Bicyclists deserve to have a safe experience on the road. Every cyclist should experience proper cycling lanes, safe roads, and attentive drivers every time they go for a ride. Unfortunately, far too many bicyclists are struck by vehicles every year, and most of those are the result of negligent or reckless driving. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident that was the fault of another driver, you deserve compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and more. The average settlement for a bicycle accident is dependent upon several factors, but an experienced bicycle accident lawyer can help you determine what your case may be worth.
Who is at Fault in a Bicycle Accident?
Almost all vehicle-bicycle collisions are the fault of the driver of the car. To receive a car vs. bicycle accident settlement, you and your lawyer will need to demonstrate that the driver was at fault.
Reckless and negligent drivers cause accidents through their behavior. They are often unobservant of bicyclists on the road. A bicycle accident attorney can help you collect and examine evidence to prove exactly what happened and how the driver was at fault.
What causes most bicycle accidents?
Inattentive drivers cause many of the vehicle-bicycle collisions that occur in Indiana every year.
These accidents are typically caused by:
- Distracted driving (including texting while driving)
- Speeding
- Passing too close
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Turning, changing lanes, or merging without looking for cyclists and checking blind spots
- Aggressive driving
When a driver has committed one of these behaviors and you are suffering the consequences, you deserve to be compensated.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Get for a Bicycle Accident
A bike accident can cause many different kinds of suffering. You may struggle with a huge financial burden, a long path to physical recovery, pain, and the repercussions of trauma.
You can get compensation for all of these things – compensation is not just about your financial losses, but your emotional, psychological, and physical losses, too.
When we work with our clients, our job is to obtain as much compensation as you are owed, based on your unique circumstances. Every bicycle accident is unique, and you deserve to have someone in your corner who can help you work through the complicated and difficult aftermath of your accident.
Here are some of the things that compensation can cover:
- Medical bills (including future medical care)
- Ambulance transport bills
- Mobility devices (crutches, wheelchairs, scooters, etc.)
- Medications
- Rehabilitation services
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental and psychological suffering (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety)
- Loss of the use of your limbs
- Inability to enjoy the activities that used to give you joy (including bicycle riding)
- Scarring
- Permanent disability
What to Expect your Bicycle Accident Claim Payout To Be:
Your bicycle accident lawyer can answer all of your questions about the average settlement for a bicycle accident, but we can also provide this general guidance.
You can calculate the first component of your approximate bike accident compensation by adding up all of your financial losses, including what you have spent, what you owe, and any income that you have not been able to earn because of your accident.
It is more difficult to calculate your non-monetary damages.
Your lawyer will help you take account of all the ways you have suffered since your accident, including the severity of your injuries, your recovery time, any permanent physical or psychological damage you have undergone, and your pain and suffering.
With an attorney’s help, you can calculate the right amount of money to seek from the at-fault party.
What is the Statute of Limitations on Filing a Lawsuit?
Indiana has a strict statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. If a cyclist hit by a car wants to pursue compensation, they must do so within two years from the date of the accident.
After those two years have passed, your case will most likely be thrown out by a judge.
Even though two years may seem like plenty of time, it is best to start the lawsuit process early. You want to act while there is still plenty of time to collect evidence, work with your lawyer, document your expenses, and understand your injuries and suffering.
What to Do After a Car vs. Bicycle Accident
After an accident, seek medical care right away. Even if you are not sure if you have any serious injuries, it is important to be checked out by a medical professional. Some symptoms won’t appear until hours or even days after the accident, but a medical provider can document your condition.
Additionally, you will want to do the following:
- If you are physically well enough to do so, take pictures of everything at the scene of the accident. In fact, take pictures from as many angles as possible. (Please do not put yourself in any danger to get these pictures)
- Photograph your injuries, as well as your bike, the location of the accident, the other vehicle, and your surroundings.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the driver of the vehicle.
- If there were witnesses to the accident, get their contact information, too.
As soon as you are well enough to do so, contact an attorney. If you are unable to contact one yourself, we can speak with a legal representative such as a spouse or parent.
In the days, weeks, and months after your accident, you mustn’t provide a written statement or sign anything related to your accident until you have spoken with your attorney.
Continue to document your symptoms and everything related to your recovery. Save every medical bill, insurance statement, receipts related to travel for medical care, and anything else that your lawyer advises you to hold onto.
Contact Crossen Law Firm Today: Indianapolis Bicycle Accident Attorneys
At Crossen Law Firm in Indianapolis, we do everything we can to help you focus on your recovery following your bicycle accident. Our team can walk you through the average settlement for a bicycle accident and will handle the details of your case while you recover and heal.
Bicycle accident injuries can be difficult to overcome, and the financial burden may feel overwhelming. Crossen Law Firm helps bicycle accident victims get the compensation they need so that they don’t have to worry about how they are going to pay for everything related to their accident.
Contact the Crossen Law Firm at 317-401-8626 to schedule a free consultation! We are ready to help.
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