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Due to the lack of protection surrounding a bicyclist when riding, they usually suffer catastrophic injuries when involved in accidents with vehicles or commercial trucks. At Craig A. Davis, APLC, our bicycle accident lawyers have recovered compensation for clients in hundreds of bicycle accident cases. We understand how stressful the physical, emotional, and financial ramifications of being injured can be.
Let our bicycle accident lawyers in Lafayette, La., fight to help you recover maximum compensation for your damages so you can focus on healing and moving on with your life.
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), over 40,000 bicyclists are injured each year. Many of these injuries happen when a driver of a vehicle hits someone out for a bike ride.
The truth is, when a bicyclist is involved in an accident, life-changing injuries usually occur. Hiring a Lafayette bicycle accident lawyer to represent your case is in your best interest. It’s also important to do this before insurance companies and adverse parties get involved. Defense parties will be quick to display a claimant’s own negligence or other reasons why a court should reduce owed compensation or excuse a negligent party from liability.
Having an attorney in your corner with a proven track record of success could help you secure the maximum compensation you and your family deserve. Our law firm is well-versed in common tactics that insurance companies employ to try to deny valid bicycle accident claims. Whether negotiating with insurance companies or litigating your bicycle accident lawsuit in court, Craig A. Davis and his entire team act as your advocates. We fight to protect your rights and work to recover a fair settlement for you.
If you lost a loved one in a bicycle accident in Lafayette caused by someone else’s negligence, our bicycle accident lawyer will work with you as you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim.
Injuries from bicycle accidents are life-altering. Sometimes you can do everything right, like wearing a helmet, wearing bright colors, and having lights on your bike, and you still find yourself in an accident dealing with serious head, neck, and back injuries. Our office is here to help you get through this time and get you the compensation you deserve.
Common bicycle accident injuries include:
These injuries often require costly surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and ongoing, lifelong care. Our Lafayette bicycle accident lawyers understand how to accurately value your personal injury claim to include long-term medical expenses. In addition, we fight to recover maximum compensation for your lost income, permanent injury or disfigurement, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages.
If you are injured due to a bicycle accident in the State of Louisiana, you (the injured or plaintiff) have to prove negligence. Negligence means that someone acted carelessly under circumstances and harmed another person.
Your bicycle accident lawyer will work with you to establish the four elements of negligence. Those four elements are:
The defendant must have owed you a duty of care. All drivers on the road owe cyclists a duty of care to protect them from harm.
The motorist must have breached their duty of care in some way, such as through driving distracted or recklessly.
The defendant’s breach of duty of care must have caused the bicycle accident.
The bicycle accident victim must have suffered damages to be entitled to financial compensation.
The value of a personal injury case differs from person to person and claim to claim. The value of a bicycle accident claim can be determined by several factors, including the extent and severity of your physical injuries, the amount of time you will miss from work, as well as your pain and suffering and mental anguish.
Our Lafayette bicycle accident lawyers can assist you in determining how much compensation you may be entitled to in an injury claim and then negotiating a favorable compensation with the insurance company of the at-fault party.
The compensation you may be entitled to following a personal injury accident can include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are fixed expenses with costs easily provable with bills and receipts. Examples of economic damages may be:
Non-economic damages are unfixed and intangible, as they physically and psychologically impact your well-being.
Can I still sue the driver if I was hurt while not properly riding my bicycle (no helmet or no lights, riding on the wrong side of the street, etc.) or if I was partially at fault for the crash?
Yes, but your damage claim may be reduced by your percentage of fault in causing the accident or the injuries. If you are 40% at fault for the bicycle accident, for example, you may recover only 60% of the total value of your injuries.
My accident was caused by a roadway defect (such as a drainage screen, uneven surface, pothole, crack, etc.). Do I still have a case?
Maybe. It depends on whether the conditions occurred because of someone’s negligence. If the defect was created naturally, you will probably need to show the person responsible knew or reasonably should have known of the condition and had time to correct it.
What if I'm just sore? Do I really need to get medical attention?
Please do not underestimate a sore knee, injured back, or any type of head trauma. We have worked with many clients whose injuries turned out to be more severe than they initially thought, leading to costly medical expenses and missed work. Play it safe with your own health — and with your right to compensation.
What are the most important things to do after a bicycle accident?
First, whatever your involvement, stop on the scene and seek medical attention for anyone who has been hurt — including yourself. Fulfill your lawful obligation by cooperating with police, but take care not to admit any possible fault or traffic violation (as in, “I’m not sure if I looked before riding into the intersection”) to anyone. Definitely avoid giving a statement to an insurance adjuster without first consulting a bicycle accident lawyer.
For over 30 years, Craig and his team have helped thousands of personal injury victims pursue compensation for damages owed to them. We are dedicated to providing competent, compassionate legal support and giving you and your family the personalized attention you deserve. Our bicycle accident lawyers are committed to fighting for your rights and helping you recover maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Give us a call today. Our conversations are always free, and you don’t pay anything unless we win your case!
At Craig A. Davis, APLC, we serve the following areas. Lafayette, Youngsville, Broussard, Scott, New Iberia, Abbeville, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Duson, Crowley, Rayne, Maurice, Erath, Jennings, Lake Charles, Grand Coteau, Houma, Delcambre, Iota, Jeanerette, Meaux, Sulphur, Opelousas.
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