Bicycle Accident Lawyers

When bicyclists are injured by the negligence or malice of others, they may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries. Injured bicyclists are encouraged to hire an experienced bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Bicycle accident lawyers can assist with virtually every step of the legal process to ensure that victims receive the maximum possible compensation for their injuries.

Types of Bicycle Accidents

Common types of bicycle accidents which may lead to a bicycle accident lawsuit may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Left turn accidents: a vehicle driver makes a sudden left turn in front of a bicyclist
  • Right turn accidents: the driver of a vehicle accelerates, then passes and unexpectedly turns in front of a bicyclist
  • Side swipe accident: a bicyclist riding beside a vehicle comes in contact with the side of the vehicle
  • Car door accident: a bicyclist collides with a vehicle door that opens unexpectedly in front of the bicyclist
  • Rear-end collision: a bicyclist is rear-ended by a vehicle that is traveling too close to the back of the bicycle

Bicycle Accident Compensation

There are different types of compensation an injured bicyclist may be able to receive if he or she wins a bicycle accident lawsuit. The main types are special damages and general damages. Special damages cover financial loss that the victim experienced as a result of the injury. General damages compensate victims for non-quantifiable losses.

Special Damages

Special damages are also referred to as economic damages. They aim to reimburse patients for the costs of their injuries. These costs typically include medical bills, damage to property, and lost wages due to an inability to work after sustaining the injuries in question. Special damages are the primary type of financial compensation awarded to bicycle accident victims, as costs have the most tangible impact.

General Damages

General damages are also referred to as non-economic damages. General damages are in place to provide compensation to victims for certain types of emotional, mental, or psychosocial harm that they experienced as a result of the injury. These damages may include mental anguish, depression, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. Bicyclists who are severely injured may never be able to restore their quality of life after a debilitating accident, and general damages help to provide assistance for these cases.

Bicycle Accident Lawyer Role

Bicycle accident lawyers will help to represent the bicyclist through all stages of the legal process. A bicycle accident lawyer’s role begins during the initial consultation and does not end until the case is resolved. In the initial stages, bicycle accident lawyers will evaluate the details of the incident to determine if the bicyclist has solid grounds to file a lawsuit against another individual, group, or company. The party being sued is referred to as the defendant of the lawsuit, and the injured bicyclist is the plaintiff.

Collecting Evidence

In order to build solid groundwork for a lawsuit, bicycle accident lawyers must collect as much information as possible regarding the incident. This one of the most critical determinants for how a lawsuit will turn out. The more thorough and detailed the evidence, the better the chance the bicyclist has of winning the case and collecting compensation for his or her injuries.

Evidence collected by bicycle accident lawyers may include:

  • Photographs of the incident and the bicyclist’s injuries
  • Police reports filed immediately after the accident occurred
  • Testimony from any individuals who witnessed the accident
  • Medical records detailing the nature, scope, and cost of the bicyclist’s injuries

Orlando Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle accident lawyers will also fill out the necessary paperwork and file the appropriate motions for opening a lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiff. This is a significant area in which an injured bicyclist can benefit from the assistance of a bicycle accident lawyer. Legal proceedings can often be complex and difficult to navigate. An experience and knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyer can help to handle most of these steps and guide plaintiffs when they need assistance.

 

Sources:

Dwyer, Jim. “Trying to limit the anarchy on 2 wheels.” New York Times 20 May 2011: A17(L). Academic OneFile. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.

Faure, Michael. “Behavioural accident law and economics.” Journal of Applied Economy (2010): 11+. Academic OneFile. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.