Bicycle accidents can be devastating. The injuries are usually severe, and this often results in you facing significant medical expenses and a loss of income due to your inability to work while recovering from your injuries. However, you may be eligible for compensation if you were involved in a Palm Bay, Florida, bicycle accident.
A Palm Bay personal injury lawyer can review your case, determine its worth, and help you hold the liable party responsible for your losses.
How a Bicycle Accident Attorney Can Help With Your Accident in Palm Bay, FL
Many people assume they can handle an accident case alone. While the law does not require you to hire a personal injury attorney for your bike accident case, legal representation from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine offers the following:
Our Lawyers Offer a Complimentary Consultation
Bicycle cases are often very complicated. Both parties assume the other party is at fault, and it can be difficult to determine who is right. We offer a free consultation to determine whether you have a valid case and to determine the hurdles you might face throughout the process. The complimentary consultation also allows you to ask questions about what to expect from the legal process.
We Determine Your Available Options After Your Bike Crash
The first avenue we will take is filing a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) policy. If the cost of your injuries exceeds the limits of that policy, we can explore whether you can hold another party liable for them.
If you can, we will handle all aspects of building the case against the driver or other liable party.
If you decide to handle your case alone, you must handle everything.
Seeking Compensation for Damages for Your Bicycle Accident
It is important that you recover damages for the injuries you suffered in your bicycle crash. We will assist you in seeking compensation for all costs associated with your injury, including:
- Medical bills
- Emergency department fees
- Expected future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Rehabilitation costs
- Home renovation costs to meet new physical demands
The specific damages, however, will depend on the details of your bicycle accident case. The insurer or judge will look at all damages and costs incurred, as well as previous accidents with similar details, to determine the fair compensatory amount.
Determining Liability for Your Bike Crash
In a Brevard County bicycle accident, several parties can be liable depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. Here’s a list of some liable parties and a short explanation for each:
- Motor Vehicle Drivers: If a driver’s negligence or reckless behavior caused the accident, they can be held liable. Examples include speeding, drunk driving, or failure to yield the right of way.
- Bicyclists: Bicyclists can also be found liable if their actions contributed to the accident. This includes riding the wrong way on a road, failing to use appropriate signals, or violating traffic laws.
- Pedestrians: In some cases, pedestrians can be liable if they suddenly walk into a cyclist’s path without warning, especially if they jaywalk or ignore pedestrian signals at intersections.
- Local Government or Municipalities: If the accident was caused by poor road conditions, such as potholes, lack of proper signage, or faulty traffic signals, the local government or municipality responsible for road maintenance might be liable.
- Bicycle Manufacturers or Retailers: If a defect in the bicycle itself caused the accident, the manufacturer or retailer could be held responsible. This includes issues like brake failure, structural defects, or faulty assembly.
- Third-Party Contractors: If the accident occurred in a construction zone or was due to poorly executed roadwork or maintenance by a third-party contractor, this entity could be liable for creating unsafe conditions.
- Employers: If the cyclist or driver was performing job-related duties at the time of the accident, the employer might be liable under certain conditions, especially if the employer failed to provide proper training or ensure safe working conditions.
Each of these scenarios involves complex legal considerations, and liability is determined based on the specifics of each case. Florida’s laws on negligence and liability, including comparative negligence, will play a significant role in determining responsibility and compensation. Consulting with a legal professional experienced in personal injury or bicycle accident cases in Florida would be essential to navigate these complexities.
Proving Negligence in a Palm Pay Bicycle Accident
To recover compensation for your injuries, we must prove the other party behaved negligently. This might include any of the following actions:
- Distracted driving
- Not following traffic laws
- Driving under the influence
- Failure to look for bicycle riders
- Failure to yield to riders
- Entering a bike lane
- Improper safety equipment
- Improper maintenance of bike paths and roads
We will investigate your accident to determine exactly how it happened and to establish the other party behaved negligently.
This involves establishing a duty of care (e.g., the driver had a duty to drive safely), the driver’s breach of duty (e.g., the driver entered your bike lane and sideswiped you), the breach caused your accident and injuries (e.g., the driver hit you, causing you to suffer a spinal cord injury), and you suffered damages.
A Lawyer Will Protect You from the Insurance Company
The insurance company may do anything to avoid paying you what you deserve. It may offer you a low settlement or trick you into admitting fault. Our Palm Bay bicycle accident lawyers has decades of combined experience dealing with insurance companies. We know what tactics to anticipate and how to defend against them.
Your Attorney Handles All Communication/Negotiations
Many injured bicyclists accept the first settlement offer they receive because they do not know they might be entitled to much more. At Anidjar & Levine, we do not let that happen. We will negotiate with the insurance company until it offers you the compensation you deserve.
If it refuses, we can file a lawsuit and take your case to court. We will build a convincing case to prove that you deserve damages. If the judge or jury agrees, they will determine the value of your case and order the defendant to pay you.
It is important to note that while we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve, we will never accept a settlement without first discussing it with you. We keep you active in the decision-making process from start to finish.
Do Not Risk Losing Your Right to Recover Compensation
It is essential to file your bicycling accident lawsuit within Florida’s statute of limitations. Otherwise, you could lose your eligibility to claim compensation. Florida requires injured parties to file all lawsuits within four years of the date of the accident. Contact an injury attorney as soon as possible to ensure sufficient time to investigate your case.
Work With a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Palm Bay, FL Today
Working with a law firm familiar with Florida bicycling laws can help ensure you receive fair compensation. Contact our bicycle accident lawyers in Palm Bay, FL, today for your free consultation.
You want to get back on the road to recovery. We Can Help.
We Can Help.
