If you or a loved one suffered a biking injury due to a negligent driver, an Alexandria bicycle accident lawyer from our firm could help you seek the compensation you need. A compassionate injury attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to guide you through the process to help you protect your rights.
Bicycling is popular in Alexandria due to the warm year-round climate, beautiful scenery, and high number of tourists who visit the area each year. When bicycling accidents happen, the results can be devastating.
A Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Alexandria Can Do Everything for You
A lawyer from our firm will handle every aspect of your case while you recover. We will do everything possible to help you get the compensation you deserve. Some of the actions we can take on your behalf include:
Gathering Evidence
If you have any pictures or videos of your injuries or the accident scene, this evidence will be helpful to your case. We may also be able to access footage from nearby surveillance cameras. We can obtain your medical records and bills to establish the link between your injuries and the accident.
Filing Your Claim or Lawsuit
We will file your personal injury claim and handle all communication with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If we think negotiating for a more reasonable settlement is necessary, we will take care of that, too.
The insurance adjuster may not agree to the settlement we think you deserve. If this is the case, we can take your case to court and fight for fair compensation there.
Interviewing Eyewitnesses
If there were any witnesses to your bicycle accident and you have their contact information, we can reach out to them and find out if they have any valuable information to share.
Working with Accident Reconstructionists and Medical Experts if Necessary
An accident reconstructionist can investigate and analyze an accident and help us figure out how and why the accident occurred. A medical expert can discuss how you sustained your injuries and how they will affect you in the future.
A bicycle accident lawyer from our firm will tirelessly fight for justice and an adequate financial award to help you move on from your accident more comfortably.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 333-3476
Damages You May Be Entitled to After a Bicycle Accident in Louisiana
Louisiana allows injured bicyclists to demand economic and non-economic damages from negligent individuals, responsible companies, or insurers. Whether a claim involves individual negligence, premises liability, or product liability, the claimant deserves personal injury damages.
The following are economic and non-economic damages that a bicycle accident victim may receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, and prescription medication
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Diminished earnings
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of activities
- Physical/emotional therapy costs
- Paralysis
Your damages may include both past and future losses, like current medical bills and expenses you expect in the future. A bicycle accident lawyer serving Alexandria will determine what damages you are owed and valuate them to estimate how much compensation you may receive.
Alexandria Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (318) 333-3476
You May Be Able to Ask for Punitive Damages After a Crash Involving a Drunk Driver
Louisiana courts typically do not award punitive damages to punish guilty parties for their especially offensive actions, but lawmakers made exceptions for cases involving drunk drivers, per CC Art. 2315.4. If a drunk driver strikes someone while biking, the bicyclist may be eligible to seek punitive damages above and beyond their normal damages, which compensate for actual losses suffered.
An Alexandria lawyer from our firm could help determine what damages may be available in your bicycle accident case.
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You Could Seek Wrongful Death Damages if You Lost a Loved One
If you lost a close relative in a bicycle accident, you may pursue damages in a wrongful death case. These damages are intended to compensate you and your family for how your loved one’s death has affected you.
A lawyer from our firm can meet with you to discuss your loss and its effects on your family. Your lawyer will tell you about the damages you may be eligible to collect, such as:
- Medical expenses your loved one incurred
- Funeral and burial/cremation expenses
- Lost earnings for your family
- Your family’s grief and anguish
- The loss of care and companionship you and your family are suffering
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Comparative Negligence in Bicycle Injury Cases
Louisiana operates under a rule called comparative negligence (CC Art. 2323), which says a plaintiff’s compensation award may be reduced by the amount of fault they contributed to their own accident or injuries.
A lawyer could combat allegations of comparative negligence so that a plaintiff may have a better chance of recovering the full amount of the damages awarded. Anyone who believes they may be partially at fault could work with an attorney to pursue compensation for their injuries.
We Can Help If Your Bike Accident Involved Negligence
Many different factors are involved in bike accidents, but a common factor is negligence. When drivers, other bicyclists, or even pedestrians are careless or distracted, they can cause accidents. Some of these accidents can have serious consequences.
In Alexandria, some causes of bike accidents include:
- Drivers following or passing cyclists too closely
- Merging with traffic unsafely
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for road conditions
- Drunk driving
- Texting while driving
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Disobeying traffic lights
These causes of bike accidents involve negligence. If you believe your bike accident involved another person’s negligence, a lawyer from our firm can help.
We’ve Helped Many Clients With Personal Injury Cases
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), falls are the most common kind of bike accident. These accidents typically cause only minor injuries, like road rash. If you suffered a fall due to someone else’s negligence, even if your injuries were minor, you can still pursue compensation with us.
For instance, let’s say you suffered a fractured wrist due to your bike slipping on an oil spill on the sidewalk. If the spill was outside of a business, we may be able to pursue compensation from the business owner.
Car crashes are another common type of bike accident, and they can cause very serious injuries or death. If you’re the victim of a car crash, we may be able to recover damages from the negligent driver or the vehicle owner’s auto insurer.
The Statute of Limitations in Your Case
Most personal injury claims in Louisiana must be filed within one year of the accident, per CC Art. 3492. This is one of the strictest time limits in the country and could mean that anyone considering a claim may need to consult a lawyer immediately following a bike accident, car accident, or any other personal injury.
You also generally have one year to file a wrongful death lawsuit, according to CC Art. 2315.2. The sooner you take action, the sooner you may be able to receive compensation.
Also, by acting soon, you’ll allow us to begin collecting evidence for your case before it disappears. For instance, if a pedestrian took cell phone footage of your accident scene, we should try to collect it before the person deletes it.
Get Help from an Alexandria Bicycle Accident Attorney at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers
No matter what caused your bicycle accident or whether you believe your actions contributed to the crash, a bicycle accident lawyer in Alexandria could seek to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. If you are interested in pursuing a claim, contact us today to learn more and book a free consultation with us.
Call or text (318) 333-3476 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
