Personal Injury Law – Bike Accident Attorneys

The attorneys at our Personal Injury Law Firm represent people in Texas who have been injured in a bicycle accident as the result of a collision with a negligent or reckless automobile or truck driver. While bicycle accidents are far less frequent than car or truck accidents, they still happen far too often, frequently resulting in serious injuries. In 2017, 783 cyclists died in accidents with motor vehicles in the US. The need for adequate compensation is essential to helping someone seriously injured in a bike wreck on the road to recovery.

Bicycle Riders Face Serious Injuries

Bicyclists face many of the same dangers as motorcycle riders, but often to a much greater extent. For instance, even more so than motorcycle riders, bicyclists are exposed and vulnerable to serious injury or wrongful death from a collision with a car or truck. While a motorcycle rider may be wearing padded clothing or riding leathers, the cyclist usually has no protection other than a helmet, which is rated for a low-speed impact in a single-bike accident and not an impact with a moving vehicle. Also, cyclists are much more susceptible to hazardous road conditions than bikers, and the ability for handling and maneuvering a bicycle to avoid danger is much less. But bicycle and motorcycle riders both share the same single biggest threat – negligent car and truck drivers.

Negligent, Aggressive, and Reckless Drivers

Some drivers get frustrated when they see a slow-moving bicycle ahead. They may react aggressively or recklessly and not give the cyclist a wide enough berth, forcing the cycle off the road. Another danger is when a car makes a sudden swerve or lane change to get around a bicycle very quickly. If another car was following too closely behind, that driver may not know there is a cyclist ahead and may not have time to react safely when the rider suddenly becomes visible. All drivers are required to drive with reasonable care and prudence, and this duty includes being aware of the possibility of bicycles on the road.

Safe Riding Helps

Cyclists are also required to ride with care and caution. Bicyclists are expected to know and obey the rules of the road. Prudent bicycle riding depends upon the traffic and the applicable road conditions but generally includes wearing protective gear, wearing reflective clothing and having reflectors on the bike, riding predictably, and signaling turns or lane changes conspicuously and well in advance of the maneuver. Not only will these behaviors reduce the risk of accidents, but if one does occur, the negligent driver has no excuse or ability to shift any of the blame onto the rider.

Seek Experienced Legal Representation

If you have been seriously injured in a bicycle crash, or if you have lost a loved one who was killed in a collision with an automobile, you need an experienced personal injury or wrongful death attorney who knows how to maximize and obtain the recovery you are entitled to you. Our firm handles all types of negligence cases involving bicycle accidents, including products liability cases where a bicycle was defectively designed or manufactured, or assembled improperly by a bike shop or dealer. Contact our Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation, and Trust us for Justice.

Personal Injury Law – Accident Attorneys

The attorneys at our Personal Injury Law Firm represent people who have been seriously injured in a car accident on the highways, streets, and roads in Texas. Despite the wide-open spaces, there are still thousands of car crashes in a given year, causing serious injuries and hundreds of deaths. In 2016, a traffic crash occurred on Texas roads every 57 seconds, with an injury occurring every 1 hour and 59 minutes and a fatality every 2 hours and 20 minutes. No matter how cautious a driver you may be, the inescapable fact is that you share the road with aggressive drivers, distracted drivers, tired drivers, and drivers who are impaired by the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Liability Insurance and Uninsured Motorists

Texas law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance to compensate another driver in the event they cause an accident. There are a couple of problems with this system. The first is that the law only requires a minimum of 30/60/25, meaning the insurance will pay up to $30,000 in bodily injury to one person or up to $60,000 to all persons injured in the accident, and up to $25,000 for property damage. These policy limits may work well as long as you are not seriously hurt, but these amounts will likely prove woefully inadequate to address any kind of severe or catastrophic injury.

The other problem is that despite the law requiring liability insurance, many drivers fail to carry even the minimum required amounts. Hopefully, you carry uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, in which case your own insurance company should pay for your damages up to the limits of your UM policy. When making a claim to “your” insurance company, however, it is important to consider the competing interests between you (maximum recovery) and your insurance company (minimum payout). Many people do not appreciate that they are in an adversarial relationship with their insurance carrier when they submit a UM or UIM claim. Legal representation is strongly recommended to make sure you are fully and fairly compensated for your damages.

Defective Products Law and Car Accidents

Some car accident lawyers only think about the negligence of the other driver as the cause of the accident. With our extensive experience in all types of personal injury cases, including products liability, we understand the role a defectively designed automobile or defectively manufactured component part can play in causing an accident or contributing to an injury. A poorly-designed vehicle can explode on impact and cause severe burn injuries or death, or the vehicle may rollover with the roof crashing down on the occupants, causing traumatic brain injury or wrongful death. Seats that were improperly installed or faulty restraints such as seat belts and airbags can create serious injuries out of relatively minor impacts. 

In these cases, it is often necessary to hold the automaker accountable for its negligence along with the driver of the car. We are not afraid to stand up to the giant corporations when they should be answerable for the damages their conduct or decisions have caused.

Experienced Texas Auto Accident Attorneys

Whether battling an uninsured motorist, an insurance company, or an automotive giant, experienced legal representation is essential to ensure that you receive the full value of your claim, whether it is received through a negotiated settlement or a jury verdict. Trust us for Justice. The attorneys at our Personal Injury Law Firm have decades of experience helping folks in Texas maximize their recovery in an automobile accident. If you have been in an accident caused by another’s negligent or reckless driving, contact our office for a free consultation.

This blog was posted by Ford and Laurel Attorneys Laredo, Texas