If you got hurt in an accident caused by negligence, your bicycle accident lawyer serving Lewisville could help you seek to recover your losses from the accountable party.
At the D. Miller & Associates, PLLC ™ law firm, we help injured people who suffer harm because of the careless actions of others. We could also go after additional damages for the legal beneficiaries if someone else’s negligent or wrongful act took the life of your close relative.
What Damages are Recoverable After a Lewisville Bicycle Accident?
Most losses from bicycle accidents fall into one of two categories, economic and non-economic losses.
Economic Losses
Economic damages are usually losses that affect your financial bottom line. These damages increase your expenses or decrease your income.
- Medical expenses. You can typically recover the reasonable cost of the medical treatment you need for your wounds. This category can include the ambulance, emergency room, hospital, doctors, surgery, blood transfusions, diagnostic procedures, prescriptions, physical therapy, and pain management.
- Lost income. People often miss time from work after getting hurt in a bicycle accident. Not many bosses would pay you 100 percent of your regular paycheck for the entire time you could not work because of your injuries. If, however, you missed some or all of your usual wages, salary, self-employment, or other types of regular income while recuperating, we can add that financial loss to your claim.
You might have intangible damages, also called non-economic losses, in addition to your economic damages.
Non-Economic Losses
These losses can be more challenging to quantify in dollars because these things seldom involve receipts or bills. We can, nonetheless, set a monetary value on these damages.
“Pain and suffering” is intangible, so coverage for it honors the physical discomfort and emotional anguish the injured person experienced because of the bicycle accident. Extensive, visible scars can justify damages for disfigurement. A person who can no longer walk or hold her child could seek damages for the lost enjoyment of life.
What Are Some Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
Here are some of the leading factors that can lead to bicycle accidents:
Dangerous Road Conditions
There are so many road conditions that could cause or contribute to a bicycle accident that we cannot possibly list all of them here. These are a few examples:
- Slick spills on the street
- Potholes that cause cars to veer or make it difficult to control the bike
- Gravel and other debris on the roadway
- Poorly designed bike paths and road shoulders
- Inadequate lighting
Do not worry if some other road factor led to your bicycle accident. We can talk to you about the conditions of your accident.
Distracted Drivers or Bike Riders
The failure of some drivers to give their full attention to the act of driving has always been a problem. Now that most people have cell phones and many vehicles have built-in information and entertainment systems, there are more reasons than ever for drivers to get distracted and strike a person riding a bike.
Some people take selfies or play games on their phones while riding a bicycle. If another bicyclist ran into you or forced you off of the road or into moving traffic due to their state of distraction, they can be liable for your injuries.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Lawsuit for a Bicycle Accident?
Yes. Under Texas law, you only have two years to file a lawsuit seeking to hold the at-fault party accountable for your losses for personal injury or wrongful death. If you miss the deadline, you could forever lose the right to hold the at-fault party financially responsible for harming you or your loved one.
Two years can pass quick when dealing with severe bicycle accident injuries or trying to rebuild your life in Lewisville after the loss of a loved one. Be sure to talk to and engage your lawyer right away. This way, you can think about other things and not have to worry about deadlines destroying your claim.
Pitfalls to Avoid After a Bike Accident
People who try to handle their injury claims on their own without a lawyer can fall victim to many different mistakes after a bicycle accident. Here are some of the more prevalent things that can decrease the value of your injury claim or rob you of your right to financial recovery:
Accepting a Lowball Offer
If you try to handle your own injury claim as a DIY project, the claims adjuster would likely toss you an offer far below what your claim is worth. It is difficult for people unfamiliar with the legal field or liability insurance industry to determine a fair settlement amount.
When it is too late, many find out that they should have received much more for their injuries.
Settling Before You Complete Your Medical Treatment
You might think that a good time to settle your injury claim is when you only have a few weeks of physical therapy remaining. However, you could settle and find out later that your doctor thinks you need additional medical intervention. You might regret settling too early.
In this case, the insurer would not have to pay for the surgery, and your regular health insurance will likely decline coverage. You might have to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills out of your pocket. Once you settle, the insurance company and defendant do not have to pay you another cent.
Call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ Today to Discuss Your Bicycle Accident Case
There are just a few examples of errors that could cost you plenty. You could avoid these and other problems by working with a bicycle accident lawyer from the beginning of your Lewisville collision case.
It is easy to get started if you were injured in a bicycle accident in Texas. You can call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ today for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney’s team.
