Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Bicycles are a fun way to explore the world. They don’t emit exhaust and they also keep you fit. Unfortunately, your bike doesn’t have a crumple zone, air bags, and the many other safety features of a car, which means that if you’re in a bicycle accident you’re likely to suffer catastrophic injuries.
If you do, consulting with bicycle accident lawyers as soon as possible is very important to make sure you protect your right to compensation. It’s too common for bicyclists to be blamed for accidents they didn’t cause and to struggle to get their rightful compensation. Don’t accept this. If you’ve been injured, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free consultation.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents happen for many reasons, and in some cases for a combination of causes:
- Distracted driving. One of the leading causes of car accidents involving bicycles, distracted driving occurs when drivers are not fully focused on the road. A distracted driver may fail to notice a cyclist or misjudge the cyclist’s speed, leading to accidents.
- Failure to yield. Many accidents occur when a driver turns left or right without checking for cyclists or fails to give right of way to a cyclist.
- Speeding. When drivers exceed speed limits, they have less time to react to unexpected obstacles, such as cyclists. Speeding also reduces stopping distance and increases the severity of a collision with a cyclist.
- Running red lights or stop signs. This can lead to dangerous collisions at intersections where cyclists may have the right of way.
- Cyclist negligence. In some cases, cyclists may themselves fail to obey traffic rules or may not be riding with the right protective gear, which puts them at risk of injury. If you’re in a bicycle accident and found partly at fault in Florida, you may still be eligible for compensation.
- Drinking. Both cyclists and drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs have poorer judgment reaction time, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
- Potholes and debris. Potholes, loose gravel, spills, or debris can cause cyclists to lose control of their bicycles. Uneven road surfaces can also cause cyclists to lose balance, particularly at high speeds.
- Lack of bike lanes. In areas without designated bike lanes, cyclists must share the road with vehicles, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Bad weather. Wet weather makes roads slippery and reduces a cyclist’s traction. Strong winds can make it difficult for cyclists to maintain control of their bikes. Crosswinds, in particular, can push cyclists off course, causing them to collide with other cyclists or cars.
- Poor bicycle maintenance. Worn-out tires, faulty brakes, and bikes that aren’t adjusted to a cyclist’s height can lead to accidents. Cyclists should regularly check and maintain their bicycles to ensure that all components are functioning properly.
- Poor visibility. Riding at night or in low-light conditions without proper lighting equipment can make cyclists difficult to see. Wearing dark clothing or not using reflective gear at night also decreases a cyclist’s visibility. Both these factors can lead to car and motorcycle accidents involving bicyclists.
- Blind spots. Since bicycles are smaller and harder to spot, motorists may not notice them until it’s too late, causing accidents. Trucks have larger blind spots, and many truck accidents involving cyclists happen because a driver failed to spot a bike.
No matter what caused your accident, you may have a claim if someone else’s actions or recklessness contributed to your accident. You may not know what caused your crash without an investigation, which is why working with bicycle accidents lawyers can be important. Attorneys can bring you answers.
Potential Damages & Compensation
If you’ve been in an accident caused by a liable party, you may have the right to file a claim and seek compensation. Bicycle accident compensation can range from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars, depending on the severity of your injuries, the cause of your crash, and the strength of your case. You may be able to seek financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care and future long-term medical costs.
- Lost wages and future lost earning potential.
- Pain and suffering.
- Property damage, including repair or replacement costs for your bike, cell phone, and any other items damaged in the accident.
- Legal fees.
- Incidental costs, such as the cost of taxis from the hospital.
If you have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, you may also have a wrongful death claim and may be able to seek compensation for loss of income support, final hospital costs, funeral costs, and more.
It’s important to get fair compensation for your losses, especially if your injuries are substantial and you can’t work. Getting fair compensation and not can mean the difference between having enough to pay for the support you need and struggling financially. Working with bicycle accident lawyers is one way to make sure you have a fair shot at getting your rightful compensation.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
The severity of your injuries often depends on the nature of the accident and the protective measures you took. The most common bicycle injuries include:
- Head injuries. One of the most common head injuries in bicycle accidents, concussions occur when the brain is jolted or shaken inside the skull. This can result in concussions or more serious Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) or skull fractures, which can lead to loss of consciousness, cognitive impairments, paralysis, or even death.
- Spinal cord injuries. Injuries to your neck and spine can leave you with chronic pain or can even result in partial or total paralysis.
- Fractures. Broken bones are common in bicycle accidents because you can be thrown from your bike or hit directly by a car. Broken bones can take weeks to heal and may require surgery in some cases.
- Contusions and abrasions. Bruises, cuts, and even scarring can happen if you’re thrown violently to the ground. If these injuries affect your face, you could experience scarring which can make you feel self-conscious.
- Soft tissue injuries. Strain, whiplash, sprains, and other soft tissue injuries can affect your ability and can cause severe pain, affecting your quality of life and your ability to work for weeks or months.
- Internal injuries. Internal bleeding or injuries to organs such as the heart or lungs can be life-training.
Even if you think you’ve been lucky enough to walk away from a bicycle accident without a scratch, always visit an urgent care center or doctor as soon as possible for a medical check-up. Head injuries and other serious injuries may have subtle symptoms at first and you don’t want to delay an important diagnosis.
Proving Liability in Your Bike Crash Case
Liability refers to the legal responsibility of the at-fault party for the accident and any resulting damages. Proving liability involves gathering evidence, establishing fault, and showing that the defendant’s actions directly contributed to the crash. When you work with bicycle accident lawyers, your attorneys will seek to prove liability by securing witness testimony, police reports, medical records, surveillance footage, and other evidence.
In some cases, liability may be shared between multiple parties. If you ran a red light on your bike, for example, and contributed to the accident, comparative fault laws in Florida may reduce the amount of compensation you qualify for. However, your attorney will work to accurately determine your degree of fault to see if you can still secure some compensation. This may be possible if someone else’s actions also led to your injuries.
Negligence for a Bicycle Accident
Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, which results in harm to others. In bicycle accident cases, proving negligence is important to securing compensation.
Your attorney will seek to prove negligence by uncovering the cause of the crash and by showing that other parties were negligent in exercising reasonable care. For example, if a driver was texting and driving, your lawyer may secure phone records to show that the driver was negligently texting instead of paying attention to the road when your accident took place.
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What Should I Do If I’ve Been Involved in a Bicycle Accident?
If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, your first priority is to keep calm and if you’re able to, move off the road to avoid further collisions. If you’re injured and unable to move, stay put and wait for medical assistance. Here’s what to do next:
- Seek medical attention. Even if you don’t feel injured initially, seek medical attention as soon as you can. Some injuries, such as concussions, may leave you feeling fine at first but can still be dangerous. Starting medical treatment quickly improves your chances of a good prognosis and also starts the process of documenting your injuries.
- Contact the police. Report the accident and get a copy of the police report. A police report provides an official record of the incident and can be proof in a claim.
- Get as much evidence as you can. If you can, take photos of the accident scene, damage to your bicycle, your injuries, and any other relevant details. If there were any witnesses to the accident, gather their contact information. This could be useful for your lawyer. If another vehicle was involved, obtain the driver’s name, contact information, insurance details, and license plate number.
- Watch what you say. Try to stay calm and avoid saying “sorry,” admitting fault, or talking about the cause of the accident. Anything you say at the scene, to police, or to insurers can impact your case. Talk to an attorney before making any statements, especially if you think you may have contributed to the accident or if someone is blaming you for the crash. A thorough investigation may reveal someone else was at fault, but any statements you make can still hurt your claim.
- Look at your insurance policy. Does your policy cover bicycle accidents? You may be able to make a claim through your own insurer. If you decide to do this, you have a deadline by which you need to report the accident. Make sure you meet that deadline.
- Consult with bicycle accidents lawyers. An experienced lawyer can help you deal with insurance companies and can seek compensation.
After an accident, the most important thing is to take care of your health, so see a doctor as soon as you can. Equally important is protecting your right to compensation. Contact Flaxman Law Group at any time for a free consultation to discuss your accident and your potential claim.
Compensation After a Bike Accident
A bicycle accident can have a long-term impact on your financial life, especially if you’re seriously injured. Seeking compensation can help you avoid financial distress, since you can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and more.
In addition to the costs you pay out of pocket, it’s worthwhile to think about the non-economic impact of your bicycle accident. After your crash, you may experience pain and mental anguish. Your relationships and quality of life can suffer.
In Florida, you can seek compensation for these non-economic damages. Your bicycle accident lawyer will help you put a dollar amount on these damages. While getting money won’t take away the sleepless nights and pain, it can give you resources you can use to try to get back on track. You can use compensation to seek alternative treatments for pain, therapy for emotional trauma, and training to qualify for a new job.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you have enough to worry about. You shouldn’t have to worry about paying the bills and you shouldn’t have to navigate the complicated legal system on your own.
Contact Flaxman Law Group for a free consultation with bicycle accidents lawyers. We’ve secured over $100 million dollars for our clients in verdicts and settlements. Most of all, we treat you with compassion because we’re a family-based legal team. We’ve purposely kept our law firm small so our senior attorneys can give your case their full attention. When you’re injured and worried, contact Flaxman Law Group for your free consultation.
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