Tips on Handling a Bicycle Accident Case – From a Bike Lawyer

By Joshua Bonnici

Joshua Bonnici is the managing attorney for Bonnici Law Group, APC, located in downtown San Diego, where he focuses primarily on personal injury cases and appealing state and federal disability denials. His accomplishments include winning SD Metro’s "40 Under 40" award, San Diego’s Best Litigation Firm by the San Diego UT, and was recently selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. You can learn more about Josh and his practice at www.bonnicilawgroup.com.

Ever since I can remember I have been enamored with riding bicycles. I remember riding my first five-speed bike through our small family house before my mother threatened to take it away until I took it outside. Bicycles have been a part of my life ever since – for the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My first brush with a bicycle accident, and the law, was as a lanky high school sophomore. At the time, my father (who was my main mountain biking partner) crashed his bike in the hills of San Marcos, California, on one of the only rides where I was not riding with him. The crash was severe, and he suffered a major brain injury, leaving him in a coma for two weeks and permanently disabled with a brain injury. My parents ended up suing the manufacturer of the helmet he was wearing at the time, and recovered a minimal settlement amount for the helmet not fully protecting my father during the fall. During that litigation, I was deposed as to my father’s riding habits and knowledge of biking gear.