DC Capital Bikeshare Accident Lawyer
The DC Capital Bikeshare accident lawyers at Gelb & Gelb have over 70 years of experience handling bike accidents. Capital Bikeshare is a bicycle-sharing system that serves Washington, D.C., and parts of Maryland and Virginia. The company offers electric bicycles that make getting around the city a breeze. Capital Bikeshare offers attractive membership plans that differ from Uber’s Lime bikes. If you wish to take a single ride without a membership, you can do so by paying $1 as an unlock fee, then $.05 for every minute you ride. By all accounts, this is a reasonable deal. Not only is it cheaper than traditional options like taxis, but it allows you to enjoy the weather on a nice day and see all of DC’s attractions up close without the obstruction of a window or the pace of a guided tour.
Capital Bikeshare offers many incentives and can be a great way to explore the city. However, biking around the District comes with risks. As the number of riders of Capital Bikeshare increases, so too does the number of bicycle accidents. Whether due to road hazards, vehicle collisions, or defective equipment, Capital Bikeshare accidents can result in serious injuries. At times, locating a source of recovery can be difficult. This is true even if you are not at fault for the accident. How do we prove the truck driver caused the accident? What do you do if the driver flees the scene? At Gelb & Gelb, P.C., we have the answers. Contact our office immediately if you are in an accident to speak with a Capital Bikeshare accident lawyer.
What to Do After a Capital Bikeshare Accident in DC
There are several important steps to take after a Capital Bikeshare accident. To start, ensure your safety. You cannot always rely on the acts of good samaritans. If you are seriously injured, contact the paramedics immediately. If you are in the middle of the road after the wreck, move over to the side of the road or onto the sidewalk. It is best to avoid a situation where you may be clipped a second time by another negligent driver. If your condition is too serious to speak with the driver and exchange information, at least try to call the police. If the police come to the scene, they may create a police report. This will document that the accident happened and give location details, and the police will work to obtain all pertinent information from the negligent driver.
If you are able to do so, exchange information with the other driver. If the driver attempts to flee the scene, look to take a picture of their license plate. While this does not guarantee that there will be a source of recovery, we at least will know who owns the vehicle. Remember, the vehicle may be stolen, in which case the owner’s insurance would not cover the accident. If the driver does what they are legally obligated to do and pulls over to exchange information, ask for the following:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Make, model, year of vehicle
- Tag number
- Insurance company name
- Insurance policy number
Once you collect the above information, immediately contact a Capital Bikeshare accident lawyer for important next steps to maximize your compensation.
Common Causes of Capital Bikeshare Accidents
There is an endless number of possible causes of Capital Bikeshare accidents. Here, we discuss the most common types we encounter in our practice. If you are a victim of any of these types listed or even a kind we do not cover, we may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Motor Vehicle Collisions
This is the most common cause of Capital Bikeshare accidents we handle. A motor vehicle can include a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle. There is a limitless number of scenarios where a negligent driver does not see a bicyclist and hits the biker. Common scenarios include when a driver is texting and driving, drinking and driving, failure to yield accidents, and when the driver does not see the biker until it is too late. The most challenging scenario for drivers is when a biker is legally operating on a sidewalk and then pulls into a crosswalk to cross as a car is turning on a green light. When a vehicle collides with a biker, the injuries can be catastrophic.
Pedestrian Interactions
In Washington, DC, Capital Bikeshare riders can legally ride on the sidewalk. However, bikers have an obligation to yield to pedestrians, which can make things messy on the sidewalk. Beyond the liability issues of who is at fault and the jury sympathy, which typically favors pedestrians over bicyclists on a sidewalk, there may not be a source of recovery when in a wreck with a pedestrian like there is in most motor vehicle accidents.
Bikeshare Equipment Failure
If you are injured because the Capital Bikeshare equipment fails, you may have a claim against Capital Bikeshare. This is when a Capital Bikeshare accident lawyer is critical. In this scenario, we may have to hire an expert witness in the event we go to trial. The expert will testify that the bicycle must not have been in adequate condition when it was ridden and was inherently dangerous. While this case can be more expensive to litigate than the typical motor vehicle collision, there is likely a larger insurance policy in the event you have more severe injuries.
Liability in Capital Bikeshare Accidents
A DC Capital Bikeshare accident lawyer can help you prove liability in a bicycle accident. Capital Bikeshare’s original e-bike travels up to 18 miles per hour. They are outfitted with LED lighting on the front of the bicycle and have a light on the back. In many instances, liability in a Capital Bikeshare accident is the same as it is in any other bicycle accident in DC. The stark contrast becomes apparent when examining how fast these bicycles operate. They are described as custom pedal-assist e-bikes that give you added power. This makes controlling the bicycles in congested areas more challenging.
A DC Capital Bikeshare accident lawyer from Gelb & Gelb can explain in simple terms how bicycles in Washington, DC, are subject to exceptions that do not apply to cars and trucks. This is a tremendous advantage and is included in legislation that is relatively new to Washington, DC. This allows accident victims to recover compensation against negligent drivers in instances where they would not have been able to even a few years ago. For example, if you are deemed contributorily negligent in DC while riding a bicycle, you may still recover against the negligent driver.
Consult a DC Capital Bikeshare accident lawyer immediately for the most up-to-date case law and to determine whether these new rules apply to your case.
Why You Need a DC Capital Bikeshare Accident Lawyer
Our DC Capital Bikeshare accident lawyers have over 70 years of experience handling personal injury law in DC. We offer free consultations and case evaluations to all prospective clients. Call our office today if you have any questions on liability in your accident, everyday scenarios, or the rules that apply to Capital Bikeshare.
We are available to answer your questions 24/7 at (202) 331-7227.