Did you suffer from a bicycle accident recently? You are not alone. Bicycle accidents are common across the United States. Many vehicle owners do not consider cycling to be a part of the public transport system. Hence, these vehicle owners do not adhere to the rules and make cyclists a victim of their carelessness. With less protection compared to cars, bicyclists can suffer from extensive injuries. Like other accidents involving automobiles, bicyclists are entitled to the damages they suffer due to the accident. Because some specialized laws and factors are considered in a bicycle accident, it is best to hire a bicycle accident attorney to handle your case.
Because you share the road with other bicyclists and motorists, accidents are bound to happen. Some of the most common bicycle accidents that you or a person you may know could end up in are:
One of the most common types of accidents is the ones that occur at intersections. Accidents at intersections happen when either a bicyclist or a motorist fails to yield way to another party and end up colliding with each other. These types of accidents are highly likely when there are no traffic signals or signs in place. In cases where traffic signals are instated, collisions at intersections are a result of negligence from either bicyclists or motorists.
This type of accident happens when you are riding your bicycle on the right side of the motorist. Collision in these types of accidents occurs when the motorist turns to the right. A few ways a right hook accident can occur are:
Also known as getting doored, this type of accident occurs when you are riding alongside a parked car, and someone opens a door right in your path. However, this does not involve colliding with vehicles but can cause serious injuries.
Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents are:
Because bicyclists do not have the level of protection that cars, trucks, and other four-wheeler drivers have, they are prone to sustaining more severe injuries. Some of the common injuries that a person may sustain when in a bicycle accident are:
These injuries can have a long-term impact on your life and can be life-altering and threatening. However, if the accident was caused due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for the damages and injuries you sustained due to the incident.
Identifying who was responsible for your accident is the first step towards recovering your compensation. In most cases, the liability of paying damages and the responsible party behind the accident can fall on one of the following:
You may end up being in a bicycle accident when a part of your bike malfunctions. This can be due to the use of a faulty bike part or a flaw in the design. In such cases, you can demand compensation from the bicycle manufacturer.
More often than not, bicyclists are subject to reckless driving from motorists who fail to acknowledge their presence. In such instances, you can file a claim against the motorist whose negligent driving causes the accident and demand damages from them.
There are chances you may trip over an improperly repaired pothole or end up colliding a vehicle at an intersection due to a lack of traffic signage. If that’s the case, you can hold the state or local administration accountable and demand compensation from them.
The next step in recovering compensation for your damages is to prove the negligent actions of the party-at-fault were the reason why the accident occurred and caused the injuries.
Drivers and bicyclists across the United States have a legal duty to operate their vehicles safely for themselves and the other people on the road. So let’s take a closer look at each party’s legal obligations when on the road.
As mentioned above, a motorist has a legal duty of care towards other people on the road. Motorists are expected to operate their vehicles reasonably and safely to avoid injuring themselves and others. The scope of the duty of care includes staying aware of the surroundings and following traffic rules. If a motor vehicle driver behaves unreasonably and jeopardizes the safety of others, they are at fault and liable for paying the damages they cause.
Like motorists, cyclists also have the legal duty of riding their bikes safely. As a cyclist you are expected to follow all traffic rules and be aware of your surroundings. If your behavior contributed to causing the accident in any way, you might lose out on a part or all of the compensation, although the motorist was responsible for the larger part. Some factors that can hurt your chances of recovering the damages are:
If you are proven to be guilty of any of the aforementioned actions, you are likely to lose out on some part of your compensation.
Hiring a bicycle accident lawyer will benefit you in the following ways:
Have you been injured in a bicycle accident recently or in the past? Fill in the form alongside and get your case evaluated for free. Then, post the evaluation if you qualify for compensation, we will help you find the best bicycle accident lawyer near you.