Reasons to Hire a Bike Accident Attorney and What to Do after an Accident
According to the CDC, more than 130,000 cyclists annually receive injuries in road accidents. Riding a bike is fun, has plenty of mental and physical health benefits, and is environmentally friendly. But biking can also be risky, particularly when you ride it on the roads while sharing spaces with cars and larger vehicles. The chances of collisions are pretty high. Colliding with an automobile can have devastating consequences for the rider, leaving them with multiple injuries.
Hiring a bike accident attorney is vital if someone’s negligence on the road has caused you an injury. They will help you secure adequate financial compensation, ensure you receive the best treatment, and offer you legal assistance in every step of the compensation process.
Since bike accidents fall under the category of personal injuries, lawyers specializing in these are personal accident lawyers. They help you recover damages by establishing the other party’s negligence in causing the accident.
But what injuries do bike accidents cause, and why do you need an attorney for them? Read on to find out.
Reasons to hire an attorney for bike accidents
These are some reasons behind hiring a lawyer for bike accidents.
Receiving adequate monetary compensation:
Hiring a lawyer is crucial for receiving the monetary compensation you deserve. Bike collisions can inflict serious physical injuries, some of which affect your ability to work for life. You must receive sufficient compensation for your treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation expenses.
Collecting the available evidence :
Collecting evidence is another reason behind hiring attorneys. In bike accident cases, you should prove the fault of the accused party before recovering damages. Your lawyer will visit the accident site, go through the police report, watch the CCTV footage (if there is any), and hold discussions with people at the accident site.
Filing a claim within the Statute of Limitations:
Your attorney can assist you in filing the personal injury claim within the stipulated time frame, according to the Statute of Limitations. The time frame is usually two years for accidents involving bike riders.
Filing a case after the mentioned time frame will lead to the court dismissing your case. However, there are several complications and legal intricacies associated with such matters, which your attorney will help you understand.
Negotiating with the other party’s insurers:
Your attorney will conduct negotiations with the accused party’s insurers, provide them with the required documentation, and ensure they fulfill all legal obligations on their part.
How much compensation will you receive?
The compensation amount depends on various factors like the nature of the injuries, treatment costs involved, impact on your professional career, property damages (extent of damages to the bike and the costs involved in repairing it), and general damages (impact on one’s overall quality of life).
Things to do after a bike accident
Soon after meeting an accident on a bike, the top priority is to get yourself and your bike to safety (provided it has not been completely destroyed). You should check for any injuries on your body. However, even if you don’t have any, it is crucial to visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Call 911, giving them the details of your accident, including location, time, etc. You should also call your attorney immediately, as they will help you receive treatment and even get involved in the investigation with the police. You can ask your lawyer to contact your insurance carrier and conduct all negotiations on your behalf.
You should not lose time contacting your bike accident attorney after an accident. Cases of such nature are pretty complicated, as they require you to prove the other party’s fault, which your attorney can help you with.
