Bicycle accidents are unfortunately common in Lexington, and can lead to severe injuries, or death. Bicyclists have rights under Kentucky law similar to those of pedestrians. For example, motorists must give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing them, and must not drive so close as to endanger their safety.
If you or your loved one was hurt in a bicycle accident, please call our office immediately. Our Lexington bicycle accident attorneys will work hard to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
The Prevalence of Bike Accidents
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), about 2% of motor vehicle crash deaths each year are bicyclists. Head injuries cause most of these deaths, underscoring the importance of wearing a helmet.
In addition to these fatal accidents, thousands more bicycle accidents each year cause severe or disabling injuries. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that over 400,000 bicyclists sought emergency medical treatment after an accident in 2019 alone.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Lexington, call 800-333-9999
Potential Causes of Bicycle Accidents
There’s no shortage of things that can go wrong while riding a bike. Here are some of the leading causes of bicycle accidents:
Poor Road Conditions
Road conditions play a large role in whether or not a cyclist is injured in an accident. If roads are slick, wet, or otherwise dangerous, they may be too slippery for a rider to handle safely. This could result in a fall, a collision with another object, or even being struck by a car.
Negligent Vehicle Drivers
Many assume that because they’ve been driving for years, they know what they’re doing behind the wheel. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true.
Some drivers simply aren’t paying attention to the road ahead, resulting in collisions with vehicles, bicycles, and other objects. They may not see a bicyclist or may turn into a bicyclist’s path. Or the at fault driver might fail to yield the right-of-way to a cyclist or make an unsafe lane change.
Improperly Maintained Roads
Bicycle accidents often occur on poorly maintained roads. Roads with potholes, cracks, or other defects pose a danger to cyclists and motorists. They can also create hazardous conditions for pedestrians, especially children.
Bikes Poorly Designed or Have Defective Parts
Cyclists face serious dangers from poorly designed bikes, including improperly sized wheels, frames, brakes, and tires. Some bikes lack adequate lighting, reflectors, or handholds. Others don’t provide enough protection against falls.
A defective part can also contribute to a bicycle accident. A broken spoke, loose chain, or damaged brake cable can all cause bicyclists to crash.
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Types of Injuries From Bike Accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly 1,000 bikers are killed every year, and over 130,000 are wounded in road accidents in the United States.
Common types of injuries sustained in these bike accidents include:
- Minor injuries: These injuries typically involve soft tissue injuries like minor cuts, bruises, and abrasions.
- Broken bones: Broken bones are among the most serious injuries that can happen in a bicycle accident.
- Internal bleeding: Internal bleeding or other internal injuries can be life-threatening if they go untreated. These conditions can incapacitate you or a loved one for weeks or months.
- Head trauma: Head trauma is often caused by falling off a bike and colliding with a concrete road, a parked car, or a tree. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen as a result.
- Spinal cord injury: Spinal cord injuries caused by bike crashes can lead to paralysis or death.
- Wrongful death: If someone dies from a bicycle accident, it’s important to understand that there may be legal consequences. The person who was responsible for causing the accident may be held liable for damages incurred.
Severe injuries from bike accidents may lead to lifelong medical bills and permanent pain. We recommend seeking a personal injury lawyer immediately after your accident so that they have time to file a claim against the at-fault party.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident
In addition to getting medical treatment and consulting with your doctor, you may want to hire a personal injury lawyer familiar with bike accidents in Lexington. Your lawyer can help you understand what types of claims cyclists can make and what legal options they have after being involved in an accident.
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, call our bike accident personal injury attorneys. We’ll discuss your options and determine whether you have grounds for seeking compensation.
In addition, we’ll look at how your accident occurred and if it could have been prevented. If you were hurt due to negligence on someone else’s part, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries and lost wages. Your attorney can help you make informed decisions about legal paths.
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Hiring an Attorney for Your Case
Consider the following factors to ensure you hire an attorney to represent your case well.
A Background in Related Cases
If your accident was serious or life-threatening and left you unable to work, you will likely want your case for compensation to begin quickly.
Your lawyer has experience against insurance companies, so they know how to fight while protecting their clients from bad faith practices.
Experience with Bicycle Accidents
Attorneys often focus on specific areas of the law because laws are complicated. When you need legal representation but don’t understand those laws well enough, you have the right to hire someone with similar experience with bicycle accidents.
Open Communication
Make sure you’re comfortable working with this attorney. Do they answer all of your questions? Are they responsive when you need them?
Free Consultations
You shouldn’t expect an attorney to work on your case without knowing everything about it. Meeting potential attorneys and asking them questions before hiring them will help determine whether you feel they can meet your needs.
Previous Cases
Your attorney’s previous success does not automatically mean they will win your case too, but there’s some correlation between past and future results. Viewing your lawyer’s track record with successful cases may be valuable when deciding who you want to hire.
Online Reviews
No matter what type of business you are researching, reading testimonials from past clients can give you valuable insight into that business. Read reviews for your chosen law firm and see what others have experienced when working with them.
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What Does a Lexington Bike Accident Attorney Do?
We know it can be challenging to determine who was at fault for your accident and what to do next. You may be able to handle some aspects of your claim independently, but when other parties are involved, you may want to have a Lexington bike attorney on your side.
A bike accident attorney serving Lexington can help you determine who is at fault for your accident, collect evidence to support your case, and help you seek damages from the responsible party.
We will take your case to trial if the insurance carrier refuses to accept a reasonable settlement. Our in-house litigation team will help you prepare and keep you informed all along the way. We even have a mock courtroom where you can practice and become comfortable with court proceedings before your trial begins.
What Is Your Legal Claim Worth?
Another thing your lawyer can help with is determining the value of your claim, including economic and non-economic losses.
Economic losses may include current and future medical bills, lost wages and spending money to repair or replace your motorcycle.
Non-economic losses are less concrete because they don’t have a specific financial value. These can include pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life, and other emotional and mental hardships.
Call Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today
If you were involved in a bicycle accident in Lexington and want to pursue compensation for your injuries, Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers can help. We have over 400 years of combined legal experience and are ready to help you.
Call us or contact us online for a free consultation. We’ll take care of the legal hassle and support you in your time of need.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form