The use of bicycles as a convenient means of transport has been widely accepted in recent years across the United States. Their slim and lightweight form makes them ideal for use by people from all walks of life. They easily maneuver through vehicles in traffic, making them among the cheapest forms to rely on during rush hour.
But like any experienced personal injury lawyer will tell you, bicycles have caused thousands of injuries and led to an untold loss of lives. For starters, bicyclists have no shield against the impact created during an accident like other motorists. As a result, their bodies absorb the different forces acting together, making bicycle crashes among the potentially most catastrophic. If you were injured in similar circumstances, it’s important that you speak with our Katy bicycle accident lawyers to learn how you may recover compensation for your losses.
According to data published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are at least 400,000 bicycle-related injuries in the United States every year. In the same year, over 840 people are killed. In what seems to be a growing trend, most of these accidents occur during rush hour (between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Additionally, bicycle accidents are more common in urban areas, a statistic attributed to the high population and vehicle traffic.
Before deciding to file a bicycle accident lawsuit, you must, first of all, establish the facts about your crash. Because an accident could happen for many reasons, retaining a resourceful Katy bicycle accident lawyer is crucial to leaving no stone unturned during investigations. From the numerous cases our attorneys have handled, it’s important to note that at least 90% of bicycle accident-related deaths and injuries involve motor vehicles. These collisions are attributed to:
Some of the above-mentioned scenarios occur due to negligence on the part of motorists. Some common examples of negligent behaviors include:
If it’s established that the other driver was negligent in one or any other ways mentioned earlier, civil charges may be initiated. Your Katy bicycle accident lawyer will represent you and ensure the parties at fault are held accountable for their negligence.
While motor vehicles account for at least 30% of bicycle accidents, there are many other ways someone may be injured. They include:
Establishing the cause of your accident as a passenger or cyclist is crucial to determining liability. It’s only when you do so that you can hold a particular party responsible for your damages. If liability is contested, or you are unsure about how the process works, you ought to speak with a knowledgeable Katy bicycle accident attorney.
The only way to recover damages in a personal injury case is if you prove that the defendant was at least 51% at fault for the bicycle accident. Unfortunately, evaluating the percentage of fault that each party bears is an uphill task. Without the help of a qualified Katy bicycle accident lawyer, you may not fully establish liability. Possible defendants in a bicycle accident claim are:
Normally, you must show a “preponderance of the evidence” (more likely than not) that the defendant was negligent. The burden of proof will be on your Katy bicycle accident attorney to show that:
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you may qualify for compensation. The only way to determine this is by letting a Katy bicycle accident lawyer from Lone Star Injury Attorneys talk to you about your case. To discuss this over a free case evaluation session, book an appointment with us today.
