People traveling on their bicycles have become more common in recent years. As motorists learn to share the road with bicyclists, some hiccups can lead to severe injuries. Various categories of bicycle accidents occur across the country, but they all share one aspect - they are capable of causing severe injuries. Many bicyclists never recover from their injuries, and if they do, it is a long and costly road.
No matter what type of accident you or a loved one were in while riding your bicycle, you need the assistance of a bicycle accident attorney to help you protect your legal rights and pursue the compensation you are entitled to after an accident. If you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, contact an experienced bicycle accident attorney in your area today.
To learn more about the most common types of bicycle accidents, continue reading.
How Common are Bicycle Accidents?
Every year more people choose to travel on bicycles. However, the number of bicycle accidents has not increased. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of bicycle accidents across the United States has decreased overall. Call a local bicycle accident lawyer if you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident.
The Most Common Types of Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents can be devastating for the person on the bike. Since there is no covering on the bicycle, bicyclists are at greater risk for serious injury, even death, if they get into an accident with a car, van, truck, or another motor vehicle. Some of the most common types of bicycle accidents are below:
Rear-End Bicycle Accidents
The reasons rear-ending bicyclists happen for the same reasons that rear-end accidents happen between motor vehicles. Rear-end bicycle accidents can happen because a driver is following too closely, speeding, or not paying attention and looking out for bicyclists. Bicyclists in rear-end accidents may suffer from neck and back injuries, road rash, broken bones, etc.
Pedestrian Collisions
A pedestrian might step out into a bike lane, and a bicyclist does not have time to stop. Even a collision between a pedestrian and a bicycle can result in serious injuries.
Like motorists, everyone that rides a bicycle must watch out for pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents happen when motorists or bicyclists run red lights, fail to ensure that the crosswalk is not occupied before continuing on the street, speed, and for many other reasons. If you or a loved one suffered an injury in an accident with a bicyclist, call an accident attorney immediately to protect your legal right to recover financially for your injuries.
Red Light Bicycle Accidents
Red light bicycle accidents happen when motorists run red lights and hit a bicyclist, or a bicyclist runs a red light and gets into an accident. Motorists and bicyclists must follow the rules of the road. Making a negligent mistake can lead to severe injuries. When a negligent driver causes a bicycle accident, you need a bicycle accident attorney to represent you. Contact an experienced bicycle accident attorney in your area immediately after getting into an accident.
Wrong Way Bicycle Accidents
Wrong way bicycle accidents happen when a motorist or a bicyclist travels down the road in the wrong direction. A driver may incorrectly enter a highway exit or an entrance ramp and cause an accident. Other wrong way accidents include going the wrong way on a one-way road, improperly changing lanes, and crossing the median.
Road Rage Accidents
Road rage is an emotional response to a trigger that happens in traffic. Road rage can end in a driver losing control of their emotions and causing an accident. If you have been the target of a driver experiencing road rage, contact a bicycle accident attorney in your area to start recouping money for your injuries.
Right Hook Collisions
Right hook collisions happen when a motorist hits a bicyclist while attempting to make a right-hand turn. These bike accidents happen in crosswalks, turning lanes, and lanes designated for bicyclists. If you suffered an injury in a right hook collision, contact a bicycle accident attorney in your area to discuss your options for recovery.
Left Hook Collisions
Left hook collisions happen when motorists attempt to make a left turn and overtake a bicyclist. These bike accidents typically happen when a motorist makes a left turn without yielding. The injuries that result from left hook collisions can be deadly.
Right Cross Collisions
A right cross bicycle collision happens when a car or truck comes out of a side street or a driveway and hits a bicyclist on their right. Right cross collisions can result in severe injuries and the bicyclist ending up on the car’s hood.
Riding Against Traffic
Bicyclists should follow traffic flow when using their bicycles on the road with cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles. Although bicycles can move quickly in and out of traffic because of their sleek design, bicyclists should never try to weave in and out of traffic. If bicyclists are reckless, they may get into an avoidable accident.
Vehicles Overtaking Bicyclists
When vehicles overtake bicyclists, a major accident can lead to serious injuries and sometimes death. Improper passing can cause the cyclist to run off the road or otherwise cause them to crash.
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What Kinds of Harm Do Bicycle Accident Victims Face?
Like any other traffic accident, the harm a bicycle accident victim faces depends on the facts of the case. Every bicycle accident is unique, and there is no way to predict what injuries you will suffer. No matter the type of injuries you sustain, you need a bicycle accident attorney to help protect your rights and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation you deserve.
Examples of injuries and damages that a bicycle accident victim may face include:
- Scarring
- Physical pain
- Emotional and mental distress
- Medical bills (current and future medical costs)
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Amputation
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Medical bills (current and future medical costs)
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation costs
- Prescription medical costs
- Permanent disability
- Death
This list is not exhaustive. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, call an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area today.
How Can a Bicycle Accident Attorney Help Me?
A bicycle accident attorney will help protect your legal rights after a bicycle accident. Bicycle accident attorneys are skilled in protecting your legal interests and ensuring you get the money you deserve after suffering injuries because of another person or business’s negligence. If you or a family member suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, contact an experienced attorney in your area to get started on your case.
Negotiate With the Insurance Company
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and insurance adjusters focus on increasing the company’s bottom line. An unrepresented accident victim is more likely to settle their case for less than the case is worth. An experienced bicycle accident attorney will ensure that you anticipate both present and future losses and do not leave money on the table. If you or a family member suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, call an experienced bicycle accident attorney in your area.
Help File a Lawsuit
Filing a lawsuit can be challenging. This is likely your first encounter with the legal system, and the insurance company and their attorneys will count on your inexperience. An experienced bicycle accident attorney knows the rules of civil procedure, evidence, and local court rules.
This knowledge will help you avoid losing your case on a technicality. For example, every bicycle accident victim must follow the state’s statute of limitations which is a deadline set by law that limits the amount of time the injury victim has to file a lawsuit. You can rely on an experienced bicycle accident attorney to ensure that your rights are protected.
Investigate the Cause of the Accident
The facts of your bicycle accident claim will determine whether it is successful. Having a solid understanding of the facts of the accident is therefore crucial for you and your lawyer. With the help of other professionals, an experienced bicycle accident attorney can gather a complete picture of what happened during the accident. An accident may happen due to various factors, such as poorly maintained roads or vehicles, improper signage, or distracted driving.
Identify All Potentially Responsible Parties
It is important that you name all potential defendants in your car accident lawsuit. A mistake that some car accident victims make is that they do not investigate well enough to know all potentially responsible parties. It is important that you name every person responsible because you risk not receiving compensation for all your injuries.
Speak With Debt Collectors and Hospital Billing Departments on Your Behalf
Your bicycle accident attorney can speak to debt collectors and the hospital’s billing department about the money you owe for treatment of your injuries. Letter and phone calls from the hospital and other debt collection agencies can be forwarded directly to your bicycle accident attorney so that you can focus solely on recovering from your injuries.
Answer Your Questions as the Case Progresses
As your bicycle accident lawsuit continues, you will likely have a lot of questions. With the right legal team on your side, you can rest assured that you will have a resource in your bicycle accident attorney who will use their knowledge and experience to answer your questions and help you anticipate the next step of the lawsuit.
There is no reason to go it alone after a car accident, and you should not be in the dark about your legal questions. Call a bicycle accident attorney in your area to learn more about your options to pursue compensation after an accident.
What if I Cannot Afford an Attorney?
If you cannot afford an attorney, it is not the end of your case. You can work with a local bicycle accident attorney and discuss using a contingency fee payment arrangement.
A contingency fee payment arrangement is an agreement between a client and a bicycle accident attorney. The attorney agrees to perform the legal services required in your case and to defer payment until after the case settles. You may have heard some variation of “We don’t get paid unless you do.” That is a contingency fee arrangement. Contingency fee agreements are a great way for accident victims to pursue justice without fearing major legal fees up front.
The ethical rules that all attorneys in the United States must follow require that the terms of a contingency fee agreement be reduced to writing and signed by both the client and the attorney. Examples of common terms included in a contingency fee contract are payment of litigation costs and the percentage of the final settlement the attorney receives as payment.
Litigation costs are expenses that arise during a lawsuit. Examples of litigation costs include postage fees, filing fees, and the cost of making copies. They may also include payment for expert witness testimony. Sometimes an attorney’s firm will agree to pay litigation costs upfront and get reimbursement from the client after the case is closed. However, a client is free to pay these costs as the litigation continues.
Your agreement can include more terms than those listed here. You must understand the terms of the agreement before signing it. Keep a copy of the agreement for your records.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
After you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, you need a personal injury attorney to represent your interests. Hiring a bicycle accident attorney is the best way to increase the overall value of your bicycle accident claim. Your attorney will protect your rights to compensation. They will fight to ensure you receive maximum benefits.
Fighting against insurance companies and insurance defense lawyers without someone in your corner is often futile. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, contact a bicycle accident attorney immediately.
