Bicyclists have just as much right to utilize the roadways as motorists. However, bicyclists are often subject to debilitating injuries when drivers fail to safely share the roadways. If you suffered severe injuries in a bicycle accident, you may have the right to restitution for your damages.
With help from a Slidell bicycle accident lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, you can bring the liable party to justice. Find out how much your claim could be worth when you contact our office for a free consultation.
How Do Bicycle Accidents Happen?
Bicycle accidents happen far more frequently than they should. Unfortunately, most bicycle accidents occur when a bicyclist is struck by a motor vehicle. Although bicyclists have the right to use the roads the same way motorists do, many motorists fail to share the roadway safely. This often results in catastrophic and life-threatening injuries to bicyclists. Some examples of negligent driving that are known to cause bicycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to stop
- Driving over the speed limit
- Operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Aggressive driving
- Driving while fatigued
However, it is important to note that negligent drivers are not the only parties responsible for causing bicycle accidents. There are countless other parties who could share liability depending on the details of your case. For instance, if your bicycle accident was caused by a drunk driver, your attorney will determine whether any local dram shops in the area may have served the negligent driver alcohol when they were already intoxicated.
If your bicycle accident was caused by dangerous road conditions such as an unsecured road construction zone, missing street signs, or large potholes, there are several parties who could be at fault, such as:
- Government agencies
- Government officials
- Construction workers
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Safety inspectors
- Other third parties
We Identify the Liable Party or Parties Through an Investigation
To determine who is responsible for causing your bicycle accident injuries, your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of your accident.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
Will You Have to Go to Court?
Many bicycle accident victims hesitate to get legal help because they do not want to have to bring their case to court. After everything you have been through, dealing with a difficult litigation process can seem overwhelming.
However, in some cases, you may be able to avoid bringing your case to court by obtaining an insurance settlement that adequately meets your needs. Sadly, many insurance settlements are not enough to cover your damages in full.
Bringing your case to court opens the opportunity for you to recover all your losses associated with your bicycle accident injuries.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
How Much Is Your St. Tammany Parish Bicycle Accident Claim Worth?
Determining how much your bicycle accident claim in Slidell is worth will be one of your attorney’s most important responsibilities. By reviewing your economic damages and non-economic damages in detail, you will have a better idea of what you could be awarded through your insurance and civil claims.
Economic damages are monetary and fixed. You can prove their value with financial records such as receipts, bank statements, bills, and other records. Some examples of economic damages you could be awarded in your Slidell bicycle accident claim include:
- Costs of increased insurance premiums
- Loss of income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Medical expenses and equipment fees (current and future)
- Unexpected household expenses
- Cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle
- Other financial losses
However, you also have the right to be compensated for the ways your life has been affected by your injuries that have nothing to do with money. These are referred to as non-economic damages. They do not have a fixed financial value. Your attorney needs to quantify them so you can be compensated accordingly. Some of the more common types of non-economic damages awarded in bicycle accident claims include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Skin scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Reputational damages
- Inconvenience
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit?
Louisiana law requires personal injury lawsuits, including bicycle accident lawsuits, to be filed before the one-year statute of limitations expires, per CC Art. 3492. This is one of the strictest statutes of limitations across the United States.
This means you should get in touch with us so we can take on your case immediately. It takes time to build a powerful and compelling lawsuit against the liable party. You do not want to risk missing out on your opportunity to recover fair compensation for your damages because you waited too long to get legal help.
If your lawsuit is not filed before the statute of limitations expires, you will no longer have the right to have your case heard in the Slidell civil court system.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
How Do Insurance Settlements Work?
Many bicycle accident victims can recover a portion of the compensation they need through an insurance settlement. By filing a claim with the liable party’s insurance company, you can recover certain types and amounts of damages. However, do not expect your insurance settlement to cover every single loss. Insurance settlements are designed to only cover certain types of damages.
For example, if you were hit by a motorist, that motorist should have bodily injury liability coverage. This will cover your medical expenses in the event of an accident. However, if your medical expenses are greater than the amount of coverage the policyholder purchased, the insurance company is only required to cover your damages up to the limits of the policy.
This means you may have remaining damages that the insurance company is not obligated to cover. It will be up to your attorney to negotiate with the insurance company to ensure they are held accountable for their financial responsibilities in your claim.
Our Lawyers Want to Get to Work on Your Slidell Bicycle Accident Case
When you are ready to seek total compensation for your damages, our firm is here to help you get the most out of your claim or lawsuit. Connect with our Slidell bicycle accident lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to start working on your insurance and civil claims as soon as today.
Our firm proudly offers no-cost, risk-free consultations to bicycle accident injury victims across Slidell and nearby cities. Take advantage of this opportunity when you fill out our convenient contact form or call our office.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
