At best, a bicyclist can hope to escape a crash with some scratches and little damage to their bike. At worst, however, bicycle accidents can cause debilitating injuries as well as fatalities, which can leave the victims and families in need of financial help with medical bills as well as lost income.
If you suffered financial losses from a bicycle accident, you could pursue legal action against the responsible party. Connect with a Washington DC bicycle accident lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC today to find out how you could get justice and compensation: (800) 761-5225.
You Could Receive Compensation
If someone else’s negligence caused your accident, you could file a claim for compensation. While every bicycle accident is unique and it is hard to generalize about what victims could receive, some of the types of compensation that might be available can include:
Loss of Income
If you suffered injuries in a bicycle accident you may have lost days at work or may not be able to return to work for a while. You may not be able to return to work at all if your injuries are severe. In these cases, you could receive past, present, and future lost income.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses after a crash can be considerable. You could obtain compensation for all of your medical losses, including surgeries, hospitalization, out-patient treatment, physical therapy, medical devices, and other expenses. You could also receive medical transportation costs and the cost of a home health aide, if required.
Loss of Quality of Life
In some cases, injuries may be so debilitating that accident victims are unable to live their lives in the way they did before the accident. They may not be able to pursue their hobbies or enjoy any activities they used to enjoy. This can be devastating for the victims and their families. If this happened to you, you could receive amounts for the loss of life quality.
Pain and Suffering
If you were severely hurt in a bicycle accident, it is likely that you suffered physical pain and suffering. You may also suffer from the emotional effects from an accident. In this case, you could claim damages for your emotional and physical suffering.
There are many other types of compensation that may be available to you in a bicycle accident, such as awards for disfigurement, disability, and others. However, in order to calculate your damages adequately for a fair settlement, you should speak to a Washington DC bicycle accident lawyer who can advise you and protect you.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Washington DC, call 800-761-5225
We Can Handle the Insurance Company
The at-fault party’s insurance may approach you after an accident. However, we recommend that you do not agree to anything, or sign any documents, before consulting with a bicycle accident attorney from our firm. A lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help ensure that you receive an adequate settlement and are not short-changed by any insurances. After all, if your injuries are extensive and need treatment for years to come, you will want to make sure that you are not left out of pocket.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today for your free case evaluation with a member of our team.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Washington DC, call (800) 761-5225.
Washington DC Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-761-5225
You Will Need Evidence
In order to prove someone else’s fault for your accident, and have a chance to receive any compensation, you will need to present compelling evidence proving fault. Some of the evidence you may need can include:
Police Reports
Typically, a police officer will arrive at the scene of an accident and draft up a police report giving their opinion of what happened and who was at fault. The police report will also most likely include any traffic violations and can be useful evidence in proving your case.
Photographs
If you have any photographs or videos that you or bystanders took at the accident scene, make sure to keep them safe. Photographs of the scene, property damage, and injuries can be important evidence for your case.
Witness Statements
If you can, collecting the contact details of any witnesses at the accident scene can be crucial to later help you prove fault of the other party. You can ask eyewitnesses to write down a statement of the accident. If it comes to a court case, witness testimony might be extremely important in proving your case.
Medical Records
All your medical records of any injuries and treatments, medication, surgeries, imaging studies, and all out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries, will be extremely important evidence. Make sure to keep all receipts and bills safe as they can prove some of your damages.
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Proving Fault in a Washington DC Bicycle Accident Case
Proving fault in a bicycle accident is not always as straightforward as it might seem. Consulting with a Washington DC bicycle accident lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC can be helpful. A lawyer from our firm can also help you gather important evidence needed to prove your case.
In a tough case, you may also need an expert witness to give a statement on your behalf. A bicycle accident lawyer from our firm can typically provide expert witnesses to help you with your case. We will gather the evidence listed above to prove the following elements of liability:
Duty of Care
We must show that the at-fault party had a duty to keep you safe. All road users owe each other this duty of care.
Breach of Duty
Next, we will prove that the at-fault party somehow breached the duty of care. This might be by breaking a traffic law, not paying attention to the road, or driving recklessly.
Causation
Their breach of duty must have directly led to the accident. We need to provide the evidence to show that the accident wouldn’t have occurred if they hadn’t made a critical error.
Damages
We also need to compile all of your losses to illustrate your financial, emotional, and physical losses from the bicycle accident.
Washington DC Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (800) 761-5225.
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Washington DC Statute of Limitations
Do not wait too long to take action if you are intending to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to get compensation for your losses. We understand that your first priority is your health, and it certainly should be. However, if you do not act in a timely manner, you may lose out on compensation altogether.
According to the Code of the District of Columbia 12.301, you have three years to bring any personal injury action forward. There may be occasional exceptions, however, so if it has been three years after your injury and you can only now begin to file a lawsuit, you should connect with a Washington DC bicycle accident lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC to find out if you could still file.
Bicycle Accidents in Washington DC
If you suffered injuries in a bicycle accident in Washington DC, you are not the only one. In fact, according to Washington DC’s District Department of Transportation, over the past five years, 334 crashes with bicyclists occur on average every single year. That is almost one bicycle accident per day.
A lawyer Ben Crump Law, PLLC is prepared to fight for you if you suffered injuries in a Washington DC bicycle accident. Our team at the Washington DC office, located at 717 D Street, N.W. Suite 310, is standing by, ready to take your call.
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Ben Crump Law, PLLC Can Help
If you suffered injuries and material losses in a bicycle accident, you do not need to struggle alone. Let us help. We can analyze your case and advise you on your legal options. We can also help you negotiate with insurances and fight for you in court.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today for your free, no-obligation consultation: (800) 761-5225.
Call or text 800-761-5225 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.
Call or text 800-761-5225 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
