Top-Rated Bicycle (Bike) Accident Attorney Under the law, bicycles have the same rights as any motorized vehicle that travels the roadway. However, according to a survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one in ten cyclists feel threatened for their personal safety when they take their bikes on the road. There are many reasons why people choose to ride a bike, and there is no doubt that riding a bike is a fun and useful way to get you outdoors and improve your health. But if your health and safety is compromised because of a reckless or negligent driver, our team of personal injury attorneys are here to defend your rights. If you’ve been in a bicycle accident where a motorist hit you or caused you harm, you may need a bicycle accident lawyer to help you seek the compensation that you deserve. Common Causes Of Bicycle Accidents By and large, the overwhelming majority of bicycle fatalities are caused by motor vehicles. Because cyclists are out in the open and have limited protection compared to car accidents, the end result of a crash is likely catastrophic. Some of the common causes of bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles include: a motor vehicle fails to yield the right of way at an intersection, turn, or merge a crash occurs because a motor vehicle uses overtaking maneuvers to pass a cyclist a motor vehicle loses control or turns into a bicyclist a parked car door opens and blocks the path of a bicyclist a bicyclist travels the wrong way on a road or against oncoming traffic While it’s true that motor vehicles are sometimes responsible for bicycle accidents, they’re not the only cause. You can still collect damages in a bicycle accident for other reasons. Other causes of bicycle accident injuries include: injuries due to a poorly maintained roadway, a bicyclist falls off the bike Injuries caused by defective or damaged bicycle repairs an animal attack causes a cyclist to fall off the bike a collision with another cyclist or a pedestrian debris in the road causes a cyclist to collide with an object My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Kavon, Neil, and Dylan. The attorneys and legal assistants at Florin Roebig were professional, understanding of our situation, and always kept us updated on what was going on. I would strongly recommend this practice to anyone who finds themselves needing legal assistance. Michael-paul Meredith | 3 years ago Speak To A Specialist About Your Case Tips For Avoiding A Bike Accident Or Crash For bicyclists, accidents usually include a fall or a crash with another vehicle. To avoid severe injuries, there are preventative measures you can take to increase your safety and decrease the chances of an accident. Here are some tips to keep you safe on your bicycle: Be Prepared Preparedness is key. Ride a bicycle that works and fits you so it’s easier to control. Wear safety equipment that protects you and makes you more visible to others, such as a helmet, reflective gear, or reflectors on your bike. Additionally, it’s always important to plan your route. If you travel on roadways with motor vehicles, choose routes that are less trafficked, have bike lanes, or have slower speed limits. Be Focused And Alert When you’re on your bike, it’s crucial to be aware of the traffic that surrounds you. Be defensive in your riding so you can act quickly to avoid a crash. Other tips include: ride in the same direction of traffic follow street signs, road signals, and other traffic laws look ahead for hazards like potholes assume drivers don’t notice you limit distractions, like glancing at your phone Practice And Improve Your Skills Practicing how to ride your bike safely and effectively is crucial for staying safe on the road. Ride your bike in areas away from traffic until you get a sense of your skill level. On roadways, use bike lanes and practice how to navigate, communicate, and share the road with other drivers. Who Can Be Held Liable In A Bicycle Accident? Like other personal injury lawsuits, determining liability in a bicycle accident depends on the cause. Once the cause of the accident is determined, you’ll have to figure out which party can be held legally responsible. Examples of cause and liability in a bicycle accident include: a vehicle driver causes the accident: a cyclist can file a claim against a motor vehicle driver or the driver’s auto insurance an uninsured or underinsured vehicle causes the accident, a cyclist can file a claim with their auto insurance carrier for uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits another cyclist or a pedestrian causes the accident: a cyclist can file a claim against the individual a cyclist gets into an accident because of a design flaw or bad repair: a cyclist can file a claim against the bicycle manufacturer or repair shop for negligence a cyclist gets in an accident because of potholes, debris, or other obstructions on the roadway: a cyclist can file a claim against the local government agencies responsible for maintaining public roadways a dog causes a cyclist to fall off the bike: a cyclist can file a bicycle accident claim against the dog owner How To Determine Liability In Bicycle Accidents An injured cyclist can only seek damages in a personal injury claim if they were not at fault in the accident. In some cases, bike riders can be at fault and may need to pay damages to the vehicle driver, pedestrian, or other party involved. Consider some negligent cycling behaviors to determine how a cyclist may be at fault: not stopping at stop signs turning without giving a hand signal failing to yield at intersections or crosswalks riding outside the bike lane riding against traffic riding on the wrong side of the road Whichever party failed to follow the law is likely to be held liable. In some motor vehicle crash cases, both the driver and the injured cyclist can be at fault, which can complicate liability. State law may determine who is legally responsible, as well as the rules of comparative negligence. The court may decide to split the responsibility of the accident, which means it’s helpful to hire a bike accident attorney to ensure your side is well represented. Children And Bicycle Accidents Determining liability for bike accident cases involving children is further complicated by the law. The law states that children under a certain age are incapable of comparative negligence while on a bicycle. In these cases, motor vehicle drivers are more likely to be held responsible. As the law sees it, certain children are too young to use a normal standard of care on the road. However, courts will decide this issue on a case-by-case basis. Drivers need to show a significant duty of care if a child is involved in the case. In order for the child to be held liable, the driver must show that they could not reasonably avoid the accident. Are Bikes (Cyclists) Covered By Insurance? Although auto insurance policies vary, many plans cover bicycle accidents. In cases where the accident was caused by a motor vehicle driver, your injuries will likely be covered by the driver’s auto insurance policy. If you have a private health insurance plan, your healthcare may cover some of the medical expenses for your injuries. However, your plan may be subject to a deductible or copay. Afterwards, however, you can seek compensation from the driver’s auto insurance, if necessary. With auto insurance, typical personal injury protection (PIP) coverage may entitle you to collect damages from your own plan if you live in a no-fault state. In these states, insurance companies are mandated to pay for the medical bills of everyone injured in a crash, regardless of who was at fault. A qualified bike accident lawyer can help you sort through your state’s no-fault laws, if applicable. How An Attorney Can Help With A Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Your personal injury attorney will help you prove that the defendant (car driver, pedestrian, other cyclist, etc.) had a reasonable duty to act safely and be mindful of bike riders. Your attorney will help you show that the defendant breached that duty, and as a result, you suffered serious injuries. For bike accident cases, it may be enough for your to prove that the defendant failed to obey a relevant traffic law, and this violation of the law caused your injuries. Types Of Damages In Bicycle Accident Claims After your attorney helps you make a claim against a liable party, they’ll help you collect possible damages: Economic Damages You may be entitled to economic damages in order to recover financial losses involving damaged property (your bike), lost wages as a result of bicycle accident injuries, and medical bills. Non-Economic Damages Being in a bike accident can be traumatizing. Your injuries can also lower your quality of life and involve undue pain and suffering. Your personal injury attorney can help you seek non-economic damages to compensate for these issues. Punitive Damages Your bicycle accident attorney may suggest you seek punitive damages if the defendant’s actions in your injuries involved a particularly egregious offense. A judge or jury may decide to punish a defendant for driving drunk, disregarding speed limit laws, or other flagrant misdeeds. Our Featured Case Results Personal Injury Property Loss and Damage Claims Construction Negligence Labor Law Product Liability Medical Malpractice Car Accident 1 $47.4M Personal Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $9.55M Firearm Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $5.25M Hospital Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $4M Personal Injury Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $4.2M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.5M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.5M Industrial Explosion Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.1M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $3.9M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.4M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $2.3M Contractor Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.5M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $1.2M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.8M Race Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $4.2M Whistleblower Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $4.0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $3.2M Nationality Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $2,0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $5.3M Pharmaceutical Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $3.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.3M Drug Company Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.0M Medical Malpractice Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $5M Orthopedic Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $3M Gastroenterology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.25M Urology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.7M Anesthesiology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 1 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $15M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $6.1M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.3M Car Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.8M Truck Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. Find out if you have a case we could help you win Speak To a Specialist Bicycle Accident Facts And Statistics In 2018, over 850 bicyclists were killed on United States roadways. When a crash between a motor vehicle and a cyclist occur, it’s likely that it’s the cyclist who suffers the most. As some data suggests, nonoccupant road fatalities are increasing, which includes bicyclists. However, if you survive a crash on a bicycle, the financial cost can be detrimental. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that both fatal and non-fatal crash-related injuries suffered by bicyclists can extend up to $10 billion in lifetime medical expenses and productivity losses. Consider some other bicycle accident facts and statistics: The number of cyclists killed in a vehicle crash in 2018 was the highest it’s been since 1990, when 859 individuals perished on their bike. Between 2017 and 2018, cyclist fatalities increased by 6.3 percent, or 51 more deaths. In any season, bicycle deaths occur most often in the evening, between 6 p.m and 9 p.m. Bicycle deaths occur more in urban areas rather than rural areas. Fatal male bicycle crashes increased by 3.2 percent from 2017 to 2018. Fatal bicycle crashes involving female riders increased by 29.2 percent from 2017 to 2018. Almost 40 percent of all fatal bicycle crashes involved alcohol in 2017. From 2017 to 2018, after-dark cyclist fatalities increased by 9.2 percent. Bicyclist deaths accounted for 2.2 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities in 2016. Bicycle Accident Attorneys Serving The U.S. The particular damages you pursue will be based on the specific details of your case, as well as the attorneys you hire to represent you. At Florin|Roebig, we specialize in personal injury lawsuits and will use every resource at our disposal to make sure you’re compensated for your injuries. Our accomplished team of experienced bicycle accident lawyers includes: Wil H. Florin, B.C.S. Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S. Chase P. Florin, B.C.S. Neil P. O’Brien, M.B.A. Shaun M. Cummings Luca G. Esposito Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M. Nicholas S. Costantino Parker Y. Florin, LL.M. Taylor D. Roebig Michael A. Ossi, O.C. Lawrence J. Najem, O.C. Andrew M. Leone, O.C. Nollys R. Solarte, O.C. We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers Contact Us Today For Help Filing A Bike Accident Claim If you or a loved one have been injured while bicycling, call us. At Florin|Roebig, we offer a free case consultation to help you decide if it’s in your best interest to start a bicycle accident case in order to collect damages. As a cyclist, you’re protected by the law if you travel on public roads. If you feel you were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, our team of qualified personal injury attorneys can help defend your legal rights. For more information, or to start a free case evaluation, bicycle accident victims can contact our offices today.
