If you experienced a bicycle accident that left you injured, the consequences of your injuries could extend far beyond your immediate medical expenses. Depending on the severity of your injury, you could lose time at work and struggle with pain and suffering. You have a right to pursue financial recovery for these losses via an insurance claim or lawsuit.
These cases can be just as complex as those involving motor vehicle collisions. Our bicycle accident lawyers serving Richardson can investigate your case, identify at-fault parties, establish their liability, and work with the insurance company on your behalf to obtain your financial recovery.
Potential for Financial Recovery After a Richardson Bicycle Accident
The amount you could recover for your bicycle accident case depends on the type and severity of your injuries. According to Sports Medicine, common injuries from bicycle accidents include:
- Head injuries
- Contusions, fractures, sprains
- Abdominal injuries
- Genital injuries
- Abrasions and lacerations
- Bruises
The types of damages you could recover in your case range as widely as the types of injuries you could suffer in this type of accident. Types of recoverable damages could include:
- Medical treatment (doctor/surgeon costs)
- Hospitalization
- Emergency transportation
- Lost wages
- Diminished future potential earnings
- Home modification
- Mobility devices
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
If the Bicycle Accident Resulted in Wrongful Death
If you lost a loved one because of injuries they sustained in a bicycle accident, you could consider pursuing a wrongful death action. Our legal team is ready to work with you and fight for your financial recovery following this loss.
How Our Firm Can Help You After a Bicycle Accident in Richardson
The lawyers at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™, will take the burden of pursuing financial recovery off your shoulders. This way, you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery following your bicycle accident. We will handle every aspect of your case – from investigating the accident to calculating your damages – including:
- Interviewing witnesses
- Gathering evidence at the accident scene
- Collecting your medical records
- Reviewing photos and traffic/surveillance videos
- Obtaining the police report
- Seeking analyses from experts in the fields of medicine, occupational therapy, economics, and psychology
- Identifying your damages
- Negotiating with the insurance company
- Filing a lawsuit on your behalf, if necessary
- Representing you in civil court, if necessary
Our attorneys and staff will make ourselves available to you during this difficult time, so you always know where your case stands. We will even hold Facebook live streams to answer your questions. Our clients have described us as “very attentive and helpful” and as showing “professional, flawless responsibility to each client.”
Liable Parties in a Bicycle Accident
Whether you are crossing Richardson’s notoriously dangerous intersection at Sherman Street and Spring Valley or pedaling across the 87 miles of Richardson’s Trail System, bicycle accidents can happen for any number of reasons.
If another person or entity caused the collision, Texas law entitles you to pursue financial recovery from the at-fault party. However, to be successful, your personal injury claim must satisfy the legal theory of negligence, which is made up of the following elements:
- The other party owed you a duty of care.
- The other party breached their duty of care.
- This violation of duty caused you to suffer an injury.
- The injury resulted in your suffering damages.
Common Violations of Duty of Care
When bicycle accidents result from a collision with a motor vehicle, it could be because the driver:
- Failed to use a turn signal
- Did not yield right of way
- Did not see your bicycle in a bike lane or as it approached the intersection
- Was driving recklessly or aggressively
- Was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Opened their car door without checking for cyclists (dooring)
- Driving at excessive speeds
Sometimes a municipality can be at fault for a bicycle accident. Common examples of this type of negligence include failing to maintain roadways and failing to provide adequate lighting.
In other cases, a driver might lose control of their vehicle due to a defective car part, making the manufacturer liable for damages. Our lawyers will investigate your accident, identify the at-fault parties, and hold them accountable for your injuries.
The Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in Texas
Like many states, Texas sets a limit on the amount of time you have to take legal action against the person or party who caused your bicycle accident. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. According to Texas law, you usually have two years from the date of your injury in which to file a lawsuit.
Exceptions to this timeframe apply to instances when an injured party is suing the government. In such cases, the window of time is shorter. You must give the governmental agency notice of your intent to sue.
Consider hiring our law firm early, giving your legal counsel plenty of time to build your case and negotiate with insurers before the statute has expired in your case.
The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Bicycle Accident
One of the most important things to do after a bicycle accident is to seek medical attention. Many types of injuries – including brain injuries and internal organ damage – do not immediately manifest with signs or symptoms. We urge you to see a medical professional and let them know you have been in a bicycle accident. They will know how to check for these currently “invisible” injuries.
Retaining medical help early on will enable you to get treatment for these injuries that might otherwise go undetected and worsen over time. Furthermore, this documentation from a medical provider will serve as important evidence that links your injury to a date and time immediately following your bicycle accident.
Reach Out to D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ Following a Bicycle Accident
Our bicycle accident lawyers serving Richardson will guide you throughout your pursuit of financial recovery. Call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™, today for a case evaluation at (713) 850-8600.
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