Any road users – including bicyclists – are at risk of serious harm from accidents. However, bicyclists are especially vulnerable to serious, life-altering permanent injuries during a crash. As a result, they could incur piling medical costs, require leave at work, and deal with long-lasting trauma.
Figuring out how to work through these hardships isn’t something you should have to do alone. A Kentucky bicycle accident lawyer with our firm can guide and champion you throughout the claims process. Our team has more than 400 years of collective experience and won over $2 billion in financial compensation for our clients. You can rest easy with the legal experience of Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers in your corner.
What Types of Damages Am I Entitled to Seek in My Bicycle Accident Case?
Your Isaacs and Isaacs bicycle accident attorney will pursue every penny you are entitled to collect, which may include the costs for:
- Medical expenses and expected future care
- Loss of income, future earnings, and benefits
- Diminished earning potential
- Bicycle repair or replacement costs
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages (such as loss of household services and funeral bills)
You have limited time to pursue damages after a bicycle accident in Kentucky. Generally, Kentucky Revised Statutes § 413.140 dictates that victims have one year to file a personal injury lawsuit in court. It is important to meet this deadline. If begin the litigation process after the deadline expires, your options for financial recovery are significantly reduced.
If a Kentucky bicycle accident involves an automobile, KRS §304.39-060(6) may extend the statute of limitations to two years from the date of the wreck or the date of your last PIP or No Fault payment.
However, if you give our injury firm adequate notice, we can help you meet all deadlines related to your case.
How Is a Bicycle Accident Settlement Calculated?
One of the most common questions our firm gets from bike accident injury victims is, “How much money can I get?” It’s impossible to answer that without conducting a full review of your case. To come to a figure, we will evaluate these factors in your case:
- Diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Age
- Mobility
- Impacts on your quality of life
- Working ability
We will look to your medical team and other resources to help us quantify each of your losses.
How Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys Serving Kentucky Can Manage Your Case
Since our founding in 1993, we have represented injury victims to help get them get the compensation they deserve. When one of our personal injury lawyers takes on your case, they can:
- Request a copy of the bicycle crash report
- Compile evidence
- Consult witnesses
- Negotiate a settlement
- Identify the at-fault party
- Deal with the back-and-forth between you and other parties
- Protect you from insurance companies acting in bad faith
In most personal injury cases, we can agree on a settlement offer without going to court. If negotiations don’t go as planned, we are ready to continue your fight for damages before a jury.
Reimbursing Your Lawyer for Their Aid throughout Your Bicycle Accident Case
Because of the potential costs, it’s understandable to feel apprehensive about hiring Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers. However, there is no need to worry, as our law firm operates on a contingency-fee basis. This payment arrangement involves:
- A free review of your case upon your initial call
- No retainers
- No hourly or out-of-pocket payments
If your lawyer wins a settlement or court award, they will take their fees and costs from that amount. In other words, if you don’t get reimbursed, neither do they.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in Your Kentucky Bicycle Accident Claim or Lawsuit
In many cases, the other driver involved could be responsible for your bicycle accident. They could have been negligent if they:
- Failed to check blind spots
- Opened their door without checking for bicyclists
- Drove while distracted
- Drove drowsy
- Drove under the influence
- Improperly turned or changed lanes
- Sped
- Showed road rage
However, liability could be confusing in some cases. Other parties who could be liable for your accident include:
- A government agency, if they failed to promptly address defective roadways or debris
- Another road user, if the driver was trying to avoid them and hit you in the process
- A car parts manufacturer, if they produced a defective part
- A mechanic, if they didn’t install a part correctly or conduct a proper maintenance test
Sometimes, negligence from multiple parties could have contributed to the bicycle accident. Your attorney can work to hold these parties accountable for their negligence.
As a cyclist, you are always exposed to a certain risk of injury. However, practicing safe cycling can decrease the risk of accidents. Easy safety tips to avoid a bicycle accident include ensuring the bike is in good condition, wearing protective gear, and obeying the road rules.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Kentucky
What you do after a bicycle accident can influence the amount of compensation you collect. We recommend that you:
Get Medical Attention Soon
Unlike motorists, cyclists are more exposed during an accident, as they have little to no shielding from the bike. According to bicycle accident statistics, cyclists are likely to be severely injured during an incident. This is why wearing safety gear is crucial.
Since cyclists are highly vulnerable during a collision, they can experience a wide range of injuries. Common types of cycling injuries include:
- Road rash
- Spinal injuries
- Bone fractures
- Traumatic brain injury
- Internal injuries
Because injuries from a bicycle accident can be so severe, see a doctor right away. Whether you go to the emergency room or your general practitioner, they may conduct a physical exam and possibly diagnose you with injuries you didn’t know you had.
Abstain from Giving the Insurance Company Your Recorded Statement
Usually, the insurer will contact you and ask you for a recorded statement. Beware that this isn’t the time to give your account of the bicycle accident. A recorded statement might allow the insurer to manipulate your words and use them to devalue your claim.
If they call you, refer them to your legal team. Some of our lawyers worked for insurance companies, so we know how to handle their tactics.
Get Help from Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers Today
We are ready to listen to what happened in your Kentucky bicycle accident so that our lawyers can start constructing a case strategy that best fits you.
Contact Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Call 1-800-800-8888.
