About Bicycle Accident Claims From Austin Bike Injury Lawyers
Every year, motor vehicles injure and kill cyclists and pedestrians throughout central Texas. If you have been injured, or if a member of your family suffered a wrongful death in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, please contact an Austin accident lawyer.
Cases involving bicycle accidents can be complex, but our lawyers have the strength to handle them. As we handle these matters, we take pride in helping our clients understand the various issues that arise. Among the issues we frequently address are:
Types of Bicycle Accidents
Our attorneys are keenly aware of the various forms that bicycle accidents can take. Our three decades of experience serving Central Texas residents encompasses all types of accidents, including:
- Bikes hit by cars
- Bikes hit by trucks
- Bikes hit by motorcycles
- Bike-only accidents (accidents caused by defects in the bike or the road)
- Mountain bike accidents
Our ability to get results extends from bicycle accidents involving children to adult professional bicyclists hit while training. No matter who has been involved in the accident and what type of accident has happened, our law firm can be counted on to pursue maximum compensation for our client.
How the Type of Accident Impacts Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys’ Approach to the Claim
From a medical perspective, the unfortunate reality is that all types of bicycle accidents tend to result in very serious injuries, simply because the bicyclist doesn’t have the level of protection necessary to withstand a collision with a motor vehicle.
From a legal perspective, the type of accident can impact our approach to the claim. For example, if the bicyclist was hit by a truck driver, our investigation needs to bring in our understanding of federal trucking laws. Truck drivers are much more regulated than the drivers of cars, and if we are able to show that regulations have not been followed, proving negligence becomes much easier.
While the vast majority of bicycle accidents involve the negligence of automobile drivers, there are bike-only accident cases. These can be extremely complex, because they typically mean we are going against a bicycle manufacturer for making a defective product or a government entity for failing to properly maintain a road. These are complex cases, but we can handle them.
Winning Cases for Injured Cyclists
Bicyclists have a legal right to share the road with automobiles. Yet, as any serious cyclist will tell you, drivers frequently put bikers at risk. Sometimes drivers are distracted and claim they don’t see the cyclist. Other times, they purposefully try to run the biker off the road.
Motorists complain that bicyclists fail to follow the rules of the road. However, a study by the League of American Bicyclists found that the motorist is at fault in 60% of car-bike collision while cyclists were responsible for 17% of the accidents.
A firm won a $1.5 million settlement on behalf of an injured bicyclist who, according to the police report, was responsible for the accident. They retained an accident reconstructionist, who is an expert in bicycle/vehicle accidents, who showed our client did not run a stop sign, as others assumed. We will go the extra mile to get to uncover the truth in your case, too.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents
It is a sad fact that many of the bicycle accidents that happen in Austin and throughout Central Texas could have been prevented. Many of them are the result of an individual or a business acting negligently. Victims have the right to hold negligent parties accountable in bike injury cases, and our experienced attorneys are here to help.
Bicycle Accidents Caused By Negligent Drivers
When a driver gets behind the wheel, that driver needs to be willing to share the road, not only with other motor vehicles, but with bicyclists as well. That driver needs to watch for people on bicycles. Failure to do this may be the number one cause of bicycle accidents. Failure to watch can cause left turn car accidents, in which a driver takes a turn and cuts off a person on a bike. Failure to watch causes drivers to veer into bike lanes and hit bicyclists.
Many accidents even happen when a vehicle is stopped. A driver who opens a car door abruptly in front of a biker can be held responsible for the injuries caused.
Bicycle Accidents Caused By Other Factors
Bicycle defects can lead to serious accidents, and the manufacturers can be held responsible for the injuries caused. These defects can include defective brakes, defective tires and more.
Road defects can also cause accidents. Unfortunately, many problems with a road are overlooked because they are not problems to motor vehicles. However, large potholes and improperly designed gutters that would not be an issue for cars and trucks can cause serious harm to a bicyclist. Governments are responsible for maintaining roads not only so that they are safe for motor vehicles, but for bikers as well. We take action when they fail to do so.
Injuries Caused by Bicycle Accidents
The unfortunate reality is that bicycle accidents tend to result in very serious injuries. This is because the bicyclist doesn’t have the level of protection necessary to withstand a collision with a motor vehicle. Even if the bicyclist is wearing a helmet and other protective gear, a permanent and life-changing injury is a possibility.
We provide the same serious legal representation to every bicycle accident victim we represent, regardless of the nature of the injury. We have been providing this representation for more than three decades, meaning that our clients have experience on their side. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries
Our lawyers have the ability to represent all injury victims, including people who have suffered:
- Head injury
- Back and neck injury
- Loss of limb
- Broken bones
- Road burn
- Facial injury
Compassion is a key aspect of our representation. We understand that an injury can turn a person’s life upside down. It can turn a family’s life upside down. Part of our role is to be there for our clients during this tough time, offering every bit of guidance we can provide. We encourage our clients to focus on recovery and do everything we can to make certain they get the best medical care possible. Then we go to work to get them the compensation to cover the costs of that medical care.
Bicycle Accident Facts & Statistics
Did you know that the first car accident to ever occur in the United States involved a bicyclist? In 1896, a New York City driver crashed into a bicyclist undoubtedly causing harm to the less protected bicycle rider.
Since 1932-the first year that bicycle accident statistics were recorded-53,000 bicyclists have died in traffic accidents. Spanning to present day, 716 bicyclists were killed in accidents and 52,000 were injured last year.
Bicyclist fatalities and injuries comprise 14 and 2 percent, respectively, of all people who are harmed in traffic accidents each year. While that number may seem small comparatively, these numbers are too high.
Additional bike accident facts and statistics collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration include:
- 69 percent of all bicycle accident fatalities occur in urban areas
- 64 percent of all fatal bike accidents occur at non-intersection locations
- 28 percent of all fatal bike accidents occur between the evening hours of 5 and 9 pm.
- 41 is the average age of a fatal bicycle accident victim in the US in 2008 (compared to 32 in 1998)
- 31 is the average age of an injured bicyclist, compared to 24 in 1998
- 13 percent of all fatal bicycle accidents affect children under the age of 16 (they comprise 25% of those who are injured)
- 37 percent of all bike accidents involve alcohol consumption, either by the cyclist or the driver
- 80 to 90 percent of those involved in injurious or fatal bike accidents are men.
While these bike accident facts and statistics shed some light on the nature of the problem and the risks related to bike accidents, they don’t do much to tell you about specific accidents.
If you would like to learn more about bicycle accidents, please contact us today. Our qualified and knowledgeable bicycle accident attorneys can evaluate your case to determine your right to obtain compensation for your injuries, damages, losses and suffering.
FAQ on Bicycle Accidents
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a bicycle accident that was caused by an act of negligence, you want to enlist an attorney to make certain you get the compensation you deserve. You need to pick the attorney who is right for you, and that’s no easy task. To help, we have provided the following frequently asked questions.
Do You Truly Care About the People You Represent?
We believe this is a fair question. We know all too well that there are law firms out there that are primarily churning out cases and accepting the quickest possible settlement, even if it doesn’t come close to meeting the client’s needs. We are not one of those firms. We show our compassion the best way we know how, by being there for our clients when they need us and by working hard to maximize compensation in bicycle accident claims.
Do You Have the Resources to Handle Serious Injury Claims?
Bicycle accident cases often require more than a good lawyer to succeed. Medical experts, exhibit designers and other professionals may be needed as well. We have access to the best experts and we have the resources put them to work for you. You do not have to worry about the financial risk. We accept cases on a contingency basis. We will advance all costs necessary to successfully prosecute your case. We are only paid for our services if we get results for you.
Bicycle Safety & Accident Prevention
Adequate bicycle safety and accident prevention requires the efforts of bicyclists, motor vehicle drivers, and law enforcement.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reminds drivers of the importance of sharing the road with bicyclists and showing them respect on the roadways. They recommend that cars and trucks leave at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road and to look out for bicyclists when opening doors, pulling into driveways, crossing intersections, etc.
While drivers can do a lot to prevent bicycle accidents, often it falls on cyclists to protect themselves from accidents on the roads. The following are some ways you can protect yourself.
- Always wear a helmet. A properly fitted bicycle helmet should be worn by all bicycle riders; no matter how old, where you ride, or how long you ride. Because bicyclists are so exposed on the road, head injuries afflict thousands of riders every year. Wearing a helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury in a bicycle accident.
- Follow the rules of the road. Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators in the eyes of traffic laws. As such, they are required to observe all laws that vehicles are obliged to observe. This includes obeying traffic signs, signals and lane markers, right-of-way rules, and using common sense and respect for others.
- Ride with Traffic. When cycling in the street, bikers are required to ride in the same direction as traffic.
- Ride as if you were invisible to others. This does not equate to making yourself invisible! Quite the opposite, you want to always stay as visible as possible when riding. BUT-never assume that a car or truck driver sees you. It is always better to err toward caution and wait to cross the street or take a turn until you are certain you’re not at risk for being hit by an inattentive motorist.
- Increase your Visibility. You an further increase your visibility while biking by wearing florescent, brightly colored, and/or reflective clothing at all times during the day. For night rides, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing light at the rear. Use retro-reflective tape or markings on clothing and equipment as well.
In some case, no amount of bicycle safety precautions can prevent an accident from happening. If you or a loved one has been in a bicycle accident, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and suffering from the parties responsible. A qualified attorney can review your case to determine liability and how best to assist you in recovering your damages and losses. Please contact us for a free bike accident case evaluation.