If you were injured after being hit by a driver while riding your bicycle, you may face obstacles to getting the compensation you need no matter how clearly the other driver was at fault for the accident. Insurance companies have an interest in minimizing your financial recovery so that they can limit the amount of money they must pay out on your claim. But working with a bicycle accident attorney can help you level the playing field and give you the best chance at recovering fair and full compensation for your injuries.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Because bicyclists lack protection from a collision with a motor vehicle, except for a helmet and maybe shoulder and knee pads, bicycle accidents tend to cause serious, life-altering injuries for cyclists. Common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Neck, back, and spinal injuries: Bicycle riders may suffer trauma to their neck and back ranging from whiplash to herniated discs, to fractured vertebrae and spinal cord damage. In the most serious neck and back injuries, cyclists can be left with permanent paralysis.
- Arms and legs: Because riders’ arms and legs are often the first points of contact in a collision with a motor vehicle, or because riders may instinctively throw out their arms to break a fall from their bicycle, arms and legs can suffer injuries such as dislocation, ligament and tendon injuries, nerve damage, or bone fractures.
- Head injuries: Riders are at risk of suffering head injuries, especially when they are not wearing helmets. After being knocked off a bike in an accident, a rider may suffer skull fractures and/or traumatic brain injuries that may have permanent effects.
Other injuries suffered by cyclists in accidents include lacerations/abrasions (commonly called “road rash”), internal organ injuries and internal bleeding, and traumatic amputation.
Compensation In Bicycle Accident Claims
After you have been injured in an accident where you were hit while riding your bicycle, you may be entitled to financial compensation for:
- Repair or replacement costs for your bicycle
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, physical/occupational therapy, and prescription medications
- Long-term care expenses for permanent disabilities that you may suffer
- Lost wages/income if you miss work or become permanently disabled from gainful employment
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to the impacts of disabilities or scarring/disfigurement on daily activities
How Can A Bicycle Accident Attorney Help You Obtain A Favorable Outcome In Your Case
After a bicycle accident, you should not be forced to face the insurance companies on your own. A bicycle accident lawyer can help you improve your chances of securing maximum financial recovery for your injuries and losses by:
- Thoroughly investigating the facts and circumstances of the evidence to recover all available evidence for your case
- Documenting your past, ongoing, and future anticipated expenses and losses
- Communicating with the insurance company on your behalf so that you do not need to worry about talking to adjusters
- Identifying liable parties and applicable insurance coverages to give you every available option for seeking compensation
- Filing and pursuing your compensation claims, whether by aggressively negotiating a fair and full settlement or litigating on your behalf at trial
Contact a Little Falls Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Bicycle Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a bicycle accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Camili & Capo, PA represent clients injured because of bicycle accidents in Teaneck, Fort Lee, Orange, Paramus, and throughout New Jersey. Call (973) 834-8457 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 1 Lower Notch Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424, as well as offices located in Hackensack, Newark, and New Brunswick.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
