Yes, you may be eligible for compensation if you were hit by a car while on a bike. Depending on where you live, your state may have certain laws outlining who can be held responsible for your accident. For example, no-fault states and at-fault states have very different laws regarding whose insurance company the victim should file with first in order to get compensation for their injuries.
After filing an insurance claim, an insurance adjuster will determine liability. Adjusters may look at your case in terms of the best result for their company and not necessarily the fairest outcome for you if you were hit by a car while on a bike. In this instance, it may be best to contact a legal professional for help regarding your potential for financial recovery.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident
The steps you take after your accident may have a direct impact on the outcome of your claim. Of course, the first step you should take is to seek medical attention. Even if you can get back on your bike and ride away unscathed, injuries such as spinal cord trauma or brain damage may not appear immediately after your collision.
Keep any medical bills, scripts, or imaging scan results to support your claim. Later in the legal process, you may be asked to demonstrate the extent of your injuries relating to you getting hit by a car while on a bike.
You should also:
- Report the accident to law enforcement and get a copy of the police report.
- Take photographs of the scene, injuries, and damage if possible.
- Write down the other driver’s contact information, vehicle make and model, and other relevant documentation.
You may want to reach out to friends and family members by posting about your accident to social media. This is not advisable. In the days and weeks after your collision, the other party’s insurance adjuster may scroll through your public, social media profiles looking for information that will discredit your injuries. For example, if you claimed to have suffered injuries that limited your mobility and then posted pictures of yourself at a sporting event, this would not look good for your claim.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-761-5225
Compensation May Cover the Cost of Your Damages
There is no data available that demonstrates the exact value of a bicycle accident.
However, depending on the circumstances of your case, financial recovery may include:
- Past, present, and future medical bills.
- Cost of ongoing physical therapy.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning capacity.
- Property damage.
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience.
- Emotional trauma.
- Loss of consortium.
The statute of limitations in your state may limit the length of time you have to pursue your claim if you were hit by a car while on a bike. For instance, in Florida under Florida Statutes § 95.11 you have four years from the date of your accident to pursue a civil action. However, in Tennessee, you only have one year to seek compensation under Tennessee Statutes § 28-3-104.
Helpful Resources if You Were Hit by a Car While on a Bike
Working with a legal professional can provide you with valuable resources that you might not otherwise have received by pursuing your own damages. A lawyer can conduct a prompt investigation of your case and protect your rights throughout the legal process.
Other ways a personal injury bicycle accident lawyer can help you achieve a favorable outcome for your case are:
- Interviewing professionals, such as accident reconstruction experts.
- Helping you understand bicycle accident laws.
- Estimating the value of your claim.
- Negotiating with the insurance company and other involved parties on your behalf.
- Filing all necessary paperwork within imposed deadlines.
- Gathering, preserving and presenting evidence.
While recovering from your injuries after being hit by a car while on a bicycle, you most likely are in no shape to be taking on the burden of legal matters. Working with a lawyer can help you understand the extent of your rights while protecting you from bad faith insurance practices.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Choosing a Bicycle Accident Injury Lawyer
Being hit by a car while riding a bike can be a harrowing experience and leave you with significant injuries and financial losses. After surviving such a traumatic event, you deserve to have legal representation fighting on your behalf.
If you face damages after being hit by a car while on a bike that was not your fault, Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help make things right. We can work hard to protect your rights and help you pursue the compensation you need. Not only do we offer free initial consultations, but we also work on a contingency basis. This means that we do not request any payment unless we successfully recover awards for you. Our staff is looking forward to getting to know you and learning the details of your accident.
For more information on the services we provide, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-761-5225.
Call or text 800-761-5225 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
