When You Need A Bicycle Accident Attorney
When a car crashes into a cyclist, the injuries are often very serious because of the risk of spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, or death. In 2016, there were 840 bicyclists killed in traffic crashes in the United States. When a motorist is negligent and causes a collision, a bicyclist has the right to demand compensation for the harm that he or she has suffered. Unfortunately, insurance companies are frequently hostile towards bicycle accident claims even though many bicycle accidents are caused by careless or reckless conduct of motorists.
If you are injured while cycling due to the negligence of a driver, you should contact a bicycle accident lawyer at Charles Bean & Associates, PLLC, for a free consultation to assess your claim.
Why Are Bicycle Accidents So Common?
Many car-bicycle collisions are caused by:
- When approaching an intersection, a motorist may fail to yield the right of way and turn left into the bicycle’s path (left cross collision).
- When a motorist makes a right turn or lane change into the path of a bicyclist going in the same direction (right-hook collision).
- When a motorist fails to leave a safe amount of space between his/her vehicle and a bicycle. As a result, the bicyclist is hit or run off the road (dangerous passing).
- When a motorist opens the door of their parked vehicles into the bicyclist’s path (dooring).
- When a motorist runs into a bicyclist pedaling in front of the vehicle.
A bicycle accident often causes emotional, physical, and financial injury. Damages suffered in an accident often include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income and decreased future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Physical impairment
What to do After a Bicycle Accident
The actions you take immediately after a bicycle crash are very important to protect your right to a maximum recovery in your case.
Our bicycle accident attorneys recommend that you gather all the information you possibly can concerning the accident including:
- Names and contact information of all available witnesses
- Names and insurance information of all drivers involved
- Information and photographs of the accident scene including location, traffic lights, and timing
- Witness statements, if available
Following a bicycle accident, you should do the following:
- Call 9-1-1 for police and emergency personnel to come to the scene without delay
- Take pictures of the accident scene
- Never admit fault
- Get medical help
- Do not give a recorded statement or accept a settlement offer. If you must report your bicycle accident to your own insurance company, then do so within the required time period – however, we prefer you speak with us before you do so. You do not have to speak with any other party’s insurer. In fact, anything you say could and most likely will be used against you. Never give a recorded statement to an insurer or accept a settlement offer from the insurer unless you have talked with an attorney first.
- Contact the experienced bike accident attorneys at Charles Bean & Associates, PLLC. Call us for a free no-obligation consultation as soon as possible following an accident. We can greatly improve your case by properly preserving the evidence and getting witness statements. It is critical that you talk to us before speaking with the adjuster for the at-fault insurance.