Bicycle Accident Injury Lawyer
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Riding your bicycle to work or school is a great way to exercise and have an eco-friendly commute. But even if you wear a helmet and follow all the cycling rules in your city, you will come off much worse in any collision between you and a passenger car.
If you’ve been injured in a bike wreck, the experienced bicycle accident injury lawyers at The Joel Bieber Firm can help. Contact us today for a free consultation about collecting compensatory damages from the driver who caused your accident.
How Bicycle Accidents Happen
Anywhere you ride your bike can be a potential accident zone, but some places are more hazardous than others. City streets without designated bike lanes are the most dangerous.
Many states permit cyclists to use the full lane on non-highway roads but recommend that cyclists stick to the right. On roads where cars may also try to use the lane, the chances that a distracted driver will sideswipe a cyclist are high.
Other common causes of bike accidents include:
- Poor road conditions that cause instability
- Drunk drivers
- Drivers not following the rules of sharing the road
- A mechanical problem with the bike
The party that caused the accident may be liable for any damage you suffer, including your medical bills from treating your accident injuries and repairing or replacing your damaged bike, helmet, and other personal property. Your bicycle accident lawyer can tell you your legal options after the collision.
Common Injuries After a Bike Accident
Although helmets, especially those with face protection, can reduce the seriousness of head and facial injuries, a cyclist can still sustain many severe, life-changing injuries after a wreck. Skinned knees are the least of your worries. Bike riders could suffer:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Road rash (scraping and removal of the upper layers of skin)
- A traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a concussion
- Facial damage or partial blindness from debris going into the eyes
- Missing teeth or a cracked jaw
- Spine, neck, and back injuries, including partial or complete paralysis
- Crushing injuries, especially to the feet and limbs
- Internal organ damage, which can turn septic without treatment
Unfortunately, many bicycle accident victims suffer multiple injuries from their accident, and recovery can be a long, painful process. Physical therapy, multiple chiropractor visits, surgery, and wearing a cast or boot are common and can impact your ability to work or care for your home and family.
Sadly, some bicyclists may not survive their injuries after a collision. If this happened to your loved one, then a bicycle accident attorney from The Joel Bieber Firm can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your family.
This type of lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for your loss of companionship and consortium and the loss of wages and earnings that your loved one could have contributed to your family.
Who Is Responsible for Bicycle Accidents?
Bike accidents have many causes, and the party responsible for an accident can vary, depending on how the accident happened. Most of the time, the at-fault party is a driver — one who is distracted, texting and driving or paying more attention to their passengers than others sharing the road.
In other cases, such as a bike accident caused by poor road conditions, the municipality responsible for maintaining the roads may share the blame for an accident. Cyclists may think that because they were the only ones involved in the accident, it was their fault. However, if the city allows dangerous road conditions to persist, it could be liable.
Similarly, if you are biking through a construction zone and the construction company has failed to remove debris from the areas where bikes and drivers travel, the company could share the blame for your accident because the debris and uneven surface they left contributed to your wreck.
Your bicycle accident injury lawyer will conduct an independent investigation into the cause of your accident to find the party responsible. During your initial consultation, we will explain who could be liable in your case.
Seeking Damages After a Bicycle Accident
The compensation you may receive after an accident is intended to make you financially whole after the incident.
In the case of a bike accident, the party that caused the accident also caused property damage, like a broken bike, and your medical bills and aftercare. The compensation you receive is to cover these expenses.
Those damages are referred to as economic damages, but accident victims are also eligible to collect non-economic damages for their pain and suffering and any emotional trauma or mental anguish they suffer after the crash.
Many people develop anxiety after a crash or suffer insomnia, depression, or even PTSD. You deserve to be compensated for the diminished quality of life in this case.
Your bicycle accident injury lawyer evaluates the cost of treating your injuries and values your claim to ensure that it covers all your financial losses.
How a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You
After an accident, the other party’s insurance company or lawyer may approach you and offer a settlement.
When you’re in pain, injured, and unsure of when you can get back to work, the settlement may be very appealing. However, the insurance company responsible for paying for your damages will often lowball you, trying to give you as little as possible if not denying your claim outright.
A bicycle accident injury lawyer fights for you, representing your interests and making sure that you receive a fair settlement. They communicate with the other party, including negotiating a settlement on your behalf, and ensure that all of your legal documents are filed on time and correctly.
With a lawyer on your side, you can rest and focus on healing and getting your physical abilities back.