A bicycle accident lawyer can help cyclists injured by the negligence of drivers. While bicyclists have the same rights to the roads as those operating motor vehicles, many cyclists may feel as though the cars with whom they share the streets are dangerously unaware of this shared right. When a cyclist is injured or killed due to the fault of another, injured parties may be eligible to pursue compensation with the help of a personal injury attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated bicycle accident lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2013 in the U.S., over 900 bicyclists were killed and there were an estimated 494,000 emergency department visits due to bicycle-related injuries.
Although bicycle accidents may result from a product defect in the bike itself like faulty brakes, poorly designed tires, a weak frame, or other flaws, these the majority of bicycle accidents typically occur due to motorist inattention. Some of the common causes of bicycle accidents include motorists:
- Failing to check for bicyclists when turning
- Failing to see bicyclists in blind spots
- Opening doors in front of bicyclists
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving while distracted
- Failing to adhere to traffic laws and regulations
- Speeding to travel past bicyclists
Because bicycles are smaller than cars, SUVs, and trucks, drivers may overlook bicycle riders or fail to give them deference when appropriate. Successfully litigating a bicycle accident requires specialized knowledge, skills, and experience, as these cases often involve complex laws. Additionally, more than one party may be held accountable for the injuries a bicyclist sustains, including the driver of the vehicle, the manufacturer of the vehicle or its defective parts that resulted in the accident, or the mechanic responsible for inspecting the vehicle to ensure safe operation.
For instance, if a driver was speeding to maneuver around a bicyclist and the brakes on the car fail, causing injury or disability to the bicyclist, the bicyclist may be entitled to compensation and could, with the help of a bicycle accident lawyer, pursue a claim. That claim might not only be made against driver for failing to adhere to the speed limit, but potentially against the manufacturer of the brakes, the maker of the car, or the mechanic who last performed an inspection.
How a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
When negligence results in injury, an injured party suffers loss in various ways. The law allows an injured party to pursue damages to recover those losses. Common types of damages recoverable in a personal injury case include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of ability to earn
- Scarring and disfigurement
The families of those killed may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
If the actions causing injury are malicious or so reckless that intent to harm can be inferred, the responsible party can be liable for punitive damages to punish wrongful conduct and deter similar conduct in the future.
Victims of negligence and their families are encouraged to seek the counsel of a bicycle accident lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
