Bicycle Accident Attorney

West Palm Beach Bicycle Accident Attorney

Florida is known for its beautiful sunny days. One of the best ways to experience the pleasant weather is by getting on a bike. This should be a great way to get fit and get some fresh air. But, for some, these trips can end in painful injuries. Here is what you need to know if you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident in West Palm Beach.

Why Do These Accidents Happen?

Sadly, bike collisions are fairly common. In 2018, there were over 6,500 bike accidents in Florida. Unfortunately, this state leads the United States in cyclist fatalities. There are a few reasons why these accidents happen.

Most of the time, they are caused by motorists failing to pay close enough attention to the road. Ideally, drivers and cyclists will follow the same traffic laws. However, some motorists will fail to do this. For example, they might hit a cyclist when making a dangerous right-hand turn. Alternatively, they might run a red light or fail to give way to a bike.

At other times, it might be inattentiveness that causes the accident. They might not check for cyclists before deciding to open their doors. Or they might not give the bicycle rider enough space, so they rear-end the cyclist.

Most Common Bike Injuries

There are a range of injuries that you might receive if you have been involved in a bike accident. If you are lucky, you might be able to walk away with a strain or a few bruises. While this will hurt for a few days, it will heal quickly.

If you had a more serious accident, you might get some broken bones. These will need to be treated in the hospital. You might have to stay there for a few days. But you should be able to expect a full recovery.

One of the most serious types of injuries will be those that involve the head and spine. This can raise the odds that you will experience a wide range of serious injuries. For example, you can damage your spine. If this happens, you might become paralysed.  If you hit your head, you might have bleeding on the brain. This can lead to life-long disability. In some cases, it can even lead to death.

What to Do After the Accident?

If you have been involved in a bike accident, you will need to make sure that you are following the right procedure. Remember, you have the same rights as any other road user. You don’t want to let a dangerous driver get away with their reckless actions.

Call the Police

The first thing that you need to do is stay at the scene of the bicycle accident. Call the police. If you have been injured, you should also call an ambulance. Once the police arrive, they will be able to start investigating the bicycle accident. This report can be very useful for your lawyers when they are preparing your case.

You can supplement this report by gathering evidence yourself. Take plenty of pictures from the scene of the bike accident. You should also document the damage that your bike received. Make sure to take any pictures of your injuries. This will help verify the serious nature of the accident.

Get Contact Information

You will need to get the contact information of the driver. You will need to obtain their name and insurance information. You should also talk to anyone who witnessed the bike accident. Get their name and contact information. They will be able to help you verify your version of events.

Visit a Doctor

Once you have spoken to the police, it’s time to seek medical help. Do this as soon after the accident. There are two reasons for this. First, you might not be aware that you are injured. The adrenaline can block the pain. The quicker the doctor can diagnose the illness, the better your chances of making a full recovery.

Secondly, your doctor will be able to outline the extent of your injuries. This will allow your bicycle accident lawyer to start to put together a strong case. Sometimes, insurance companies will attempt to avoid paying the claim by speculating on the extent of the injuries. If you didn’t see the doctor after the bicycle accident, they will claim that the injuries couldn’t have been too serious. Furthermore, the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to link the injuries to your accident.

Contact a Skilled Bicycle Accident Attorney

Finally, you will need to see a good West Palm Beach bicycle accident attorney. A bicycle accident attorney will be able to start preparing your case. It’s best to see them while the incident is still fresh in your memory. This ensures that you will remember all the important information.

Your bicycle accident attorney will also be able to start protecting your interests immediately. They will be able to tell you what to do next. This will make sure that you don’t accidentally give the insurance company ammunition to justify denying your claim. For example, you might admit fault on social media or joke about your injuries.

Type of Compensation You are Entitled To

There are two types of compensation that you will be able to claim after your bicycle accident injury. First, you will be able to claim economic damages. This includes the cost of any medical procedures or medications that you had to take to recover from the bicycle accident. It can also cover the damage to your personal property, in this case, your bike. Furthermore, you can claim any wages that you lost since you were unable to work. If you were left disabled, you can get compensated for your decreased ability to earn money. If you lost a loved one, you will be entitled to the funeral costs.

The second category is non-economic damages. This will be harder for your bicycle accident attorney to quantify. It covers things like pain and suffering. If you lost a loved one, you might be able to claim for loss of consortium. It can also cover scarring or disfigurement.

Contact the Injury Firm's Bicycle Accident Attorneys

If you were hurt in a bike collision, you are entitled to seek compensation. Our bicycle accident attorneys have lots of experience with bicycle accident injury claims. We can help you through this difficult time, making sure that you get treated fairly. So, give us a call and book your free consultation today with a bicycle accident lawyer.