Bicycling accidents are often much more catastrophic than your typical accident. This leads to more time off work, higher medical bills, and more pain and suffering. Fortunately, if another party’s negligence caused your bicycle accident, you can recover compensation for these costs. However, proving another party behaved negligently is difficult. You do not need to handle this process alone.
A personal injury lawyer in Arlington County can help. The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC has represented many victims just like you seeking the compensation they deserve.
Call us at 571-229-1800 for a free consultation today.
How Can I Prove the Other Party Was Liable for the Accident?
Virginia is a pure contributory negligence state. Contributory negligence greatly impacts your ability to collect damages in an Arlington County bicycle accident. This makes proving fault imperative.
To prove the other party was at fault, we must establish that he broke a law or engaged in negligent behavior. The following are examples of negligence that often lead to bicycle accidents:
- Opening a car door into a bike lane without looking (often causes “dooring” accidents)
- Using a bike lane to turn
- Making a left or right turn into the path of an oncoming cyclist
- Refusing to give a bicyclist the same rights to use the road
- Failing to stay three feet away from the cyclist
- Driving while distracted, fatigued, or intoxicated
- Improper lane change/failure to use turn signals
Even though the law treats drivers and cyclists the same, most drivers and many insurers do not see it that way. And because insurers want to save themselves as much money as possible, you can expect the driver’s insurer will do anything it can to pin fault on you. This can make a bicycle accident claim an uphill battle.
This makes a bicycle accident lawyer in Arlington County even more valuable. Particularly when that lawyer has extensive experience with personal injury litigation and dealing with insurance companies. Prior to opening the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, Jim Parrish served as counsel for large insurance companies. This makes him ideally suited to represent you.
Once we establish the driver’s negligent behavior led to your accident, we must tie your injuries to the accident. Common injuries that result from bicycle accidents include:
- Head trauma
- Neurological damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Road rash injuries
Many of these injuries result in extensive medical bills and require ongoing care. To recover an adequate settlement, we must provide evidence that proves your injuries resulted from the accident and documentation that establishes the value of your damages.
Keeping track of your medical expenses is paramount. We will need your bills from the hospital, physical therapy visits, prescriptions, psychiatrists, and any others that may apply as each contributes heavily to the damages you can claim.
In addition to medical expenses, you can recover for other economic losses suffered due to the accident. Other recoverable damages include:
- Loss of income
- Reduced future earning potential
- Future medical bills
- Household renovations to accommodate your new limitations
- “Pain and suffering” and inconvenience
While loss of income is easily quantifiable using your paystubs or W-2s, reduced future earning potential and future medical bills might require testimony from medical and vocational experts to establish the long-term effects of your injury.
Pain and suffering is more subjective, but we can establish it through your testimony and the testimony of your friends and family.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Not Wearing a Helmet?
Yes; however, it might be difficult to recover compensation for certain injuries. Consider the following: Sharon was riding in the bike lane without a helmet when Bob sideswiped her. She fell off her bike, suffering second-degree road rash injuries and a traumatic brain injury.
Because she was not wearing a helmet, the insurer might try to claim the head injuries were her own fault. She would likely be able to recover full compensation for the road rash injuries, but the insurer might argue that the head injury would not have occurred had she been wearing a helmet.
We can investigate the circumstances of your case and determine whether this might be a problem. We will also build any defenses against any potential accusations of fault regarding the collision.
Arlington County Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Virginia has a two-year statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims. If you attempt to file outside this time limit, you will likely be unable to recover compensation. When you work with the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we make sure we file within the time limit.
Call Parrish Law Firm, PLLC Now for Your Free Consultation
Filing a personal injury claim following any accident is not a simple decision. But rest assured, if you work with the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we will keep you updated throughout the entire process. We will not leave you in the dark.
Call 571-229-1800 if you or someone you love has been involved in a bicycle accident.
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