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## San Francisco Fatal Bicycle Accident Lawyer
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Do I Have a Case?
The Law Offices of Matthew J. Quinlan represents families who lose victims in heartbreaking bicycle accidents. Our skilled and compassionate lawyers go to work immediately to secure compensation for the emotional and financial damages the family members left behind will suffer.  for a free wrongful death bicycle accident case consultation to find out how to demand justice and support for your family.
## Should My Family Call a Lawyer After Losing Someone to a Bicycle Collision?
Yes. A free conversation with the San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers at MJQ Law can help your family protect themselves in the coming years. Insurance adjusters for at-fault drivers won’t make it easy for families to earn justice and support. They can attempt to blame an innocent victim for the accident. Car insurance companies will also attempt to get the family to sign off on a settlement that doesn’t begin to cover the financial and emotional losses the family will experience.
Your lawyer is your shield against this shady treatment and fully investigates the tragic accident to make sure the facts can’t be changed by giant insurers. MJQ Law backs a case with powerful evidence so that insurers have no choice but to provide what’s fair. We also handle the frustrating negotiation process with as little disruption to you and your grieving family as possible.
## Deadly Bicycle Accident Dangers and Support for Families Left Behind
Local residents already have a good idea of how dangerous local traffic can be in the Bay Area. However, cyclists often ride many of the same roads, and with far less protection in a collision. Riders have just as much right to the lane as any driver, but motorists often ignore this fact and put bicyclists at deadly risk.
A driver in a hurry on Market Street may be watching a cellphone screen for a text or could be fumbling with a radio dial and not watching out for the cyclist up ahead. The motorist can change lanes and strike the rider in the next lane over. The motorist could also make a hasty left-hand turn in front of an oncoming cyclist the driver didn’t look long enough to spot. With perhaps a helmet on and some thin clothing, any impact with a car can be enough to claim a rider’s life.
California encourages families left behind to file a wrongful death claim to protect themselves. A wrongful death settlement can help close relatives like a spouse or children of the victim to pay funeral and medical costs. That support could also help replace the income the victim may have supported the family with each week. That financial support may suddenly be gone due to a devastating bicycle accident.
## Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Deadly Bicycle Accident?
In most cases, a spouse, partner, or child of the victim would have the first right to file a bicycle accident wrongful death claim. One of these family members would usually file on behalf of all other eligible relatives.
If a victim didn’t have a spouse or children, the victim’s parents, siblings, or grandchildren may be able to file a claim. Anyone who can prove they were financially dependent on the deceased could be able to file a lawsuit.
A  could file a claim on behalf of all family members. A lawyer would be entrusted to investigate the accident and back a case with evidence. In many instances, this evidence is enough to force a car insurance company to accept full liability and provide everything a family needs in a settlement.
If an insurer refused to accept fault and provide a fair settlement, a lawyer would file a lawsuit and prepare to take the insurer to court. The threat of a lawsuit and the filing of a lawsuit are usually enough to convince an insurer to settle. Insurance companies usually want to avoid the cost of going to trial and the bad publicity.
## What Type of Support Can My Family Earn After a Fatal Bicycle Accident?
Families must seek the financial help they need to deal with immediate costs that arise after a death. They must also make sure they’ll have support in the future when financial issues will be a real concern.
A skilled lawyer would seek support for these factors and more on the family’s behalf:
* The emergency response and ambulance fees, and the medical bills leftover from before the victim passed away.
* The cost of a funeral and burial.
* The loss of future income the victim would have supported the family with.
* The companionship, love, and protection that won’t be available in the future.
* Support for the emotional trauma victims will have to cope with in the future.
For children of the deceased, the loss of a victim’s presence at major life events like graduation, a wedding, and the birth of a child is part of the emotional toll. The training and guidance a parent provides a child over a lifetime is also considered.
## Contact a San Francisco Bicycle Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible
If a loved one has been the victim of a bicycle crash caused by a negligent driver, don’t trust your family’s well-being to an insurance company. Allow  to deal with the most frustrating parts of wrongful death claims and insurance hassles so you can focus on remembering and honoring a beloved member of the family.
 our offices for a free case consultation that comes with no obligation to you or your family. This consultation comes with no risk and is confidential. Trusting your case to the compassionate professionals at MJQ Law will be the best way to secure justice and protect every family member in the years ahead.
If you feel we can help your family secure the most possible in a wrongful death claim, you won’t have to worry about payment right now. MJQ Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then we are paid out of the settlement money your family receives.
Reviews
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Sarah D.**********
Matt is a great lawyer and did a great job for me. He was friendly and available when I needed him. He kept me informed throughout the whole process and I always felt like I was in very capable hands. I would definitely recommend him to anyone that is looking for a personal injury lawyer.
Mike A.**********
Awesome! I had a dog attack injury on a bicycle. Matt and Dan consulted with me and gave me great advice. They were upfront and honest, and I really felt like they cared and had my back… In the future if I ever need a lawyer, I’m going to Matt and Dan first. I highly recommend them.
Susan K.**********
My case was resolved with minimal time and attention required from me, which is what I expressed as a concern to Matt when I first met with him… Matt explained everything very clearly to me and understood my perspective and represented me very well.
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About the Practice
Injury Claims
Wildfire Claims (PG&E)
## What Cyclists Need to Know After a “Dooring” Accident in San Francisco
San Francisco streets are packed with vehicles fighting for the last available spot. Not only must the streets of San Francisco allow for parking on both sides of the street (for many streets, but not all), the streets must allow for the flow of traffic, including motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicyclists. Some drivers who park on the shoulder of a road pay no attention to passing traffic, including bicyclists. A common type of bicycle accident that causes serious injuries is called a “dooring” accident.
If you have suffered injuries in a dooring accident, whether you were a bicyclist or motorcyclist, you may be entitled to compensation if another person was at fault for causing your injuries. However, determining whether you may be entitled to compensation is difficult without the assistance of an experienced attorney. Consider reaching out to a  as soon as possible to discuss avenues for seeking compensation.
## California’s “Dooring” Law
Bicyclists are brave, especially in San Francisco. Not only do some drivers look down upon bicyclists, but many drivers blame bicyclists for the problem of having congested traffic and the prevalence of accidents in the city. Bicyclists follow the same traffic laws as motorcyclists, drivers of passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicle drivers.
All individuals operating vehicles on San Francisco roadways must adhere to the same laws. However, with bicycles, there is a specific law that applies to the conduct of drivers of motor vehicles. Under , it is illegal for a person to open his or her car door on the side of the vehicle next to moving traffic if doing so would be unreasonably safe.
Additionally, a vehicle’s car door cannot remain open for longer than necessary to unload passengers. Not only do open car doors block traffic, but they also pose a risk to bicyclists who may not have time to stop to avoid colliding into a suddenly opened door. Also, pedestrians, such as runners, may be running at a steady pace when a vehicle’s door suddenly opens.
A common issue in the Bay Area is Uber and Lyft drivers dropping passengers off who swing their door open into a cyclist’s path.
## Bicyclists Are at a Disadvantage
Bicyclists, like motorcyclists, only have the protection of a helmet. In some cases, the use of a helmet may minimize the severity of some injuries. However, many bicycle accident injuries are severe regardless of whether the bicycle accident victim was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. As a note, you very likely have a case .
California’s law that requires drivers to pay special attention to bicyclists, motorcyclists, motorists, and pedestrians demonstrates that far too many individuals are suffering from preventable injuries. Although injuries associated with being struck by a vehicle door may not be as severe as being involved in a head-on collision with a vehicle, the injuries still may be serious enough to require substantial medical treatment. Simply put, a fender bender for two vehicles versus a fender bender between a vehicle and a bicycle will yield completely different results. A bicyclist is likely to suffer injuries, while an individual involved in a minor fender bender is not.
## Assessing Fault in a Bicycle Dooring Accident Case
When determining who is at fault for causing a bicycle accident that involves the opening of a vehicle’s door, the conduct of the person who opened the door will be in question. A bicyclist who has time to stop and avoid striking a vehicle’s door would likely make every attempt to do so. However, in many cases, a bicyclist has nowhere to go to avoid striking an open door that only opens moments before the bicyclist approaches.
With the help of a San Francisco bicycle accident attorney, injured victims can determine what the evidence shows and whether a driver or passenger is to blame for an accident involving a vehicle door and a bicyclist. Under California law, an injured person can recover damages even if he or she is considered partially at fault for causing the accident.
In some cases, both the driver and the passenger may be held liable.
## Communicating with Insurance Companies
One of the trickiest aspects of bicycle accidents is dealing with insurance companies. Accidents involving two or more vehicles will (in most cases) involve insurance policies from multiple individuals. With bicycle accidents, bicyclists may not have insurance that provides coverage for injuries involving a bicycle rather than a vehicle.
As such, bicycle accident victims may need to look for other options to seek compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and any other damages resulting from personal injuries. An experienced San Francisco bicycle accident attorney can help a victim explore legal options in the event an insurance company is refusing to provide coverage.
Many insurers also try to blame cyclists for their injuries, even in dooring collisions. Don’t let this happen to you.
## Contact a California Personal Injury Attorney Today
Are you a bicyclist who has suffered injuries in a dooring accident or wish to seek the advice of an attorney on behalf of an injured loved one? If so, consider speaking with a  who routinely represents clients injured in the Bay Area. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your potential legal matter, contact our office today.