Florida Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Many Florida bike crashes are the fault of other parties, most commonly drivers. Drivers have rules they should follow to share the road with cyclists, though many motorists fail to do so. If a negligent driver or another party causes your injuries in a bike crash, you should not wait to speak with a Florida bicycle accident lawyer from Meldon Law.
Call us today to get started for free.
Recovering Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries
Aside from helmets, cyclists have little to no protection from impacts with motor vehicles, the pavement, or other objects. This means that cyclists often sustain serious—and multiple—traumatic injuries. These can range from fractures and sprains to catastrophic spinal or brain injuries. Even with a helmet, head trauma can cause severe traumatic brain injuries.
The losses from a bicycle crash-related injury can add up very quickly.
Medical Expenses
You can recover your medical expenses for emergency treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitative therapy, and more. You should also consider the estimated costs of treatment you will need in the future, as many people require ongoing medical care for years following a bike crash.
Lost Income
You deserve compensation for lost income, as the recovery from serious injuries regularly causes people to miss work. Even a day or two of lost wages can throw off a household budget, and some people are out of work for weeks or months. Disabling injuries can prevent you from returning to your previous job, and you might lose earnings into the future.
Intangible Losses
Intangible losses are also common. These are losses which do not stem directly from bills or financial statements. Instead, these include physical and mental pain and suffering, disabilities or impairments resulting from the injury, or disfigurement. Intangible losses are common with severe injuries, which are common in bicycle crashes.
Due to the overwhelming losses that can result, bike accidents can change your life in an instant. Our legal team can help you identify all responsible parties and hold them liable for your injuries and losses. We have handled countless cases and recovered millions since we opened our doors. We can also help you seek justice if you lost a loved one in a bike accident.
Call us to get started with the Meldon Law team today.
The Importance of Hiring the Right Florida Bicycle Accident Attorney
It is highly advisable to retain an experienced bicycle accident attorney after a serious bicycle accident. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and will do everything they can to settle your case for as little as possible. Fortunately, the right bicycle accident attorney can ensure that the insurance company treats you fairly and that any settlement you accept adequately compensates you for all of your accident-related losses.
Some of the specific ways that a bicycle accident attorney from our firm can help you include:
- Determining whether you have a claim
- Evaluating your losses and drafting a persuasive demand letter
- Attempting to negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Filing a lawsuit on your behalf
We do much more than this, however. We treat you with compassion and ensure you know what to expect when taking legal action. We fight tooth and nail for what you deserve. And insurers and defense lawyers know that we never back down from a fight. We also educate you about the claims process so you know what to do if you’re ever in this situation again.
At Meldon Law, we’re proud to take all of our bicycle accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you will not have to pay anything unless we obtain a settlement or judgment on your behalf. In fact, because consultations are completely free, you have nothing to lose and never have to pay upfront to learn whether you want to hire our qualified legal team.
Who Is Liable in a Bicycle Accident?
Liability for injuries – such as those sustained in a bicycle crash – stems from negligence. When another party acts negligently and causes injuries, that party should compensate all victims for their losses. Our attorneys know how to examine what happened in your accident and identify all liable parties. Some common liable parties for bicycle accidents and injuries might include the following.
Drivers
Negligent drivers are commonly responsible for colliding with cyclists.
The many different forms of negligence behind the wheel that can lead to bicycle crashes include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Failing to yield
- Following a bicycle too closely
- Cutting off a bicycle with a right-hand turn (right hook accidents)
- Not looking before opening a car door (dooring accidents)
- Speeding
- Improper passing
When a driver is responsible for causing a bicycle accident, their insurance coverage applies, and an injured cyclist will need to file a claim for compensation with the right insurance company. This can be a confusing and daunting process, especially because the cyclist typically must file with their own insurance first. It is important to seek help from an experienced bicycle accident attorney in Florida.
Companies
Corporations can also be liable for bicycle accidents, either due to negligence or a legal principle called respondeat superior. First, bicycle manufacturers can make defective bicycles, which can malfunction and cause a cyclist to crash. An injured cyclist could file a product liability claim against the manufacturer if this was the cause of their accident. These claims can be highly technical and often require expert analysis, so you want the help of a law firm with the necessary resources to handle a defective product claim.
Companies can also be liable for a bicycle accident if an employee of the company caused the accident while on the job. For example, a construction worker may have been driving a work truck to pick up supplies when they became distracted and hit the cyclist. In this situation, the construction company that employed the worker can be held liable for the negligence of the driver. This can also apply to bicycle accidents involving commercial trucks, rideshare vehicles with active fares, and more.
Taking on a company in an insurance claim can be intimidating, so you want the right legal team on your side from the very start.
What If I Contributed to My Bike Accident?
People are often concerned about their options if they contributed to the accident. Per Florida law, injured parties who are partially at fault for an accident can still recover compensation—provided they share no more than 50% responsibility for the accident.
You still have the right to recover compensation, but it’s important to note that your percentage of fault will decrease your potential compensation. This can end with you paying thousands or more out of pocket. For example, you share 40% of the fault for your accident. Your final damage award is $200,000. You would be entitled to 60% of that final award ($120,000).
Our team will investigate your accident to determine whether the other party’s insurance company might be able to claim you caused or contributed to the accident.
What to Do After a Bike Wreck
A bike accident is a terrifying experience. You are likely scared and angry and full of adrenaline. You might also be suffering serious pain. However, it’s important to remember that everything you do directly after an accident can affect your case. Here are a few things you can do after an accident to protect yourself:
- Stay as calm as possible.
- Call 911. Ask the dispatcher to send law enforcement and paramedics. You need a police report to establish what happened.
- Allow paramedics to examine you at the scene. Your adrenaline could be masking symptoms of serious injuries. On-scene treatment will get you the care you need while also linking your injuries to the accident.
- Don’t apologize to the driver, even if you think you caused the accident. Let the police officers do their job when they come out.
What you do after you leave the scene can also affect your case. It’s important that you keep the following in mind:
- Do not give a recorded statement. When the driver’s insurance adjuster calls, they will ask you for your side of the story. This can be a trap. While they may seem like they just want to help, they are hoping you say something that jeopardizes your case. And this is very easy. Even something as simple as “I’m sorry” or “I’m okay” can be twisted into you claiming responsibility or admitting that you aren’t injured. When they ask if you’re comfortable with the conversation being recorded, tell them no. You can also have them direct any questions to us.
- Do not accept a settlement offer before running it by our team. The first offer can be thousands less than you need. Our personal injury attorneys will review the offer to ensure it covers your losses.
- Call a bicycle accident attorney from our law firm. You don’t need to handle an injury case alone—and you shouldn’t. We’ll manage the entire thing while you focus on your recovery.
Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries Our Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Commonly See
Our team regularly helps severely injured Floridians seek justice. Some of the most common injuries we’ve recovered compensation for include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Road rash
- Crush injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
Get Help Today from Our Florida Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Florida routinely has the most bicycle-related deaths of any state in the United States. At Meldon Law, we help cyclists seek compensation for their injuries and extensive losses. Call us today to learn how our experienced Florida bicycle crash lawyers can help you.
