Bicycle Accidents

There are several types of bicycle accidents.  Initially, an individual may sustain a head injury after falling from a bicycle and striking his or her head.  Moreover, a person could fall and land on other body parts, causing broken bones, contusions or fractures.  Furthermore, a bicycle accident injury may result in additional injuries, such as brain damage, organ damage or paralysis.

How Bicycle Accidents Occur

Accidents can occur in a variety of ways.  A motorist could accidentally hit a bicyclist.  Moreover, a motorist could negligently enter a marked bicycle path. Furthermore, there could be an object located in a bike path or a roadway which results in an injury.  Also, a defect in the manufacture or design of the bicycle could result in an accident.  In addition, an accident could arise due to a mechanical failure.

Determining Liability and Fault

A municipality owes a duty of ordinary care to users of bicycle paths which are owned and maintained by the municipality.  Moreover, negligent motorists who fail to drive with reasonable care can be liable for injuries caused by their negligence. In addition, if a bicyclist rents a bike from someone who has failed to keep the bike in proper working order, the renting party can be liable for an injury.  Additionally, if a bike’s mechanical parts fail, the manufacturer of the bike may be subject to liability.

Injuries

When assessing the amount of damages which may be compensable, the seriousness of the injury is a major factor of consideration.  Generally, the greater the seriousness of the injuries, the greater the level of damages the injured party may be able to recover.  For example, if a bicyclist sustains a broken neck as a result of a bicycle accident, this injury would likely result in a more significant level of damages as compared with a bicyclist who sustains a simple bone fracture as the sole injury

Getting Legal Help

Medical bills, loss of income and insurance claims are all matters which an injured party must handle after experiencing a bicycle injury.  These matters often detract from the party’s ability to devote his or full attention towards recovering from the accident.  Utilizing an experienced bicycle accident lawyer can assist one in handling these various matters.  In addition, an experienced bicycle accident lawyer can utilize his or her expertise and resources in order to obtain the compensation an injured party deserves while ensuring that all of the injured party’s rights are preserved.