An accident between a bicycle and a motor vehicle can severely injure the cyclist and warrant a personal injury case.
Bicycle accident accidents cause physical affliction and can present significant medical expenses, loss of employment, and financial difficulties. By initiating a bicycle accident case with a dedicated attorney, you can recover monetary compensation for your medical bills and the hardships the other party caused.
Bicycle accident cases require a skilled attorney to navigate successfully. A bicycle accident attorney will have years of experience helping clients receive the restitution they deserve for their injuries. For more information about your case, contact a bicycle accident lawyer today for your free case consultation.
Personal Injury Claims for Bicycle Accidents
To begin a legal case against someone who hit you while riding a bike, you have sustained injuries from the incident. You will need medical records to document your injuries, so seek professional medical care following the accident and continue care with the recommended treatment plan.
You must know who hit you. From the police report or during your case investigation, a bicycle accident lawyer will identify the person who hit you and their car insurance policy. The defendant’s insurance will provide compensation for the plaintiff, the injured party.
A bicycle accident attorney can initiate your case and provide custom solutions for your case. They should work for you on a contingency fee basis. Therefore, you only pay for legal services if they win your case and you receive compensation.
Common Injuries in Bicycle Incidents
If a motor vehicle accident injured you or someone you know while riding a bicycle, your injuries may require recurring medical treatment. Cyclists often sustain severe injuries from motor vehicle collisions.
Even if you consider your injury minor, consult a medical professional and a bicycle accident lawyer to confirm the presence of injuries and the potential for financial compensation.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
In bicycle accidents, cyclists may hit their heads on the road or pavement after a car knocks them off of their bike. Brain injuries are among the most severe and life-alternating injuries a person can sustain. Head injuries such as concussions can cause the brain to swell and lead to brain damage. Brain injuries can present long-lasting health concerns.
Contusions
A contusion is a medical term for a bruise or bleeding under the skin due to trauma. Contusions may indicate severe injuries. If you receive visible damages such as contusions or scratches from a bicycle accident, document the injuries with photos.
Fractures
Broken bones from bike accidents may require extensive medical care.
Spinal Cord Injuries
In motor vehicle accidents, spinal cord injuries occur with abrupt changes in the direction of the body. The impact can cause the spine to contort, move, rupture, or break discs and leave victims permanently disabled.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Drivers must watch for and share the road with cyclists. Drivers must yield the right-of-way to any person riding a bicycle. Drivers may not interfere with a cyclist’s movement or must pass cyclists legally and safely.
Most bicycle accidents occur because of driver negligence, including:
- Distracted or reckless driving
- Driving under the influence
- Failure to check for cyclists at intersections
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to cyclists
- Failure to use turn signals
- Backing into cyclists
Liability in Bicycle Accidents
A cyclist can hold the party who caused the accident accountable for compensation.
Drivers may contest liability for bicycle accidents. Negotiating liability and compensation requires a highly skilled and knowledgeable bicycle accident attorney.
The Case Process Works
After an accident, seek professional medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible. Then, contact an experienced and reliable bicycle accident lawyer to begin working on your case so you can focus on medical treatments to promote healing and recovery.
Your legal case actually begins with medical treatment.
Treatment
Injuries from bicycle accidents may require specialized orthopedic and neurological care. The client must seek proper treatment and follow medical recommendations.
Proper medical care will help injured people recover from their injuries and improve their well-being. Medical records will document injuries and provide evidence for the validity and strength of the case. Your lawyer can gather medical records and bills while openly communicating with you throughout your treatment journey.
Investigation
Your bicycle accident lawyer will present evidence showing a liability for the incident. This process requires several steps, including gathering reports and supporting documents, completing depositions and expert evaluations, and more.
Negotiation
Bicycle incidents can cause long-lasting or permanent injuries. During negotiations, your bicycle accident lawyers will demonstrate how your injury has and will affect you throughout your life, including the financial burden of your injuries.
Once your bicycle accident lawyer collects and presents the necessary information, the parties will begin negotiating a financial settlement.
Compensation for Bicycle Accidents
Several factors determine the amount of compensation available, including liability, comparative negligence, the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries, and the defendant’s insurance coverage.
A bicycle accident lawyer can calculate the value of your claim. The value can change over time based on medical findings and liability investigations. You need a lawyer who can adapt to that new information and always fight for you to receive optimal compensation.
In bicycle accident cases, injury victims may recover financial compensation for:
- Cost of medical care and personal care, past and future
- Physical injuries and pain
- Loss of income, including loss or decrease of earning potential
- Emotional and mental suffering
- Permanent impairments, scarring, and disabilities
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the bicycle accident
Call a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near You
Bicycle Accident Attorney, Phillip J. Barkett
You need a lawyer who can work diligently and efficiently to alleviate the stress and hardship your accident caused, no matter how complex and time-consuming the claim is. Your personal injury lawyer in Missouri should understand the toll your accident and injury took on you, then pursue the compensation you deserve.
But lawyers cannot act alone. You must take the first step and start the process by calling a bicycle accident lawyer for your free claim evaluation.