Louisville Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Louisville’s number of bike commuters has steadily grown over the past few decades and Kentucky is doing a great job making the proper safety updates to keep cyclists safe. But there’s still room for improvement, and unfortunately, bike accidents do happen. Given the lack of protection and powerful force of vehicles, bicyclists can suffer severe, if not fatal, injuries.
If you’ve been in a Louisville accident and need legal representation, contact our Louisville bike accident lawyers at Meinhart & Manning, PLLC. We are here to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Louisville, Kentucky
A Louisville Metro Health Status Report found 100% of the bicycle accidents occurred during non-rush hour times. Most accidents happen because car drivers are negligent about paying attention to bicyclists.
As experienced Louisville bike accident attorneys, our Kentucky law firm repeatedly see the same acts of negligence, including:
- Dooring a bicyclist.
- Turning in front of the bicyclist.
- Driving too near the bicyclist.
- Running a stoplight or stop sign.
- Pulling out onto the road without first looking for other traffic.
One of the main causes of accidents are “doorings”- when a person in the vehicle opens their door without first looking behind them to see if it’s safe. As many as eight percent of Louisville car accidents occur in this way, and the person in the vehicle is responsible for causing the accident. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Kentucky, visit our Louisville car accident lawyer page to find more information how Kentucky laws can affect your car accident claim.
Of course, these are just some of the ways in which accidents are caused. As a bicycle rider, you are protected by laws and can take legal action if you are injured by a motor vehicle while riding your bicycle. Drivers have a responsibility to share the road and to remain alert.
Your Rights as a Louisville Cyclist
As a bicyclist, you may:
- Ride on the road, up to two abreast.
- Have the right of way when going straight, if a vehicle is turning left.
It is illegal for vehicle drivers to do the following:
- Make a right hook, thereby hitting a bicyclist
- Cut off a cyclist
- Force a cyclist into a narrow lane
- Door a cyclist
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Some of the injuries that commonly occur when cars and bicycles collide include:
- Scrapes and bruises
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injures
No matter how well you feel after being in a bicycle collision, you should visit your local hospital, and then consult with an injury attorney to find out how you can collect on damages due to the accident.
What You Should Do If You’ve Been Injured in A Bicycle Accident in Louisville, KY
After a bicycle accident, there are many questions that arise: Who will pay for my medical bills? What will I do about lost wages? These are valid questions that can be answered with the help of an experienced attorney who knows the laws and will use them to protect your rights. We’re here to help you every step of the way. We will fight for your rights so that you get the compensation which you deserve.
Bicycle accidents can happen at any time, whether you are riding to work or pleasure riding. If you or a loved one has been in a bicycle accident, you need a Louisville bicycle accident lawyer who is experienced in this type of legal action to ensure that you get the compensation to which you are entitled.
Navigating the legal system is something you can do yourself, though it is difficult, but when additional lawyers are involved in the matter, it is best that you choose an experienced accident lawyer to advise you of your rights and to represent you in court, especially if you suffered catastrophic injuries. If a passenger vehicle or truck was the cause of your bicycle accident, the driver’s attorneys and the driver’s insurance company’s attorneys are involved. You may also have insurance, so in addition to the accident attorney you choose; your insurance company’s attorneys will be involved in the case.
Common Bicycle Accident Questions
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Do I Need a Louisville Bicycle Accident Attorney?
Even if your insurance company has an attorney, remember that the insurance company is looking out for its own interests. To ensure that your rights are protected, you should retain your own bicycle accident attorney if you were injured or if you lost a loved one in a bike accident. Your bike accident attorney will make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to while your insurance company will compensate you for as little as possible. Remember, your claim costs your insurance company money.
- How Soon Should I File an Injury Claim?
You should contact a Louisville bike accident lawyer as soon after the accident as you can. If you are severely injured, you may also have a family member contact an attorney on your behalf. The sooner you file the claim, the better it is for you. After a certain amount of time, the statute of limitations runs and you will not be able to file a claim.
- What Does Compensation Cover?
When you settle your bicycle accident claim or when a court rules in your favor, you may receive payments for medical bills and rehabilitative care, property damage, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma. You may also be entitled to lost wages and, if your injuries are disabling, future lost income.
- Recovery in KY Personal Injury lawsuits
You may be wondering how you can manage a legal action while you are recovering from injuries or while you are taking care of a loved one’s estate. A Louisville bicycle accident lawyer serves as your supportive litigator so you can take care of your loved one’s business or focus on your rehabilitation. As the case progresses, the attorney will advise you of each step of the process, including obtaining medical records and other documents needed to prove your case; and settlement negotiations.
Wrongful Death and Bicycle Accidents
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is difficult, so leave the bulk of the legal work to us. We will work to recover what’s rightfully yours so that your family can take it easy during this time of grief.
If your family member died as a result of a bicycle accident, then the family day be able to receive financial reimbursement for one, or more, of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Income loss
- Loss of a partner, spouse or parent resulting in the loss of affection, help and companionship
- Punitive damages
You should contact us as soon as possible so that the case can begin immediately. We’ll need your help in recovering the evidence and keeping it as is until it can be used in court. Our Louisville wrongful death attorney will do everything possible to make the processes easy on you, while honoring your loved one by getting the rightful compensation.
Sharing the Road With Passenger Cars
Bicyclists account for roughly two percent of all traffic fatalities throughout the United States in any given year. With more people relying on this form of transportation in order to get to work or school, bicycle safety should be a concern for every urban area in the US. Some states have stringent bike safety laws and vast networks of bike trails, while other states are lagging behind in their laws protecting bike riders from motor vehicle drivers. The differences among the states is staggering, and more bike trails need to be created in order to provide safety for all bike riders on the road today.
In Kentucky, bicyclists must follow the same rules of the road as people who are operating motor vehicles. With the lack of bike trail networking in Kentucky, this becomes more important than ever because bicyclists are sharing the road with motor vehicles more often. Some cities are developing a more bike friendly plan, while others are way behind when it comes to bike safety. Bicycle safety precautions are a bit lacking in Kentucky, as only riders under the age of sixteen are required to wear protective gear. The lack of helmet wearing results in a number of fatalities each year.
Contact a Louisville Injury Lawyer
Contact our Louisville bike accident lawyers today so that our team of experienced litigators can help you receive damages due to you compensate for medical bills and lost wages which are a result of the bicycle accident. Our Louisville personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and will work on your case on a contingency fee basis. Schedule your case evaluation today.