Perhaps an aggressive driver, amidst a reckless lane change, hit you on a bike ride to work. Or worse, maybe your child was hit by a carelessly negligent driver when biking to school. People are severely injured and killed in bicycle accidents every day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Most bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas and at non-intersection locations”, so it is likely, in a city like Memphis, that people might easily be struck on a commute.
If you have been severely injured or lost someone in a bicycle accident, Ben Crump Law, PLLC understands the extraordinary tragedy of your circumstances. Bicycle accidents are sudden and traumatic. One day the victim is alive and healthy, and the next they are not. In addition to recovering your health, you deserve to recover damages from the party who hurt you or your loved one.
A Memphis bicycle accident lawyer can help. Call the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC today to see if you might be eligible for a financial award. If you are, we want to see you get the award you deserve. We offer free consultations at (800) 761-5225. Our first priority is you. We work on a contingency basis, so we only get paid if you do.
Injuries Suffered in Bicycle Accidents
A bicyclist’s injuries depend on, among other things, the vehicle responsible, the location of the accident, whether the cyclist was wearing a helmet, and how or where the vehicle hit the biker. Though many bicyclists do suffer fatalities, the majority do not. In 2018, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), “Bicyclists’ deaths accounted for 2% of all motor-vehicle traffic fatalities” in the United States. Bikers who do suffer fatal accidents are much more likely than not, to have been riding without a helmet. For example, out of the 83% of 2015 U.S. bicycle deaths in which helmet use was known, 56% of those killed were not wearing a helmet and 29% were, says The National Safety Council. Wearing a helmet is crucial, but it is not fail-proof. Even bikers wearing helmets may not survive an accident with a motor vehicle.
However, those that do survive tend to suffer similar consequences. In a study of non-fatal bicycle injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2013, completed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the most common injuries were to the arm, hand, or shoulder, followed by the leg or the foot, the head, the face or ear, and lastly, the torso. They found that a significant majority of those injuries were bruises and scrapes, then fractures, cuts, internal injuries, mostly to the head, and finally strains, sprains, and concussions.
The most severe injuries that bicyclists survive are those to the head, neck, and spinal cord. The American Association for Neurological Surgeons (AANS) reports that “Cycling-related head injuries are far more common than neck fractures, but it is not infrequent for a patient to incur both a head and neck injury during an accident. Of the estimated 2,692 sports-related neck fractures treated at U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2009, 536 related to cycling”.
Children Are Vulnerable to Spinal Injuries
Riley Children’s Health Indiana University Health notes that children are particularly vulnerable to spinal injuries from bicycle accidents. “Falls and accidents involving bicycles and motor vehicles are the most common cause of spine injuries in young children.” The hospital elaborates on the effects of spine injuries and the fact that they can “involve fractures or dislocations of the bones around the spine. These may require surgery to stabilize the bones so they do not move and injure the spinal cord. If the bones are displaced, they may bruise or injure the spinal cord causing weakness, paralysis, changes in the ability to feel or difficulty in controlling bowel and bladder function.”
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Memphis, call 800-761-5225
How Ben Crump Law, PLLC Can Help
Bicycle accidents and their repercussions can be devastating, if not fatal. If you have suffered or lost anyone to any of the above-mentioned injuries, you deserve damages and justice. You have one year from the date of the accident to file a case, due to the Tennessee statutes of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death, Tennessee Code §20-5-113 (2016) and Tennessee Code §28-3-104 (2019). A Memphis bicycle accident lawyer can help you do that. When you call Ben Crump Law, PLLC you can rely on us to handle your case from beginning to end. We can help you gather pre-filing evidence to build your case and then file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf. We know Tennessee filing protocols and will file paperwork and court documents, meet filing deadlines, and take care of any other tedious requirements.
Memphis Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-761-5225
Damages to Compensate Your Losses
When our team takes your case, you can rest easy and focus on your recovery, knowing that we are working hard to build a case that accurately represents your losses. If you have suffered an injury, we will collect your medical records, witness and expert testimony, and other evidence that clearly illustrates your accident. If you have lost a child or other loved one, we will make sure the court understands the extent of the tragedy you have experienced.
A personal injury lawsuit should reimburse all of your medical costs and lost wages, past and future. In addition, the court should recognize and factor your physical pain and emotional suffering into a fair settlement.
A wrongful death lawsuit, according to Tennessee law TN Code §20-5-113 (2016), should allow recovery “for the mental and physical suffering, loss of time and necessary expenses resulting to the deceased from the personal injuries, and also the damages resulting to the parties for whose use and benefit the right of action survives from the death consequent upon the injuries received.” Though nothing could ever truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, Ben Crump Law, PLLC will fight to make sure that the court understands your pain and that the defendant is held accountable to the full extent of the law.
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You deserve a lawyer who cares and will fight for your maximum recovery. We want to see you get justice and be compensated for all you have lost. A Memphis bicycle accident lawyer can take the legal responsibility off of your shoulders so that you can focus on your health and physical recovery. Ben Crump Law, PLLC can take on your case and represent you fairly. We offer free consultations at (800) 761-5225. There is no need to commit when you call and no need to pay when we take your case unless we win for you.
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