A cyclist who gets hit by an automobile or a commercial truck is likely to suffer serious and possibly fatal injuries because of the minimal protection that a bicycle offers. The medical expenses involved can be astronomically high, and it is possible that the victim will be unable to resume work for a long time.
A bicycle injury lawyer in Lafayette, Louisiana can assist you in reaching a fair settlement if you have been a victim of this type of accident. We can help you assess fault and determine the right amount of compensation for your injuries during a free consultation.
Seeking and Claiming Damages for a Lafayette Bike Wreck
Before you can seek compensation in your case, you will have to know what your case is worth so you will know how much you can ask for when you file your insurance claim or lawsuit. These damages usually fall into two categories: economic (monetary) and non-economic (non-monetary). Economic damages are losses you can prove with a receipt or invoice, while non-economic damages are subjective.
Common economic damages in bicycle cases are:
- Medical expenses for emergency and ongoing care
- Lost wages or reduced income
- Property damages
- Other accident-related expenses
Common non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of life enjoyment
A Laborde Earles lawyer who handles bicycle accident cases from Lafayette can review and collect evidence to document your damages and calculate them accurately so you will know the value of your case.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 777-7777
We will Handle the Insurance Company for You
The compensation for a bicycle accident will usually come from the insurance of the motorist who hit the bicyclist because Louisiana is a fault state for car insurance. However, this does not simplify matters. In an attempt to protect their interests, insurers will often try to shift fault onto the victims and offer meager settlements.
An experienced Lafayette bicycle accident attorney can prevent this from happening by building a strong case and directly negotiating with the insurer for a settlement for you. If there is clear evidence to support the bicyclist’s claim, there may be a substantial out-of-court settlement offer. A large number of such cases are settled through negotiations.
Some of the tasks our lawyers can handle for you include:
- Filing necessary legal paperwork in your case
- Communicating with all parties involved in your case, including other attorneys
- Representing you in all meetings and hearings about your case
- Filing your injury lawsuit with the civil court within Louisiana’s statute of limitations of one year (CC §3492)
- Taking your case to trial for a court award, if necessary
Lafayette Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
When Should You Contact a Lawyer After a Bicycle Accident?
You should contact a Lafayette bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. If you aren’t too seriously injured, it’s best to call us before you speak to anyone else. This is important because it is to your advantage if we do the talking for you during the settlement process. Otherwise, the other party’s insurers may trick you into making statements that can hurt your claim.
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We’ve Recovered Over $200 Million for our Injury Clients
The attorneys with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers collectively have more than 100 years’ worth of experience and have helped clients recover more than $200 million in cash settlements and verdicts. We know the laws in Louisiana and protect our clients’ rights while fighting for the compensation they deserve. We want to do the same for you.
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Yes, You Can Afford to Hire a Lawyer to Take on Your Bicycle Case
We know many people may consider passing up hiring an attorney to take their case because of concerns about legal fees. We understand this concern, so we work with our clients on a contingency basis.
This payment arrangement allows us to work on your injury case without charging you upfront fees. If you win your case, we will take your fee from your settlement or court award. If we don’t secure financial recovery for you, you don’t have to pay us.
Establishing Who’s Responsible for Your Bicycle Accident
One important task we help clients with is identifying liable parties in their bicycle accident. We also must prove those parties demonstrated negligence. Liable parties in your case could be:
- The driver who hit you with their vehicle
- The company that hired the driver
- The bicycle’s manufacturer (if the bicycle is found to be faulty)
- Cities or municipalities responsible for the upkeep of their roadways
When it comes to proving that any of these parties were negligent in your accident, we must prove:
- The liable party had a duty of care to you to keep you from harm.
- They failed to carry out that duty.
- As a result of the breach, they caused your accident.
- The accident resulted in compensatory damages.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents that You Can Sue for
Investigating the accident and identifying all liable parties is the first step your lawyer will take during the process of claiming compensation for a bicycle accident that occurred in Lafayette. In many bike wrecks, the fault may be glaringly evident. However, there may be quite a few other factors, including other parties involved who also may be accountable.
It is also vital to remember that not wearing a helmet or any other risky behavior may raise the biker’s level of negligence, but it does not mean they will be prevented from seeking compensation. There are several examples of accidents that may be the fault of others on the road.
Bike Lane Crashes
Quite often, motorists do not respect bike lanes and can cause accidents. Whenever a driver fails to notice a bike lane and drifts across the lines, they put bikers at risk. However, debris left on the road after road work or an 18-wheeler not noticing someone on a bike can also cause these types of accidents.
Intersection Collisions
The most common reason for bike accidents in a crosswalk or intersection is distracted or drunk driving. However, there are instances where a construction crew or a government agency is responsible for causing such an accident due to a poorly designed intersection or a malfunctioning traffic light.
Dooring Accidents
It is a clear case of negligence if a car owner opened their door into the path of a biker, which is known as “dooring.” However, it is also possible that the driver was distracted by a passenger, or a property owner left some kind of obstruction that hindered the driver’s view, resulting in a dooring incident.
What is the Average Bicycle Accident Settlement?
Every bicycle accident claim has different circumstances that will affect the value of a settlement, so there is no “average” amount of compensation you can expect. Online claims calculators are not accurate. The best way to find out how much your case may be worth is to reach out to us for a free consultation.
Consult with a Lafayette Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
For a cyclist, it is a difficult road to recovery after an accident with an automobile. It will have an impact not just on your mental and physical well-being but also on your financial condition.
A reputable Lafayette bike accident attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can fight on your behalf to get you the rightful compensation. Call today to learn more about how we can help you at (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
