Car accidents are not the only sort of accident that personal injury attorneys take on. Anytime you are injured from another’s actions, a P.I. Attorney can help. And bike accidents are one accident where it would be good to have an attorney. These types of accidents can be more difficult to navigate on your own. They are a bit different than other cases, and it is good to have an expert on the subject.
So what makes bike accident cases different from car accident cases? We have seven reasons that these sorts of cases are different.
Vulnerability of Cyclists
Because a bicycle cannot protect you as much as a car, injuries in a bike accident can be more severe. Even with protective gear and riding at low speeds, you can still get very injured. Because of the increased chance of injury, it can influence the liability responsibility and damage claims.
Traffic Laws and Right of Ways
Since bike laws differ from traffic laws, there could be some dispute about which side is in the wrong. Bikes are able to drive in their bike lane, but they do have to obey traffic signals. This can cause some confusion with vehicle and bike owners when deciding the right of way. This means that there could be a lot more discussion on both sides of who will take fault.
Bias and Perception
Some people might have biases against bicyclists. This means that in a police report or insurance claim, there might be a negative attitude towards the bike rider. This is the same thing if a jury were to become involved in the case.
Evidence Challenges
In a car, you have dash cams and mechanical history to show what happened during an accident. A bike does not have these things. This means that for evidence, an attorney has to rely on outside sources, like witnesses, weather reports, police reports, and cyclist visibility. If the bicyclist was not wearing reflective or protective gear, it could be bad for their case.
Insurance and Liability
Some cyclists may not have insurance, which can complicate the case. There could also be some dispute over liability, which would add more difficulty to insurance decisions. Also, your UIM/UM insurance could also not cover the same as your regular insurance might.
Types of Damage
Because of the nature of a bike accident, and the severe injuries you could receive, the medical costs could become much higher. Also, your insurance might scrutinize your lost wages, pain or suffering, or property damage more than they would a car accident.
Contributory Negligence
Depending on the location of the accident and state laws, bikers could be found at fault for not wearing a helmet or having the wrong gear. This could mean that your compensation could be reduced.
Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks Can Help
Bike accidents can leave cyclists with lasting injuries, medical bills, and other trauma. If you’ve been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, call the personal injury experts at Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks right away.
We are located in Northern Utah and have represented clients for over 25 years. We’re experts at what we do, so you can trust us to take care of your personal injury case. Contact us today to set up a free case evaluation to see how our services can help you
