Even if you are consistently responsible when riding your bicycle, a moment of carelessness or recklessness by a motor vehicle driver could lead to an accident with life-altering repercussions. Unfortunately, even if you know someone else is to blame for causing a crash, holding them accountable for all your ensuing losses can be difficult to accomplish alone.
Thankfully, you do not have to handle your case alone. Instead, you should reach out to a seasoned San Marcos bicycle accident lawyer as soon as you can after seeking medical treatment. By retaining and working with an experienced personal injury attorney, you could enforce effectively enforce your legal rights and demand the compensation you deserve.
Common Bike Accident Injuries and Losses
Because bicyclists generally have no protection from external impacts beyond perhaps a helmet and some riding-friendly clothing, they are especially susceptible to suffering severe and sometimes debilitating harm in collisions with motor vehicles. Even in the best-case scenario, wrecking while on a bicycle could leave a rider with painful abrasions or lacerations, soft-tissue injuries like torn muscles and ligament sprains, bone fractures, and facial injuries like chipped teeth. At higher speeds, cycling crashes can cause traumatic brain damage, spinal cord trauma, internal organ damage, and crushing injuries.
Depending on the severity of a bike rider’s injuries and how long their physical, financial, and personal setbacks will last, it may be necessary to pursue financial compensation for both short-term and long-term losses. Specific damages seen in bike wreck cases could include repayment for:
- Emergency medical expenses
- The cost of long-term medical care, including physical therapy and prescription medications
- Bicycle repairs and other damage to personal property
- Lost work income and/or working ability
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced overall quality of life
A knowledgeable attorney in San Marcos understands the nuances of pursuing financial compensation after a bicycle accident and could fight to factor both short and long-term losses into a civil claim.
How State Law Could Hinder Recovery Efforts
While bicycle riders involved in traffic accidents are far more likely to suffer injuries than anyone inside a motor vehicle, that does not mean bicyclists are immune from being found partially to blame for their own losses. If a bicyclist was negligent in some way that contributed directly to causing or worsening their accident, the court ruling on their case may end up reducing this plaintiff’s compensation in proportion to their share of total fault. Similarly, if a cyclist is more than 50 percent to blame for a crash, they might not be able to collect any financial compensation. For example, if a bicyclist caused a wreck by riding recklessly and breaking traffic laws, comparative fault regulations might significantly impact their case.
Meanwhile, a two-year statutory filing period applies to virtually all personal injury claims, including those based on bicycle accidents. Support from a capable bicycle wreck lawyer in San Marcos can be crucial to respecting this statute of limitations and avoiding procedural obstacles like allegations of comparative fault.
Speak with a San Marcos Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
Falling off a bicycle under any circumstances can lead to painful and debilitating injuries, especially at high speeds. Therefore, when a crash involves a motor vehicle, the resulting injuries and losses can be especially devastating.
If you were hurt by a negligent driver, this defendant should be held accountable for the way that the accident impacted your life. A conversation with a San Marcos bicycle accident lawyer could provide you with the information you need to effectively pursue your claim. Call today to schedule a meeting.
