Riding a bike on busy roads can be dangerous. When negligent drivers hit cyclists, injuries are often severe. Specialized legal representation is crucial for getting fair compensation. This guide covers key issues regarding bicycle accident lawyers.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Several factors frequently contribute to bike crashes:
Distracted Driving
Texting, eating, adjusting music—distracted drivers don’t see bicyclists. Lawyers access phone records and witness accounts to prove negligence.
Speeding
Excessive speed gives drivers less reaction time to avoid hitting cyclists. Lawyers check speed limits and skid mark measurements to demonstrate recklessness.
Unsafe Passing
Drivers misjudge passing distances, sideswipe cyclists, and force them off the road. Lawyers recreate accident mechanics to show passing faults.
Running Red Lights
Drivers impatient with traffic signals strike law-abiding cyclists entering intersections. Lawyers obtain traffic camera footage and witness statements to establish traffic control violations.
Dooring
Inattentive drivers open car doors into oncoming bicycle traffic, knocking cyclists into the roadway. Lawyers identify dooring negligence through accident scene analysis and accounts of cyclists’ positioning.
Poorly Maintained Roads
Potholes, debris, unmarked turns, and other hazards cause cyclists to crash. Lawyers evaluate municipal road maintenance records and inspect accident sites to prove poor conditions.
Experienced bicycle accident lawyers dig into all potential causes when building injury claims and lawsuits. Their investigations uncover every liable party.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Collisions with fast-moving vehicles often inflict catastrophic injuries on cyclists, including:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – Head trauma from hitting pavement, windshields, or car hoods leads to permanent cognitive damage.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Forced impact with roads or vehicles fractures vertebrae and severs spinal nerves, causing paralysis.
- Road Rash – Skin gets shredded as victims slide across asphalt after being struck and thrown. Scarring and infections result.
- Internal Organ Damage – Handlebar or steering column blows to the abdomen rupture kidneys, spleen, liver, and other organs.
- Broken Bones – Shattering leg, arm, pelvis, and rib fractures from vehicle impacts requires surgery and months of rehab.
- Emotional Trauma – Getting hit by a car causes PTSD, anxiety, and severe emotional distress for many cyclists.
Successful legal claims demand presenting the full scope of crash injuries and long-term effects on victims’ lives. Experienced bicycle accident lawyers leave no harm unaccounted for.
Why You Need an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer
The claims process after bike crashes requires specialized legal guidance. Key reasons include:
- Insurance Company Resistance – Insurers often deny legitimate claims and offer quick, lowball settlements. Without aggressive lawyers, cyclists get exploited.
- Complicated Laws – Bicycle accident cases involve complex legal issues of negligence, municipal liability, insurance law, and traffic regulations most lawyers don’t fully grasp.
- Investigative Needs – Crash investigations require specific skills from recreating accidents to downloading electronic data from mangled bikes. Lawyers know what evidence to gather.
- Leveling the Playing Field – At-fault drivers usually hire corporate defense lawyers immediately. Injured cyclists need formidable legal advocates of their own to fight for fair compensation.
- Navigating the Court System – Even minor bicycle injury claims end up in court when insurers balk at reasonable settlements. Navigating legal process alone is difficult for crash victims. Lawyers handle it seamlessly.
The right bicycle accident lawyer levels the playing field and maximizes claim value. Their expertise is well worth the contingent fees they charge from final settlements.
Questions to Ask Prospective Bicycle Accident Lawyers
It pays to be selective when hiring a bicycle accident attorney. Key questions to ask during consultations include:
- How many bicycle injury cases have you taken to trial successfully? Look for extensive trial experience and a record of large verdicts.
- What was the outcome of your most recent bicycle accident cases? Verify a track record of substantial settlements and verdicts.
- What percentage of your bicycle accident caseload reaches settlement before trial? Willingness to go to trial yields higher settlements.
- Do you have working relationships with medical experts who can calculate long-term prognosis and costs? Medical evidence carries weight.
- Will you personally handle my bicycle case from start to finish? Insist on attorney continuity of care.
- Can you provide references from past bicycle accident clients? Speaking with former clients offers helpful insights.
- How quickly does your law firm begin investigating bicycle crashes? Immediate investigation capability is crucial.
Matching seriously injured cyclists with the best lawyer requires asking the right questions upfront. Lives and finances depend on maximizing compensation through excellent legal representation.
Steps a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Will Take
Expert bike accident lawyers use proven strategies to build strong injury cases for maximum payouts. Steps include:
Conducting Immediate Crash Site Investigation
Swift inspection preserves evidence like skid marks and car debris witnesses later move. Photographs, video, and measurements establish key crash factors while fresh.
Reviewing Police Reports
Comparing officer accounts to victim recollections highlights discrepancies for further investigation. Getting official reports promptly prevents key details from fading.
Evaluating Vehicle Damage
Inspecting dented bumpers, broken mirrors, and cracked windshields shows impact severity. Photographing vehicles preserves evidence of speed and force.
Collecting Medical Records
Obtaining ambulance, hospital, clinical, pharmacy, and rehab records substantiates injuries and treatment timelines. Gaps get filled.
Consulting Expert Witnesses
Accident reconstructionists, doctors, vocational experts, and other specialists provide reports validating victims’ experiences and claims. Juries find experts persuasive.
Demanding Policy Limits
Lawyers negotiate assertively with insurers, backed by evidence warranting maximum payouts under policies. Quick, fair settlements are pursued.
Filing Personal Injury Lawsuits
When warranted by injuries and insurer resistance, lawyers file lawsuits detailing victims’ damages and defendants’ faults. Compensation through aggressive litigation gets secured.
Going to Trial
Lawyers adeptly argue evidence before juries if insurers refuse reasonable settlements. Verdicts far exceeding policy limits often result.
Retaining an experienced bicycle accident lawyer levels the playing field and gets victims maximum compensation. Legal skills make the difference.
Financial Compensation Available
Severe bicycle injuries generate substantial losses. Multiple forms of damages are legally recoverable:
- Medical Expenses – All hospital, rehab, therapy, home health aide, and medication costs get reimbursed, along with the expense of projected future treatment.
- Lost Income – Inability to work during recovery periods or permanently due to disabilities requires compensation for these lost wages.
- Loss of Earning Capacity – When disabilities inhibit career potential, reductions in lifetime earning capacity must be calculated and claimed.
- Property Losses – Repair/replacement costs for damaged bicycles, gear, clothing, shoes, and other items get covered.
- Pain and Suffering – Additional money damages account for the physical agony and emotional trauma suffered due to the wreck and its aftermath.
Experienced bicycle accident lawyers account for every current and future expense stemming from crashes, building clients’ cases for maximum possible compensation across all categories.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident
Following a bicycle crash, victims should:
- Call 911 for medical transport to an emergency room if injuries exist. Utilize any urgent medical care needed.
- File an official police report detailing the accident circumstances while facts are still fresh.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the driver, get witness names, and take photos of vehicle damage and accident scene evidence.
- Follow up with doctors even for seemingly minor injuries, which often grow more severe over hours or days. Thoroughly document treatment.
- Avoid providing any recorded statement to insurers without an attorney present. They may use your words against you.
- Keep all accident evidence like bike damage photos, medical records, and communications with involved parties.
- Contact an experienced bicycle accident lawyer immediately for help handling insurance negotiations and legal filings.
Quickly retaining legal counsel maximizes claim value after bicycle wrecks. Let your lawyer handle the tough negotiations so you can focus on recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- How much do bicycle accident lawyers typically charge?
Most work on a contingency fee basis, collecting around 30% of the final settlement or court award. Fees depend on case complexity. There is no payment unless you recover damages. - Can I still recover damages if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Yes, state laws allow partial recovery based on your degree of fault, which an experienced lawyer will help prove is minimal. Comparative negligence laws protect injured cyclists. - What if the driver who hit me doesn’t have insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage can pay damages up to policy limits. Lawyers also pursue claims against the driver’s assets. - When should I hire a bicycle accident lawyer?
Retain legal counsel immediately so evidence can be preserved and the insurance company sees you have representation. The other side moves quickly, so contacting a lawyer fast is key. - Can a lawyer help if my loved one died in a bicycle wreck?
Yes. Wrongful death lawyers can file cases on behalf of families, pursuing compensation for grief, funeral costs, lost future income, and other fatal accident impacts. - How much time do I have to file a bicycle accident claim?
Deadlines called statutes of limitations restrict how long after crashes you can pursue legal action. These vary by state and case specifics. An attorney will know the timeframe that applies. Don’t delay! - How can I find the best bicycle accident lawyer? Seek referrals from cycling groups and friends. Online reviews also help identify lawyers with extensive bike crash experience, settlement/verdict track records, and satisfied past clients.
In Summary
Bicycle accidents caused by negligent drivers often result in catastrophic, lifelong injuries. Quickly retaining an expert bike accident lawyer levels the legal playing field and maximizes claim value. Extensive case investigation, savvy negotiation tactics, courtroom experience, and unwavering commitment to clients’ interests are all vital. With top legal guidance, injured cyclists focus energy on recovery instead of battling insurers alone. Consider contacting a dedicated bicycle accident lawyer immediately after any crash for a free consultation. Protect your rights and well-being.
