Cycling is one of the healthiest and the greenest forms of transportation, but unfortunately, it’s not the always safest. Every year, thousands of cyclists are involved in bicycle accidents for various reasons. In 2019, such crashes took over 800 cyclists’ lives and caused 308,864 non-fatal injuries.
You may be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault party if you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident in Richmond. A lawyer can help you with the claim process.
How Can a Richmond Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help You?
The aftermath of a bicycle accident can be stressful. Depending on the accident’s severity, you may be looking at moderate to severe injuries and thousands to even tens of thousands in medical bills. Even though you cannot work for the foreseeable future, your everyday expenses will keep coming. Without any outside help, you can fall into financial ruin.
The silver lining is that you might be entitled to monetary damages from the party or parties that caused the accident. Unfortunately, receiving these damages in full isn’t easy. You’ll have to collect evidence from the crash, build a personal injury case, and negotiate with the insurance providers. This is challenging enough at the best of times, let alone when you’re still recovering.
Hiring a bicycle accident attorney allows you to delegate all the legal and insurance tasks to a professional while you focus on healing. Lawyers are well-suited to offer support because they:
- Know all the laws and policies for car accident cases and can file your case before the statute of limitations expires
- Have experience in personal injury suits and can determine the full extent of damages you’re owed
- Work with different law enforcement and medical professionals to get a full picture of the accident and your injuries
- Have interacted with insurance providers before and can draw on this experience to negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf
- Can file a lawsuit and defend your case in court if negotiations with the insurance representative are unsuccessful
- Typically do not get paid unless their clients win compensation. This means that they’re incentivized to work hard to get you the money you deserve
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Richmond, call 800-333-9999
Who Can You Sue After a Bicycle Accident in Richmond?
This question plagues many cyclists after they’re involved in accidents with other road users. If the crash involved several motorists or had any other extenuating circumstances, it can be even harder to determine who to go after for compensation. A lawyer will rely on a concept called the duty of care to determine who exactly to sue.
This is a legal responsibility that requires all road users to act in a way that doesn’t put other road users at risk of physical injury or property damage. Any road user who breaches this duty could be sued for compensation if their actions result in physical injury and property damage. This includes reckless drivers who ignore traffic signs, drive while intoxicated, and use cars with broken-down lights or brakes.
Additionally, motorists who don’t pay attention to their surroundings could be held liable for a bicycle accident. You could also sue a local government if your crash was caused by bad roads or construction companies that leave hazards on the road or sidewalk. Sometimes, you can also sue a pet owner if a dog chases you while you’re cycling and causes you to crash.
Richmond Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-333-9999
Damages You Can Get After a Bicycle Accident
Once your lawyer studies your case and determines who to sue for compensation, it’s time to evaluate the full extent of the damages you are owed. If you were in a bicycle accident, chances are you’re nursing moderate to severe wounds. The next few weeks or even months could be spent on recovery, and you probably won’t be able to work.
Damages are meant to cushion you during this time as your expenses balloon and your cash inflows dry up. The at-fault party or parties will be required to compensate you for the costs incurred as the accident disrupted your life.
Here are the damages you could recover after a bicycle
- Present and future medical costs, including hospital stays, prescription medications, and follow up doctor visits
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Scarring, disfigurement, or loss of limbs
- Physical suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Lost wages and loss of income earning potential
- Property damage
- Legal fees
- Wrongful death if the victim succumbed to their injuries
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What You Should Do After a Bicycle Injury in Richmond
The first couple of moments after the crash will be crucial. Dial 911 and request medical services if you or anyone have been injured. The EMTs will deliver first aid to the wounded while the police collect evidence from the accident site, which they’ll use to generate a report. A lawyer can also use this police report to help strengthen our case.
Ensure the paramedics and a doctor examine you, even if you don’t have any apparent injuries. You may be concussed or be bleeding internally. Additionally, ensuring you receive medical care and sticking to your treatment plan will improve your case as it shows that your injuries were serious enough to need immediate and long-term medical treatment.
Contact a lawyer to start the process of pursuing your case. While you recover from your wounds, your attorney can collect the relevant evidence, file the required paperwork, and negotiate with the insurance providers on your behalf. Your legal team could file a lawsuit and argue your case in court if need be.
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Contact Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Aid
Have you recently sustained injuries in a bicycle accident due to someone else’s negligence? Has a loved one died after a bicycle accident in the Richmond area? Don’t despair. Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to discuss your legal options.
Our attorneys have recovered $1 billion in settlements for our clients, and we have over 400 years of combined legal experience. We can get started on your case without any upfront fees and costs. Contact us today for a free case review and legal aid.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form