Bicycle accidents often trigger severe injuries that change your life forever. When another person causes a bicycle accident and injuries, the injured person may be entitled to compensation under North Carolina personal injury laws.
You can always rely on our Cornelius bicycle accident lawyers at Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, to fight insurance companies for the maximum compensation. Our bicycle accident attorneys regularly achieve favorable results for our personal injury clients that allow them to move forward from their injuries.
Why Choose Us?
Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, is a dedicated Cornelius law firm with experience in bicycle accident claims and lawsuits. Our seasoned bike accident attorneys, including former insurance defense lawyers, are well-versed in the tactics insurance companies use to minimize settlements. This knowledge empowers us to fight fiercely on your behalf, ensuring you receive maximum compensation for your bicycle accident injuries.
Some of our notable recent settlements include settling a bicycle accident claim for $100,000 and obtaining $600,000 in another bicycle accident case involving an uninsured motorist.
Our Cornelius bicycle accident lawyers provide free consultations to assess your case and determine if negligence contributed to your injury. If you have a strong claim, we will negotiate tenaciously with the insurance company to secure coverage for medical expenses, lost income, and other losses.
Call us today at (980) 414-5755 to connect with a bicycle accident attorney and begin seeking the compensation you’re entitled to.
Who Is Liable For a Bicycle Accident Injury?
It’s critical to determine who caused your cycling accident injuries. After all, bike accidents can cause shattered bones, brain trauma, spine injuries, internal injuries, road rash, and more. Treating your injuries is expensive, and you can be out of work as you recover.
In North Carolina, to receive compensation in a personal injury claim, you must prove that another party’s negligence caused your bicycle accident injuries. In that case, you should receive compensation from the negligent party’s insurance company for your losses. Potentially liable parties in a bicycle accident include the following.
Car Drivers
The most common situation is that a car driver’s negligence causes a bicycle accident, leading to a settlement from the driver’s insurance company. Negligence can include actions like speeding, running a red light, failing to yield, distracted driving, or drifting into a bike lane.
For example, if the driver fails to check their blind spot and collides with you, they may be liable for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. North Carolina law requires drivers to maintain car insurance, which can cover these damages if the driver is at fault. However, the state’s contributory negligence doctrine complicates claims.
This makes it essential to gather substantial evidence, such as police reports, witness statements, or video footage, to establish the driver’s sole fault. Additionally, our skilled Cornelius bicycle accident attorneys understand how to collect and interpret evidence to demonstrate that the driver was at fault.
Government Organizations
Liability for a bike accident may involve government agencies if poor road conditions or infrastructure defects caused your accident. Unmaintained roads, potholes, or missing signage in Cornelius can contribute to cyclist injuries, and municipalities or state agencies, such as the North Carolina Department of Transportation, can be held accountable.
If you were injured due to a hazardous road defect, you might file a claim against the responsible agency. However, suing a government entity involves complying with complicated laws and procedures, including shorter filing deadlines and immunity protections.
Proving negligence requires demonstrating that the agency knew or should have been aware of the hazard and failed to take action. These cases often demand thorough investigations and expert testimony, so you should always retain a skilled Cornelius bicycle accident lawyer to represent you.
Other Parties
Less often, other parties can be liable for your bicycle accident injuries. A pedestrian who steps into a bike lane and causes a crash may be held responsible, with their homeowners’ or renters’ insurance potentially covering the damages.
Property owners might be liable if their negligence, such as leaving obstacles on a bike path, contributes to your crash.
Additionally, if a bicycle accident results from a defective bike component, the manufacturer or retailer can face liability under product liability laws. These cases require proving that the defect directly caused the injury, often involving technical details that a Cornelius bicycle accident attorney should handle for the best results.
Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, will review your claim to determine who may be liable. Then, we work to prove the other party’s negligence using critical evidence, such as vehicle and bike damage, surveillance camera footage, and witness statements. Next, we’ll send a demand letter to the liable insurance company detailing your medical bills and other damages. We will negotiate aggressively for the maximum compensation.
What Is My Bicycle Accident Claim Worth?
Most bicycle accidents involve substantial injuries. Your claim’s value will depend on several critical factors:
- The severity of your injuries: Serious injuries, such as a broken back, will have a higher case value than a broken arm or leg.
- Medical bills: Severe injuries may cost millions to treat, while less serious injuries cost much less.
- Lost work time: You may receive more compensation if your bike accident leaves you permanently disabled.
Contact Our Cornelius Bicycle Accident Lawyers In Cornelius Today
A driver injured you on your bicycle, and now you have serious injuries and cannot work for months. How will you recover and pay your bills? North Carolina law provides legal options if another party’s negligence or wrongful action injured you.
However, the liable insurance company will likely fight your claim and attempt to lowball you.
That’s why you should always retain a skilled Cornelius bicycle accident lawyer to fight for your rights. When you hire Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, you receive experienced insurance negotiators who will fight for every dollar you need.
Rely on our Cornelius bicycle accident attorneys to fight for the maximum compensation for your losses. Our lawyers have secured tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, so contact us today for a complimentary consultation to determine if you have a valid claim. Call (980) 414-5755 now.
