TMP Master Class - Personal Injury Litigation
Bicycles have a right to travel on public roads, and motor vehicles that share those roads are expected to respect this right. Unfortunately, many bicyclists end up hit by vehicles driven by negligent drivers who fail to observe the traffic laws put in place to protect bicyclists. This method of travel comes with many benefits, but the danger posed by these collisions is significant.
Bicycle accidents are especially intense since there is nothing to protect most bicyclists in a collision with a motor vehicle weighing several tons aside from a helmet. Bicycle accident injuries often deal severe damage and, in many cases, kill. Bicycle accident survivors do not have to suffer through the hardship caused by these injuries in silence and can take action to seek compensation for the damages they have suffered.
If you or a loved one were involved in a bicycle accident due to another’s negligence, contact Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass today. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer is available and always ready to help 24/7. Contact us at (205) 831-5040 or online for a free case evaluation or to discuss your rights and options further.
Other Auto Accident Cases We Handle: Pedestrian Accident | Truck Accident | Car Accident | Motorcycle Accident
If your bicycle accident was caused by the negligence of another party, then you may be able to file a bicycle accident claim with their insurance company. It is important to keep in mind that this is not possible with all bicycle accidents.
First of all, there must be a liable party that owed you a duty of care and was negligent in a way that caused your accident. This often will be a driver that caused the accident because of something like distracted driving or speeding, but not always.
There can be multiple parties that contributed fault to an accident and can be considered liable instead of or in addition to a driver who collides with a bicyclist. Furthermore, hiring a skilled bicycle accident lawyer will ensure you get the maximum settlement possible that you deserve.
Riding a bicycle is a great method of travel, but the risk of collisions with motor vehicles can be very high under certain circumstances. Most bicycle accidents tend to occur in dense urban areas where most amenities are within reach of a short bike ride. Bicycle accidents also tend to occur late at night, when visibility is lowest and the chances of drowsy or drunk driving increase.
Most bicycle accidents tend to occur because of bicycles’ lack of visibility, which leads to drivers easily failing to notice them and causing a crash. Furthermore, bicycle accidents also commonly involve a failure on the motorist’s part to observe traffic laws put in place to keep cyclists safe. This usually occurs out of ignorance of the fact that bicycles are considered vehicles that have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. Other common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:
The losses that someone sustains because of injuries they suffered in a bicycle accident are known as damages. In order to successfully get the compensation you need for bicycle accident injuries, you need to be aware of what damages you have suffered. Damages are usually split into two categories. There are economic damages that consist of direct financial losses tied to an accident and non-economic damages that are less tangible losses that usually are psychological and emotional in nature. Some common damages claimed in bicycle accident cases include the following:
Bicycle accidents cause extremely severe injuries since a car can inflict catastrophic damage to a mostly unprotected cyclist’s body. Severe and permanent injuries are very common, and damages like medical bills require even more compensation since recurring expenses like therapy and prescriptions to treat these injuries must be taken into account. Earning capacity is more severely affected since disabilities caused by injuries can end someone’s ability to work at all. The psychological trauma inflicted can be more severe as well.
Another consequence of the especially severe damages inflicted by bicycle accidents is the increased willingness to fight a bicycle accident claim on the part of the insurance company. The higher damages lead to more intense defenses being taken to reduce the demand for much higher payouts. It is not unusual for settlement negotiations to fail, which will necessitate the need to file a lawsuit and go to trial.
Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass is aware of this and approaches each case willing and able to take it to trial if need be. Many firms will avoid this and take a substandard settlement rather than fight for the full value of compensation their client is owed. This is usually because they cannot handle taking a case to court or because they would rather take the easy way out and avoid a long and demanding lawsuit. Our bicycle accident lawyers have a strong reputation as effective trial lawyers and are willing to fight for you all the way.
