Bicycles, like motorcycles, are delicate vehicles to encounter on the road. You want to take care, if you are in a car, to treat a bicyclist with caution, as they can fall victim to accidents easily. If you are the party on the bicycle, you have to do what you can to communicate your movements to the larger vehicles around you, or else you may risk putting yourself in danger while trying to do something as simple as cross the street.
Bicycle accidents in North Carolina present all parties involved with severe consequences given the status that the state assigns to bicycles. North Carolina General Statute (GS) 20-4.01 notes that bicycles within the state are considered vehicles comparable to cars while on the road. As such, bicyclists must abide by the same laws that control the behavior of those drivers in cars, including those that speak on signaling and additional interactions with other drivers. In the same vein, however, drivers in cars who fail to uphold their duty of care to a bicyclist will be responsible for their injuries and losses.
If you find yourself involved in a bicycle accident as a bicyclist, you can take legal action against the party you believe to be liable for your losses. The team with Ben Crump Law, PLLC can walk you through your rights and help you determine what happened during your accident from a legal perspective. As such, we can fight for compensation for you to help ease your recovery.
If you want to learn more about what legal options may be available to you after a bicycle accident, you can reach out to the team with Ben Crump Law, PLLC by calling (800) 761-5225.
Working with a Durham Bicycle Accident Lawyer
The driving forces behind bicycle accidents on the road are many. Some of the most common can include:
- Fatigued drivers at the wheel of a car
- Mechanical failure within a car
- Mechanical failure on the part of the bike
- Failure to signal
- Failure to abide by roadway signs
- Speeding on the part of a person in a car
As mentioned, you have the opportunity, after a bicycle accident, to work with a bicycle accident lawyer to determine what went wrong in your accident. With this information at hand, you can more effectively express to a judge or to another party involved in your accident what losses you endured and, subsequently, what compensation to which you may be entitled.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Durham, call (800) 761-5225
You Don’t Have to Go to Court to Fight for Compensation After a Bicycle Accident
It is important to note that you do not have to take a bicycle accident case to court to fight for compensation based on your losses. Instead, a bicycle accident lawyer can negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to try to win you a settlement offer.
Durham Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (800) 761-5225
What to Do if You Receive a Settlement Offer
In some cases, for example, the party you believe to be liable for your accident may choose to reach out to you with a settlement after the accident takes place. You have no obligation to accept this settlement out of hand. Instead, you can take it to an attorney in your area and discuss whether or not it meets all of your needs. Should the settlement appear to be insufficient, you can request that a bicycle accident lawyer negotiate with the offering party on your behalf.
Click to contact our Durham Personal Injury Lawyers today
What to Do if You Want to Avoid Court
In other cases, you can choose to reach out to the party you believe to be responsible for your losses via a demand letter. In this type of letter, you can detail your losses as well as what evidence you may have establishing that party as liable for your losses. If the party you contact proves open to this manner of communication, a Durham bicycle lawyer can once again negotiate for compensation on your behalf.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Filing a Complaint
Sometimes, though, you will not be able to get in touch with the party you believe to be liable for your losses. In these cases, you can work with an attorney to bring together a legal complaint. In these types of documents, you can outline the identity of the party you believe to be liable for your losses, as well as what your potential compensation may look like. The court, should they decide to bring your case forward, can contact your named party for you.
Working with a Law Firm That Operates on Contingency
Law firms that operate on contingency, like Ben Crump Law, PLLC, do not charge the parties who come to them with legal fees while a case is ongoing. Instead, you will only receive a bill from this firm if:
- A court awards you compensation at the conclusion of your case
- After negotiations, the liable party provides you with a satisfying settlement
Upon the completion of either of the above, a contingency-based law firm can request a percentage of your offered settlement, in accordance with guidelines set forth by the American Bar Association.
You Can Recover Damages with Help from a Durham Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Bicycle accidents are challenging to recover from, regardless of what your role in the accident was. You can rest assured, though, knowing that if you did not contribute to the accident, you can seek legal action against the person you believe to be liable for your losses.
The team with Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help you better understand your position in these types of accidents. Together with a Durham bicycle accident lawyer, you can focus on your recovery while also bringing your concerns to the attention of a local court justice or those other parties involved in your accident.
If you wish to take legal action after a bicycle accident, the team with Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help. You can reach out and discuss your case by calling (800) 761-5225.
Call or text (800) 761-5225 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
