious bicycle accidents in Vancouver include:
- Texting while driving
- Improperly changing lanes
- Failing to signal
- Ignoring traffic signs and/or signals
- Exceeding the posted speed limit
- Street racing and stunt driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Fatigued driving
- Distracted driving
- And more
Our Vancouver bicycle accident lawyers believe that negligent drivers should be held accountable for their misconduct, especially when their wrongful behaviour causes another community member to sustain compensable injuries. If a driver’s negligence caused a collision in which you were injured before May 1, 2021, our bicycle accident lawyers serving Vancouver may be able to assist you.
By filing a civil claim against the driver responsible for causing your crash, our Vancouver bicycle accident lawyers may be able to help you recover the maximum amount of damages to which you should be entitled. If your bicycle accident occurred before May 1, 2021, contact us today to learn whether you might be eligible to pursue legal action.
Victims of bicycle accidents who were injured after May 1, 2021 may face additional hurdles in their pursuit of fair compensation. That is because ICBC and the government have recently implemented a new model of insurance coverage that strips away the rights of injured accident victims.
Under ICBC’s new “Enhanced Care” insurance system, anyone who is injured in a motor vehicle collision– including the negligent driver whose wrongful conduct caused the crash to occur– should be entitled to no-fault accident benefits to offset the costs of their injury-related financial losses. ICBC has taken away injured accident victims’ right to pursue a civil claim against the driver responsible for causing the collision and therefore of receiving compensation for all they have lost. The provincially-owned Crown corporation has also limited the appeal options for accident victims whose ICBC claims were denied or who were allocated unfairly low settlement amounts.
This “Enhanced Care” model was supposedly introduced to reduce the rates of drivers’ monthly insurance premiums. However, by implementing this unfair new system that provides minimal savings to insurance policyholders, ICBC has jeopardized the financial security of the province’s most vulnerable road-users, many of whom are not insured. The amount of care and financial compensation allocated to injured bicycle accident victims is now entirely under ICBC’s control. The physical, psychological, and financial well-being of injured bicycle accident victims now rests almost solely in the hands of a Crown corporation. If you are concerned about what ICBC’s new “Enhanced Care” model of insurance coverage means for countless accident victims and their families, contact your MLA. Importantly, the role of ICBC and victims’ lost right to make civil claims after May 1, 2021 only apply to bicycle accidents that involve an automobile. For any bicycle accidents caused by road users other than motorists (like skateboarders), potholes, or other hazards, Preszler Injury Lawyers can speak on your behalf, handle your claim, and bring it to court if necessary.
Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers for a Free Initial Consultation
Our Vancouver bicycle accident lawyers are passionate about providing essential legal services to injured members of the local community. No matter when your injury-causing bicycle accident took place, consider taking advantage of a free initial consultation with Preszler Injury Lawyers.
The days, weeks, and months following a serious bicycle accident can be overwhelming. Our bicycle accident lawyers serving Vancouver appreciate how complicated and confusing the process of pursuing fair treatment and fair compensation can be. We are standing by to answer your questions and to provide you with legal feedback tailored to the unique circumstances of your specific case. To claim your free initial consultation, call 1-800-JUSTICE and speak to our Vancouver bicycle accident lawyers today.
