Like any other means of transport or sport, cycling is associated with some risks, so injuries and mishaps can happen. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, we recommend contacting a Cankton bicycle accident lawyer immediately for legal guidance.
A lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will protect your rights and handle the claim through all stages. We will do everything in our power to ensure you get the maximum compensation for all of your injuries and damages.
Why Hire a Cankton Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
Bicycle accidents occur due to various factors, including the negligence of a driver, pedestrian, or cyclist. Although not all bicycle accidents result in serious injuries, hiring a lawyer is important to protect your rights and claim compensation.
Our Cankton bicycle accident lawyer has various responsibilities, such as:
- Navigating the intricacies of the insurance procedure
- Investigating your accident to establish liability and negligence
- Negotiating your claim with the insurance adjusters to get the proper compensation
- Explaining every legal step to you in simple language
- Providing personalized legal service and hands-on support
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Understanding Louisiana Bike Laws
If you’re a cyclist in Cankton, Louisiana, it’s important to know the bike laws to stay safe on the road. According to Louisiana’s Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD), here are some of the main things to keep in mind when riding:
Wear a Helmet
Any cyclist or passenger under 12 must wear a bicycle helmet. Although the law doesn’t require adults to wear helmets, it would be best to wear one to protect your head from traumatic injuries in the unfortunate event of an accident.
Know Where to Ride
Cyclists must ride as close as possible to the road’s right-hand edge, except in certain circumstances, such as:
- When passing a vehicle or bicycle traveling in the same direction
- When making a left turn into a private driveway or road at an intersection
- When there are unavoidable or unsafe conditions, like a very narrow lane
- When preparing to make a right turn in an authorized area
- When preparing to make a left turn on a one-way road with multiple lanes, a cyclist can ride as close as possible to the road’s shoulder or left-hand curb
Maintain Pedestrian Safety
Since bicycles are considered vehicles in Louisiana, cyclists should use normal lanes and paths designated for other vehicles. Since no state law prohibits or authorizes sidewalk riding, you can use these areas where possible as long as you maintain safety to prevent pedestrian accidents.
Observe the Three-foot Rule
Cyclists must maintain at least three feet between themselves and other vehicles while passing them on the road or sidewalk. This law aims to prevent drivers from accidentally hitting cyclists with their doors or bumping into them while turning corners.
Maintain Right to the Road
Like other vehicle operators, cyclists must yield when crossing an intersection with traffic lights or stop signs. However, if there’s no room for cars on either side of the road (or if there are no cars), cyclists don’t need to stop at all when crossing intersections—they can go right through like pedestrians.
Although Louisiana’s DUI statute RS 14:98 doesn’t apply to cyclists, an intoxicated cyclist could be charged with disorderly conduct or public intoxication by the police.
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Causes of Bicycle Crashes in Cankton
If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle crash, it’s important to establish the cause of the accident and whether you could recover compensation for your damages.
Common causes of bicycle crashes include:
- Failure to yield the right-of-way by a driver turning left when there’s no traffic light or stop sign
- Failure to obey traffic lights and signs
- Speeding by both drivers and bicyclists
- Distracted driving or riding, e.g., texting or cell phone use
- Poor visibility due to weather conditions, e.g., foggy or snowy conditions
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Possible Injuries After Bicycle Accidents
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 130,000 bicyclists are injured every year. Almost 1,000 of these accidents result in a fatality. While not all bicycle accidents are serious, many can result in injuries that could significantly change your life.
Here are some common injuries you might sustain if involved in a bicycle accident:
- Head Injury: It occurs when your head hits something hard, such as the road or another bike. In addition to causing pain and a headache, these injuries can also cause concussions that may require hospitalization for monitoring.
- Spinal Cord Injury: This injury occurs when your spine is damaged and can be life-threatening, thus requiring immediate medical attention. You may experience paralysis or loss of sensation below where the injury occurred.
- Broken Bones: If you’re hit by another person’s moving vehicle or fall off your bike while riding down a hill, you could sustain fractures in your arms or legs. These injuries are painful but treatable with long-term physical therapy.
- Road Rash: If you slide on the pavement after losing control of your bike, you could get road rash—the scrapes and cuts that happen when your skin comes into contact with asphalt at high speeds. This can range from minor cuts and bruises to major skin abrasions that require stitches or surgery.
- Internal Bleeding: It’s among the most dangerous types of bodily injury because it often goes undetected until it becomes life-threatening (or fatal). Injuries like broken ribs or severe internal bruising can cause blood vessels to rupture inside your body and leak blood into surrounding tissue or organs, leading to heart failure if left untreated.
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Recoverable Damages After a Bicycle Accident
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, a Cankton bicycle accident lawyer could help you recover economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages (past, present, and future)
- Reduced earning capacity
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Out-of-pocket expenses, like transportation costs to and from the hospital
Deadlines to File Your Claim
According to CC Art. 3492, the statute of limitations for filing a claim for injuries caused by a bicycle accident is one year in Louisiana. If you’re not swift in taking legal action, your claim might become invalid.
As such, it’s essential to speak with a Cankton bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can guide you through this process and ensure to file your claim within stipulated deadlines and local laws.
Contact Us Today for Responsive Legal Help
Bicycle accidents can have devastating consequences for the victims. If you’ve recently been in such an accident, consult Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for expert legal guidance. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Our Cankton bicycle accident lawyers are ready to handle your case on a contingency basis, meaning you’ll not incur any upfront fees and costs.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
