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Bicycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries because of the vulnerability of the rider. In this situation, you can hire a Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer from our team at Viles & Beckman to assist with your legal claim.
We have more than four decades of combined experience and aim to give every client a five-star experience. A Fort Myers personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost pay, pain, and emotional suffering.
You can call or complete our online contact form to learn more.
What Compensation Do You Get After a Bike Crash?
Cyclists injured in accidents caused by someone else may have the right to recover damages in a legal action. The damages they may recover fall into three general categories: economic (or “special”), non-economic (or “general”), and punitive.
Depending on your circumstances, you may receive compensation for your:
Medical Expenses
The at-fault party may need to cover the costs of any medical care, including hospital care and doctor care for injuries you sustained in the accident. These crashes may cause broken bones, a concussion, a spinal cord injury (SCI), paralysis, and the loss of limbs.
A Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer can track all your medical expenses and hold the negligent driver responsible for covering them.
Lost Wages
You may receive money for time lost from work because of injuries sustained in the accident. Our legal team can also include your lost bonuses or raises.
Diminished Earning Potential
In some cases, future wages may be part of economic damages.
However, if the amount of time you are out of work is unknown or if you are disabled in such a way that you won’t be able to go back to work or are not able to do the same job you did before the accident, future wages may instead be considered non-economic damages.
Property Repairs
The at-fault party may need to pay for any property damage caused by a crash. They may have to cover any damage to your bicycle and personal effects that may have been damaged or destroyed in the accident.
Non-Economic Losses
Going through the legal process can allow you to secure payment to cover the non-economic effects of your crash. For example, you may get compensation for the pain, suffering, and emotional distress you experienced.
If you lose the ability to have an intimate relationship with your spouse, you may be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium. Your Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer can also help you secure compensation for loss of companionship in some cases.
Punitive Damages
In cases where the conduct of the person who harmed you was extreme, such as when someone intentionally harmed you or acted with outrageous disregard for your safety, you may have the right to recover punitive (also called “exemplary”) damages.
An experienced attorney can advise whether seeking punitive damages suits your particular case.
Expect More, Receive More: Legal Support That Feels Like Family
Do You Need to File a Lawsuit After a Bike Crash?
You may secure financial damages from responsible parties without a lawsuit after a bike crash. Instead, your Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer may help you settle with the insurance company. Do not try to negotiate with someone else’s insurance company alone.
Insurance adjusters have a huge advantage over you. They conduct negotiations daily and know how much money they can typically convince injured people to take to “settle” a case quickly.
In other words, they will try to take advantage of the situation and get you to settle for less than you deserve. Lawyers, like insurance adjusters, engage in these negotiations every day. They have a much better sense of how to get insurance companies to open their checkbooks.
We Can Help if Negotiations Fall Through
We understand that the insurance company may sometimes refuse to treat you fairly. You can rely on us to help with a personal injury lawsuit in this circumstance.
We’ll guide you through the legal process, use evidence to support your story of events, and stick with you until the resolution of your claim. Find out more by speaking with a Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer today.
(239) 334-3933
Can a Lawyer Help After a Fatal Bike Crash?
You can get compassionate assistance from a Fort Myers wrongful death lawyer after a fatal bike accident. Our team understands the tremendous emotional and financial strain your family can face after a fatal bicycle accident.
We hold the negligent party accountable and strive to help your family get the funds you need to move forward and regain a sense of closure.
The dedicated attorneys at our law firm put your family first, deal with insurance agents, and handle all legal challenges you face so you can prioritize the emotional needs of your family.
Click To ContactWhy Choose Us After a Bicycle Accident?
Our team at Viles & Beckman has over four decades of combined experience, allowing us to confidently assist clients with severe injuries caused by bicycle crashes. We believe in maintaining open communication with our clients and provide free initial consultations.
We’ll handle all your legal needs and have a reputation for successfully resolving personal injury claims. You can go over our case results to see examples of our work for clients like you.
The skilled lawyers from our firm take on personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis. Therefore, you only have to pay us for legal fees after we bring you compensation and complete the entire process regarding your claim.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Bikers in Florida Must Follow the Rules of the Road
Because of the climate in Fort Myers, many people ride bicycles. Some commute to work by bike, some ride for fitness, and some just love riding to enjoy the Sunshine State.
No matter why you ride, if you do it on Florida roads, you must follow the same basic rules of the road that motorized vehicles must follow, including:
- Signaling
- Obeying traffic signs and lights
- Riding in the proper lanes
In some cases, you must pedal in a bike lane. In other circumstances, you have to share the road with motorists, potentially resulting in a collision.
Bicyclists must generally adhere to the same traffic laws as motorists. However, motor vehicle drivers don’t necessarily treat bicyclists as equals. Many accidents result from a motor vehicle driver’s negligence.
In this case, a personal injury attorney can help you seek maximum compensation.
Injuries Common in a Bicycle Crash
Common injuries sustained by bicyclists include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Even with a helmet, you could suffer head or brain injuries. In some cases, brain injuries are traumatic, but even a minor concussion can take some time to recover from and, if it’s bad enough, could cause lasting damage.
Wearing protective gear, like a helmet, can provide a degree of protection from head injuries. A Fort Myers traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you build a claim. We understand all types of brain injuries.
Neck and Spine Injuries
These injuries could take weeks or months to recover from, even with surgery. They often require physical and occupational therapy. Some of these injuries could also lead to paralysis.
You can discuss these injuries with a Fort Myers spinal cord injury lawyer.
Broken Bones
Bones may be fractured, or you may suffer from compound fractures—where the bone creates an open wound. Broken bones generally take 6 to 8 weeks to heal, and you may have to have physical therapy after the bones heal.
Internal injuries and Bleeding
These usually require surgery to repair. Depending on what was damaged, you could be in the hospital for quite a long time, such as with an injury to your lungs or heart. We can help you seek maximum compensation for organ damage.
Amputations
If an injury to a limb is too severe to repair, then a doctor may have to amputate it to protect your health. Amputation can also be necessary if an open wound becomes infected and turns gangrenous.
A Fort Myers loss of limb lawyer can provide additional advice about this situation.
Psychological Issues
Because a crash could be devastating, you may suffer from psychological issues, including depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. These types of injuries often require therapy to help you recover.
Additional Injuries
Other injuries commonly associated with bicycle crashes include:
- Cuts, abrasions, and bruises
- Sprains and strains
- Torn muscles
If you seek any kind of medical treatment after a bicycle accident, then be sure to keep copies of all of your bills and any medical records you receive. All of these may be important in the future if you seek to recover compensation from the liable party for your injuries.
You can learn more about your next steps with a Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer. We can discuss the types of injuries for which you might recover compensation.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident
Injuries resulting from bicycle accidents can range from minor to fatal. Here are some tips for confronting the aftermath of a cycling accident, depending on the injuries you sustained.
Report the Accident
Ensure you notify the police about any bicycle accident resulting in injuries, property damage, or fatality. The police can review the accident scene and file an official report. Your lawyer may use the information in this report when seeking compensation from the liable party.
Collect Evidence
We recommend that you collect evidence if possible. Get the contact information, insurance information, and registration information of the driver of the motor vehicle.
Take pictures of the damage to the vehicle, your bicycle, and your license plate. If witnesses are standing around, get their contact information. Although the police may get statements from them, you always want to be sure you can follow up with them if necessary.
Some witnesses may leave, so it’s essential to get their name, phone number, and address. Do not throw your bicycle away if it’s totaled, and do not get it repaired if it’s not. The condition of your bike may be an essential factor in any future legal action.
Get Medical Attention
Do not try to “tough it out,” and do not refuse medical care. The records created when first responders and doctors treat you will serve as decisive evidence of the injuries caused by the collision.
Never try to move if you feel pain or if you are bleeding profusely. Contact first responders if you can talk and reach your cell phone. Otherwise, stay down so you don’t sustain additional injuries, and ask someone else to contact first responders.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Fort Myers
No matter the severity of your injury, after your condition stabilizes, you can benefit from contacting an experienced Fort Myers bicycle accident attorney.
The sooner you contact an attorney, the better. Attorneys benefit from having the opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation while the evidence relating to your accident is still available and the memories of witnesses to the accident are still fresh.
In the meantime, never admit your own “fault” to anyone. Even if you believe you were, in fact, partially at fault for your accident, Florida law may permit you to recover payment for your medical costs, emotional distress, and other losses.
How Can You Avoid a Bicycle Accident?
Always wear the proper gear when riding, especially footwear. While it’s tempting to ride with flip-flops or sandals to the beach, resist that temptation. Carry open-toed footwear and change your shoes once you get to the beach.
The professionals recommend that:
- You wear bright colors.
- If you plan to ride between dusk and dawn, equip your bike with front and rear lights to make yourself visible.
- Always wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Throw away any helmet that has been in an accident and buy a new one.
Keep emergency contact information in your phone, your pack, or a pouch on the bike. First responders can contact a loved one through written information if your phone gets destroyed in a wreck. Laminate the information or put it in a zippered bag to protect it from the elements.
Emergency contact information could save first responders a lot of time locating your identification and loved ones.
Someone may hit you even if you follow all safety tips. You can turn to a lawyer for help after a crash caused by aggressive driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, or distracted driving. We’re here to hold the liable party accountable.
Work With a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Fort Myers
If a bicycle accident injures you or a family member, you may have the right to substantial financial compensation. You can count on our team at Viles & Beckman for professional support. We have years of experience representing Floridians injured in cycling accidents.
You can rely on a Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer to give you the best chance of recovering the money you need and deserve. Find out more by calling or completing our online contact form.
Call or text (239) 334-3933 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
