Bicycles don’t have the same protections that cars and trucks do during an accident. They don’t have a metal frame surrounding the passengers. They don’t have airbags. They don’t have automated braking or hazard-recognition technology. So, if you’re in a bicycle accident, you can sustain minor and serious injuries, even if you don’t recognize the symptoms right away.
A Muncie bicycle accident lawyer with Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers can get started on your case immediately. We can help you hold negligent parties accountable and seek much-needed compensation for you and your family.
Do I Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
While you can file insurance claims and negotiate for a settlement on your own, a lawyer can improve your chances of getting a much better settlement. That’s because insurance companies don’t want to pay victims what they really deserve. Our bicycle accident lawyers serving Muncie, Indiana, won’t let these tactics get in the way of securing the best possible compensation for you and your family.
The whole process of filing claims, building your case, and negotiating with insurance companies can be very stressful and complex. You can focus on recovery while we focus on fighting for you. Here are just some of the tasks we’ll take on for you and your family after your bicycle accident:
- Collect evidence, including police reports, medical records, insurance claims, witness testimony, footage of the accident, and more
- Determine negligence and how it caused your accident
- Calculate your damages
- File claims with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Handle all communications with the other party and their representatives
- Negotiate for a worthwhile settlement
- File a personal injury lawsuit to recover more compensation
- Advise you on your legal options at every step
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Muncie, call 800-333-9999
Seek Compensation for Your Muncie Bicycle Accident
No two bicycle accidents are the same, which means the compensation for these cases can vary widely. We can review the facts of your case to give you a better estimate of how much your particular bicycle accident case is worth. We’ll calculate both economic and noneconomic damages to come up with the most accurate figure we can.
Here are some of the types of damages you can get compensation for after a bicycle accident:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages and benefits during your recovery
- Lost earning potential and professional advancement for short- and long-term disability
- Wrongful death benefits, like lost spousal support and funeral costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Paralysis and disability
Muncie Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-333-9999
Who Is Responsible for My Muncie Bicycle Accident?
We will review evidence like your testimony, witness accounts, the police report, any footage of the accident, and more to determine who is at fault for your accident. Some potential parties we may hold accountable for their negligence include:
- A driver or motorist on the road
- A government agency responsible for road maintenance
- A mechanic responsible for proper vehicle or bike maintenance
- A parts manufacturer
The parties we hold accountable can depend on the cause of the bicycle accident. Here are some causes of bicycle accidents:
- Dooring, which is when someone opens their car door as a bicyclist rides up alongside the vehicle
- Aggressive driving, like not giving a bike space to ride or running the bike off the road
- Distracted driving, like texting while driving
- Not checking blind spots for bikes when turning or changing lanes
- Not providing the required passing distance when overtaking a bike
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failure to obey traffic laws, including stop signs, traffic lights, etc.
In Indiana, bicyclists are not barred from recovering compensation for a bike accident as long as they are found to be less than 51% responsible for the accident. According to IC §34-51-2-5, if your actions contributed to the cause of your accident and your subsequent injuries, you can still seek compensation. However, the amount of compensation you receive may be deducted in accordance with your percentage of fault.
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You May Be Running Out of Time to File Your Bike Accident Lawsuit
In Indiana, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Since bicycle accidents are a type of personal injury, your accident would fall under this statute, IC § 34-11-2-4.
You can file an insurance claim at any time, but that’s just the first step. We may need to file a lawsuit to recover a better settlement should the insurance company not offer you a worthwhile settlement or deny your claim altogether.
The sooner you reach out to a bicycle accident lawyer serving Muncie, the better your chances of being able to file a lawsuit before time runs out.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Bicycle Accidents
We can answer all your questions during your free case review with our bicycle accident attorneys.
What Should I Do After Being in a Bicycle Accident?
If you’ve been in a bike accident, follow these steps:
- Call the police and file a police report to document the accident.
- Seek medical attention whether or not you feel like you’ve been badly injured.
- Take photos of the scene, your bike, the other vehicle, and more.
- Collect contact information from witnesses.
- Contact a bicycle accident attorney.
Should I Speak to the Other Party’s Insurance Company?
It’s best to let your attorney handle all communications with the other party’s insurance companies and any other representatives who reach out. Not only does this allow you to focus on your recovery, but it also shields you from these representatives using your words against you to minimize your claims. Remember, the insurance company isn’t always there to help.
What If I’ve Been Injured by a Hit-and-Run Driver?
Being injured in a hit-and-run accident can be very confusing and stressful. There’s no other party to get insurance information from, so you may not think that there’s any way to recover compensation for your injuries and property damage.
You can actually file a claim with your own auto insurance if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This policy add-on provides you additional coverage in such situations.
Your bicycle accident attorney can walk you through this process and help you determine other potential sources of compensation, too.
Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers Can Fight for You
The team at Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers has over 400 years of combined legal experience. We understand Indiana bicycle laws and the personal injury claims process, and we’ve used our knowledge to successfully recover more than $1 billion in settlements for victims.
We help clients on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we don’t charge you any upfront costs to get our legal counsel. In fact, we don’t get paid unless you do. Contact our office today for your free case review.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
