A bicycle accident can be a traumatic experience. Not only are you injured, but the injury could also come with significant medical bills and time lost from work. The most important thing to do after a bike accident is to get legal help. A bike accident lawyer will be able to assess your case and determine who was at fault for the crash to pursue compensation for your injuries.
In this post, we’ll discuss common injuries after a bike accident, things that an attorney can do for you if they represent you in court, and more!
What are common injuries after a Bicycle accident?
Leg and Arm Injuries: Due to the exposure of these body parts, they are most prone to injuries. These include deep wounds in the leg or arm that need stitches, bone fractures, or finger cuts.
Head Injuries: This too is common, significantly when the cyclist bumps into a stationary object. There may be a concussion with internal bleeding, or if the head falls back into the hard ground, there might even be a skull fracture due to which one has to go through surgery.
Knee Injuries: When one’s knee hits an immovable object like another vehicle while riding, it causes a patellar tendon rupture, sprain to ligaments around the kneecap, dislocation of joint, etc. Apart from damaging the bone and cartilage, it also damages the ligaments.
Spinal Cord Injuries: When a cyclist falls from his bike, then there is a high chance of him suffering from back injuries or, in a worst-case scenario, even spinal cord injury where he may have to be bedridden for life.
Broken Bones: A broken arm or leg is ubiquitous as cyclists often fall on their hands and legs while getting knocked off by other vehicles on the road. Also, if another car hits your hand while you are riding, then this will most probably break one’s forearm.
Eye Injuries: One must wear eye protection gear whenever they ride a bicycle. A scratch or bruise may lead to loss of vision if not treated properly. Even though it is optional, but it’s an absolute necessity when you are riding on busy roads with heavy traffic.
Bicycle Accident Claims for Compensation
Cyclists who have been injured in bicycle accidents often find themselves battered, bruised, and broken physically, emotionally, and financially alike. When one gets injured in a bicycle accident, they need to be compensated for their medical expenses.
Step 1:
The first and foremost step is to obtain the names and addresses of the witnesses who saw you get knocked down by another vehicle or person. Then file an official police report, which at times can take days to complete. Though remember that it’s essential because it will help you in your claim later on.
Step 2:
The next thing is to get some basic details about yourself recorded like name, age, gender, etc., to have this information ready with you when dealing with insurance companies or law offices alike. Do not forget your contact details-email, id, and phone numbers, too must be noted down somewhere so if there is an emergency, you can get in touch with someone.
Step 3:
After this, you need to find out the name and address of the third party who may have hit you while riding your bicycle. You can look at the driver’s license or car registration papers for this purpose. While getting their details, make sure that they are 100% correct as it will help claim your compensation later on. Also, note down their insurance company’s particulars so that they too can be asked for compensation claims if required at any point in time.
Pay attention to your medical bills because these expenses must be paid by anyone who hits another person while driving a vehicle. If you receive treatment from a hospital, then ensure that all the records are obtained and kept safely somewhere safe.
Step 4:
After that, you can consult with a personal injury lawyer or law firm who will help with the claim. Also, look for online forums and websites that provide information on accident claims and find out how to file an official claim of bicycle accident compensation and other details that you need to know about filing an insurance claim and what is included in the policy. Once all this information gets obtained, then you can file your case efficiently.
There are various cyclists’ accident claims services that help one in claiming their compensation. If you need any legal advice, then consult a lawyer who will guide you with the claim process and when you should wait to get your compensation approved.
Key Players in Bicycle Accident Lawsuits
The key players in bicycle accident lawsuits are the attorney, defendant, and insurance company as follows:
A defense attorney
The insurance company employs a defence Attorney. They represent the interest of the trucking company or individual who may be liable for injuries sustained by a cyclist. Defence attorneys study reports of police investigators to know more about what happened during a collision involving their client and the victim and find out if there are grounds on which they can file a successful lawsuit to avoid paying compensation claims to victims.
Attorney
An experienced personal injury lawyer specializing in bicycle accident law takes care of representing the victim’s non-legal interests such as medical costs, time lost from work, and pain & suffering. The result of an attorney includes getting the compensation amount approved by the court on behalf of victims in cases involving severe injuries or death.
Insurance Company
The insurance company that issues an auto liability policy is also known as an “indemnity carrier” and has a fiduciary duty to pay for losses suffered by victims from accidents caused by their insured drivers. After identifying how much money must be spent to compensate a pedestrian/bicyclist victim, the insurance company will negotiate with them independently or through a personal injury attorney.
Truck Driver / Owner
Those responsible for causing bike accidents are called “non-economic carriers” because they have no legal obligation to pay compensation. However, such carriers may negotiate with victims and their lawyers privately to pay for injuries or death. In the case of an accident involving a truck driver who did not have an applicable insurance policy in place, the legal responsibility lies with truck leasing companies that rent out heavy vehicles or trucking businesses whose employees are driving those trucks.
Unfortunately, if you are going through any personal injury case after getting involved in a bicycle accident. In that case, hiring a personal injury lawyer will help you get the compensation amount approved by courts and collect your dues sooner from the insurance company without filing lengthy court proceedings.
What A Bike Accident Attorney Can Do For You If You Are Involved In An Accident
A bike accident attorney helps you in the following ways:
- It helps in identifying if the accident victim/plaintiff is eligible to file a case.
- Helps in filing the case on behalf of the plaintiff, including preparing the necessary legal documents required as evidence and the court filing fee
- During the trial, represents clients based on established rules of evidence and procedure while examining witnesses and presenting evidence about the accident’s cause, who is at fault, and how much compensation should be paid to accident victims.
Who Can Be Sued After A Bike Accident?
Insurance companies can be sued for unpaid compensation claims. These insurance companies are supposed to pay claims caused due to negligence:
- By truck leasing companies or trucking business owners whose employees have caused accidents with bicycles through their negligent driving (although these enterprises may take responsibility and pay compensation)
- By trucking firms or owners whose employees have caused accidents through their negligence (although these enterprises may take responsibility and pay compensation)
It is essential to hire a personal injury attorney if such companies refuse to compensate accident victims even though they are at fault.
Hiring A Bike Accident Lawyer To Handle Your Case
Whether you should go for a lawsuit or not depends on how badly you were hurt in the accident, what your medical costs were due to the injuries sustained, and what your lost earnings are. For example, suppose the amount you can get from an insurance company involves a significant part of your income. In that case, it becomes wise to file an appropriate case with the help of an attorney for getting compensated.
Before you hand over your case to lawyers, you must make sure that the lawyer has all the necessary experience and expertise in handling cases of bicyclists/pedestrians. They should have proven records of successful past patients to convince courts that they are capable enough to control the case effectively on behalf of accident victims. (Also, be sure to pick up a bike accident attorney who does not charge a high fee for the representation as it can cost victim’s hard-earned money)
Takeaway:
Bicycle accidents can be caused by several factors that may vary depending on the cyclist’s age and experience level. If you’ve been injured in an accident while cycling or wondering what your legal options might be, it is essential to contact a qualified personal injury lawyer like me who has experience with these types of claims. I will discuss all aspects of your case with you and provide complete guidance throughout the process so that you feel confident about making informed decisions as we move forward together through this challenging time in your life. It would mean a lot to hear from you!
Thank you for reading our blog post today.