According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 818 bicyclists died in vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2015—over two people each day. This is a 12 percent increase since 2014. Additionally, 70 percent of people who died in bicycle accidents were killed in urban areas.
If you’re an avid rider, someone who uses his bike to get to work, or even someone who rides occasionally, it’s important to know how easily a bike accident can happen and the types of injuries that can occur.
Our Team Helps You Recover Damages
To recover damages from the at-fault driver, you need to prove their actions meet the legal definition of negligence. Our team does this for you. We prove the driver:
- Owed you a duty of care
- Breached their responsibility
- Caused your physical injuries
- Caused your financial damages
After proving these factors, we help you create a detailed list of the expenses related to your damages and the expenses that stem from your damages. These can include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future lost wages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional trauma
- Property damage or destruction
You can also request compensation for lasting disabilities and disfigurements caused by the accident. For a bicyclist, these can be plentiful. In addition, we help the surviving families of fatally injured bicyclists recover a variety of wrongful death damages. These include funeral and burial arrangements and several types of losses.
Our team will help you prove the cause and costs of the accident. In wrongful death cases, we also clarify which family members qualify to request damages.
You Have a Limited Time to Take Action
Like all states, Indiana sets a filing deadline on all civil lawsuits. Complying with the statute of limitations is critical to your case because non-compliance can mean the court will not allow you to file your lawsuit at all. It can also mean your lawsuit will be dismissed without ever being heard if you do manage to file it later than allowed.
In Indianapolis, you generally have:
- Two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to IC § 34-11-2-4
- Two years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death lawsuit, according to IC § 34-23-1-1
When our personal injury team represents you, we ensure compliance with the statute of limitations. Personal injury law is all we do, so we are familiar with city and state law. We also know Indiana insurance law and make sure your case is handled in good faith.
Leave the Insurance Company to Us
Most personal injury lawsuits are resolved with an insurance settlement. The at-fault driver’s insurance wants to protect their own bottom line, not your best interests. Our team is on your side, and we fight to make sure you are treated fairly. We will:
- Handle all case-related communication
- Complete and submit required claim forms
- Collect and submit supporting evidence
- Spearhead the negotiation process
We fight hard for the monetary settlement you are entitled to. We also make sure the insurance company acts accordingly and issues compensation promptly after reaching a settlement agreement.
We Only Get Paid When You Do
Our firm represents you on a contingency-fee-basis which means you do not add additional financial strain to the aftermath of the accident. We will review your case at no cost and absorb all upfront fees related to your case. We do not expect or receive any compensation until we win it for you.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident injuries lawyer serving Indianapolis, call 317-636-7777
Types of Bike Injuries
When a bicyclist is involved in an accident and thrown to the ground or run over by a vehicle, his injuries can be life-threatening. Even with a helmet, the cyclist doesn’t have the kind of protection a vehicle driver has in a crash.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Here’s a brief look at some common injuries when a bicyclist and vehicle collide:
- Head injuries. Any type of traumatic brain injury can cause permanent disabilities, and even people who suffer a minor concussion can experience chronic headaches.
- Road rash. This is a common but less serious injury that occurs when a bicyclist falls and skids across pavement or cement. Exposed skin rips off, and gravel and dirt can become lodged in the resulting open wounds. This may lead to infection, and the healing process for road rash can be long and painful.
- Broken bones. During a fall, any body part that comes in contact with the road can break. It’s common for bicyclists to experience wrist and arm fractures, a broken pelvis, or a broken hip bone.
- Dislocated shoulder. When cyclists try to brace themselves during a fall, it’s common for them to dislocate a shoulder. While it’s fairly easy to remedy the dislocation, this injury can later cause chronic shoulder pain and problems with movement and functioning.
- Spinal cord damage. It’s not unusual for a cyclist to experience damage to the spinal cord during an accident. If there’s a vertebrae fracture, or the vertebrae is severed, the rider could face severe or permanent disability.
- Knee injuries. In a cycling accident, the rider often experiences knee injuries. A common injury is to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) — the ligament that provides stability and runs through the middle of the knee. This type of injury can be a sprain or tear when the cyclist falls after a crash and lands forward on the pavement, and it can also occur when the knee is twisted during the accident.
Indianapolis Bicycle Accident Injuries Lawyer Near Me 317-636-7777
Types of Bike Accidents
Particularly for those cyclists who ride in the street, the risk of a collision with a vehicle is high. The primary danger lies in the lack of protection the cyclist has if he experiences a crash.
Common bicycle accidents include:
- The right cross. This type of accident occurs when a cyclist has passed in front of a motor vehicle waiting to exit from an alley, driveway, or parking lot. If the vehicle pulls out and turns right too soon, it can hit the cyclist. An accident can also happen if the car pulls out at the last second and blocks the cyclist’s path, causing the cyclist to collide with the car. The driver could be found negligent because he failed to yield to the rider’s right-of-way.
- The door prize. This type of accident happens when the driver of a parked car opens the door directly in the path of an oncoming cyclist. There isn’t enough time for the cyclist to move out of the way or stop to avoid a collision. It’s possible to file a negligence claim based on the driver’s failure to pay attention and avoid a collision because he violated the cyclist’s right-of-way.
- The rear end. This type of collision is a common way that intoxicated drivers hurt or kill people on bikes. Because drivers don’t always travel at a safe distance from cyclists, they can easily cause a rear-end collision. It’s important that drivers be extra observant and maintain a safe distance when they’re passing a bike.
- The left cross. This type of accident happens when a car and a cyclist approach an intersection, each coming from the opposite direction, and the driver turns left in front of the cyclist and hits him. The driver could be considered negligent for not yielding the right of way.
Click to contact our Indianapolis Bicycle Accident Injuries Lawyer today
How an Attorney Can Help
If you’ve been injured in a biking accident, contact Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. for legal representation. Our dedicated staff will review the circumstances of the crash. We have a reputation for being aggressive with insurance companies, and we work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. You’ll pay no fee unless we win your case. Call us today or fill out our online form.
Call or text 317-636-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
