Bicycle accidents can cause catastrophic injuries that can impact you for the rest of your life. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you could be entitled to recover compensation. A Mishawaka bicycle accident lawyer from Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers can fight for you to recover compensation after someone else caused your injuries.
You Could Be Entitled to Recover Compensation
After a bicycle accident, you may have medical bills piling up or you could be out of work. You deserve to recover compensation for those losses. Recoverable damages are designed to compensate someone after being injured because of the negligence of someone else. Some of the damages you could recover in a bicycle accident case include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Our attorneys will fight for you to recover the maximum amount of compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Mishawaka, call 800-333-9999
The Attorneys at Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help
Our firm is different from others because we always put our clients’ best interests first. Benefits of hiring our firm include:
- Free consultations
- Contingency fees
- In-house litigation team
- Spanish-speaking team members
- Attorneys with a combined total of 400 years of legal experience
Mishawaka Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-333-9999
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accidents
What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
If drivers were more aware of their surroundings, many bicycle accidents could be prevented. Common causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Speeding: Drivers who are speeding have less time to react to cyclists on the road. If someone riding a bike is hit by a speeding driver, catastrophic injuries and fatality could occur.
- Aggressive driving: Many people on the road drive aggressively by weaving in and out of traffic or tailgating the vehicle in front of them. Sometimes, motorists become frustrated if they feel like a bicycle rider is slowing them down. They might drive too close to the bicycle, causing an accident.
- Influence of drugs and alcohol: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, causing slower reaction times. This can be dangerous for bicyclists if they are riding near a road that an impaired driver is on.
- Distracted driving: Cell phones are a large source of distraction for drivers. When a motorist is texting or talking on their cell phone, they are less focused on the road and might not see a bicyclist nearby. Distracted driving is not only dangerous for bicyclists but for others on the road as well.
- Hazardous roads: The roads might contain hazards such as potholes, broken glass, or uneven lanes. These hazards can cause accidents if they are not maintained properly.
- Weather conditions: Bad weather conditions such as rain, sleet, ice, and snow can cause bicycle accidents. Not only do these conditions cause the roads to be slippery, but they can also make people on bicycles less visible.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides safety precautions for motorists to take to try to prevent bicycle accidents from occurring. Motorists must be aware of their surroundings, yield to bicyclists when turning, avoid distractions, and use caution when opening doors.
Bicyclists can also help prevent accidents by obeying traffic rules, using hand signals when turning or changing lanes, wearing bright-colored clothing to be visible, and ensuring their bicycle is in proper working order.
Who Is Considered Liable for a Bicycle Accident?
Determining liability in a bicycle accident case involves finding out how the accident occurred. Several people or entities could be held liable based on the circumstances. Examples of liability include:
- The motorist is liable: The motorist is liable for the accident if they were driving while intoxicated, impaired, distracted, or fatigued. They could also be held liable if they did not check before opening a car door and the bicyclist hit the car door.
- A government entity is liable: If the accident occurred because of poorly maintained roads, the government entity responsible for that part of the road could be held liable.
- A car parts manufacturer or mechanic is liable: If a faulty car part caused the accident, the manufacturer of that part could be held liable. If a mechanic did not install a car part correctly and it caused the accident, they could be held liable for the accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
In Indiana, IC § 34-11-2-4 states you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim.
The Mishawaka bicycle accident lawyers at Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers can help you meet deadlines. Contacting us soon after your accident will give us ample time to prepare a strategic case.
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident?
After a bicycle accident, there are steps you can take to increase the likelihood of recovering the maximum amount of compensation. They include:
- Getting medical attention: Depending on the severity of your injuries, visit the emergency room or your general practitioner for a physical exam. You may not initially realize you are injured until a doctor checks you out. A doctor can provide documentation related to your injuries which can be helpful to your case.
- Not speaking with insurance companies: The insurance company may offer you compensation for your injuries. In many cases, they will offer lower than what you are entitled to. Our attorneys can inform you of your legal rights and negotiate with insurance companies to get the compensation you deserve.
- Collecting the contact information of all parties involved: Obtain the contact information of the other driver and any witnesses to the accident. Also, collect the insurance information from the motorist who was involved in the accident.
- Documenting what happened: As soon as possible, write down what happened during the accident. This includes the direction you were going, the direction the other motorist was going, and the date and time the accident occurred. Writing this information down while it is still fresh in your mind will help you not forget details later on.
Click to contact our Mishawaka Personal Injury Lawyers today
Contact a Mishawaka Bicycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Our attorneys have handled many bicycle accident cases and understand Indiana bicycle laws. We know of legal barriers that could arise and are prepared to move past them successfully. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
