Legal aid for cyclists injured in accidents, pursuing compensation
Cycling is increasingly becoming a favorite mode of transportation, recreation and fitness. Despite cycling’s increased popularity and the increased number of cyclists on the roads, cyclists are frequently not seen by distracted or inattentive drivers. As an avid cyclist, Ironman triathlete and Race Across the West competitor with tens of thousands of miles on his Cervelo road bike and Specialized mountain bike, Mr. Faraj understands precisely the unnecessary dangers cyclists encounter from inattentive or distracted drivers and from dangerous road conditions.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a bicycle accident caused by another, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. At The Law Offices of Haytham Faraj, our team is highly experienced in representing bicycle accident victims. We will do whatever it takes to ensure you are awarded the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Unfortunately, there are many common causes of bicycle accidents. Although there are many laws in place to ensure the safety of both bicyclists and drivers, bicyclists are still much less protected from injuries due to the fact that their entire bodies are exposed during an accident. Because of this, drivers have a strong “duty of care” to ensure that they obey the rules around bicyclists and give them the space they need when riding around.
Here are some of the most common bicycle accidents that are caused by drivers:
Intersection collisions
Many intersection collisions occur when a driver is distracted and doesn’t see the bicyclist or the driver is driving too fast through an intersection.
Right-hand turn accidents, otherwise known as “right hook” accidents”
This occurs when a car is to the left of the bicyclist and then the car makes a right turn in front of the cyclists. This occurs when the driver does not check to see if it is clear to make a right-hand turn.
Failure to execute a merge correctly
Even if a driver is not weaving in and out of traffic, one wrong move while trying to merge can result in a serious accident, especially for bicyclists. Therefore, it’s important to check to see if the lane is clear before merging.
Front car door collisions
Front car door collisions, otherwise known as ‘dooring’ occurs when a bicyclist runs into a motor vehicle’s door. This typically happens when a driver opens their door when they’re parked and doesn’t check their rearview mirror before opening the door.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents, including bicycle accidents. When drivers are paying attention to their phones, tablets, radio, or other distractions, they are more likely to cause an accident. Common forms of distracted driving include texting and driving, talking on the phone, changing the radio station, and using social media.
Driving under the influence
When a person chooses to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they not only pose a danger to themselves, but also to other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Speeding
Speeding can result in less time to be able to stop when necessary, which can result in severe and even life-threatening accidents.
Driving too close to the bike lane
Drivers who follow bicyclists too closely or overtake a bike lane create extremely dangerous situations.
Dangerous road and bike lane design
A very common and often overlooked cause of injuries to cyclists are poorly designed or maintained roads and bicycle lanes. Cyclists have a right to safe roads without dangerous potholes, to delineated bike lanes and operating traffic control devices. If you or a loved one suffer a serious injury due to a dangerous condition, we can help.
Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries
Due to the severity of many bicycle accident injuries, victims can incur serious losses. Our team understands these types of cases thoroughly, therefore, we are able to calculate the value of claims and ensure that victims receive the compensation they deserve. Because bicycles offer very little protection from other vehicles, this can make any type of accident potentially life threatening. Some bicycle accident victims might get lucky and walk away with scrapes and bruises, while a more serious accident can result in broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, and many other types of injuries that can affect you for life. As a result, recovery can take a very long time, which will leave you unable to work. Hospital bills and doctor visits can pile up quickly. Therefore, it is in any victims best interest to seek legal help from a bicycle accident lawyer. At The Law Offices of Haytham Faraj, we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t have to pay a thing unless we win. This means that there are not up-front or hidden fees when hiring us. You can count on our team every step of the way.
There are many common types of bicycle accident injuries that victims suffer, including but not limited to:
Bone fractures
Facial trauma
Road rash
Bruises and lacerations
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Spinal cord injuries
Paralysis and loss of motor control
Internal organ damage
Wrongful death
How Can Bicyclists Prevent an Accident or Serious Injury?
Although many accidents are caused by drivers or other circumstances, which may be out of a cyclist's control, we strongly encourage cyclists to take the proper steps to increase their level of safety and potentially prevent an accident from happening.
Wear a proper helmet
Wearing a proper helmet when riding a bicycle is extremely important to one’s safety. A bike helmet protects your face, head, and brain in the event of a bicycle accident. Bicycle helmets are worn to reduce the force of impact, therefore, can reduce the chances of a traumatic brain injury, as well as facial injuries.
Equip your bike with proper lighting
Bicycle lighting is important when riding, as it increases your visibility to other drivers on the road.
Wear bright or and/reflective gear
Wearing bright or reflective gear helps you become more visible to drivers when riding, thus decreasing the chances of an accident from occurring.
Know the rules of the road
Knowing the rules of the road as a driver, pedestrian, and bicyclist, are paramount to increasing your safety. While you are not able to control the acts of others, it is important that you follow the traffic rules as a bicyclist to remain as safe as possible.
Signal when turning or braking
Signaling is imperative when riding a bike. Therefore, knowing and using the proper turn signals, as well as brake signal, are important when riding a bicycle.
Always stay alert
Remaining vigilant at all times, especially when riding a bicycle is something that all bicyclists should practice. This can decrease the chances of an accident exponentially. Although many bicycle accidents are caused by drivers of motor vehicles, it is important to do your part as a cyclist to remain as safe as possible.
How Much is My Case Worth?
The value of a bicycle accident case varies from case to case. Every case is extremely unique, therefore, it’s difficult to give an estimate without assessing the circumstances of the accident, as well as the damages. However, the following factors can better help determine the value of a case:
The nature and severity of your injuries
The cost of medical treatment needed for your injuries, as well as whether you require ongoing treatment in the future
Whether your injuries caused you to miss work or lose income
Whether your injuries caused any long-term or permanent impairments, such as disfigurement or disabilities
The amount of physical and/or emotional trauma you experienced as a result of your injuries
Will My Bicycle Accident Case Go to Trial?
When it comes to personal injury cases, the majority of these types of cases do not go to trial. It ultimately depends on the circumstances of your case. Our goal is to always reach a settlement before ever having to go to trial. Whatever the case may be, our experienced bicycle accident attorney will seek out the most efficient way to resolve your case in the most favorable way possible. Contact our team today for a free consultation for more information!
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