Bicycle Accident Lawyer Lafayette, IN
If you’re looking for a bicycle accident lawyer Lafayette, IN trusts, look no further than the professionals at Hall-Justice. A bicycle accident is serious, and has the potential to completely change your life. But, with the proper legal guidance, you have a chance at winning some much-needed compensation.
Bikes are becoming more common, and according to information posted on Statista, 51.4 million Americans made use of a bicycle during 2021 alone. However, as more Americans rely on bikes for transport and recreation, the risk of injury becomes more common as well.
It’s important to know what to do in the event of a bike accident, and it’s equally important to know what you should do afterwards. Read on to learn more about how a bike accident lawyer can do for you, and get in touch with Hall-Justice as soon as possible.
What Should I Do in the Event of a Bike Accident?
If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, don’t panic.
Chances are you’ve been injured – potentially seriously. It’s important to call emergency responders and (if possible) get to somewhere safe. Your health and safety are your first priority. Get off the road, get somewhere safe, and call for emergency personnel if you’ve been injured. Having police and first responders on hand means having additional witnesses to the immediate aftermath of your accident.
Aside from the severity of your injuries, your bike accident should be treated similarly to a car accident. Take photos of the scene, and get the contact information of everyone involved in the accident. And, of course, get the insurance information from the driver who hit you. Your bike accident may have resulted in serious injury, and you shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket.
What Do I Do Afterwards?
Unfortunately, your accident is just the tip of a very big iceberg. If you were injured as a result of your bike accident, you’ll have to deal with doctors’ visits and medical care, and paying for that care as well. You also might miss out on some work, and by extension some much-needed paychecks to keep yourself afloat. It’s challenging, frustrating, scary, and stressful. But fortunately, there’s a way out.
A Lafayette bicycle accident lawyer can be a valuable friend in your time of need. If you’ve been injured in a bike accident, you need to focus on your recovery, rather than paying bills and battling with insurance. The last thing you want is to deal with paperwork when you’re just trying to get better. Thankfully, a bike accident lawyer can handle it for you.
What Can a Bike Accident Lawyer Do for Me?
Bicycle accident lawyers are valuable legal resources. A qualified lawyer can provide you with all the details about your case – what you should do, what to expect in the future, and how you can get compensation for your injuries.
The right lawyer can also go over the specifics of your accident to determine if any other parties can (and should) be held responsible for your injuries. For example, a poorly-planned bike lane could directly lead to collisions and future injuries, so the city might be held accountable for your accident.
Importantly, bike accident lawyers can fight on your behalf against insurance companies who want to pay too little, too late. There’s no telling what kind of serious health problems you may deal with after your accident, but with the right help from your lawyer, you can secure the necessary funds to make a full recovery – or as close to a full recovery as possible.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents happen to people in the United States each day. Many of these accidents are also simply out of the bicycle riders’ control. When they are caused by a negligent or reckless action by an automobile operator then the injuries can be substantial. Other contributing factors to accidents include poorly constructed or improperly maintained roads and paths. Also, when construction work is being done on a road or path and it isn’t identified properly as a caution zone then injuries can happen there too to both bicycle riders and to pedestrians.
Bicycle Accident Injuries
Injuries vary in bicycle accidents. Some accidents can cause minor scrapes and bruises. Others may have internal bleeding and broken bones. There are other accidents that are quite severe that leave people with spinal injuries and even traumatic brain injuries. When injuries are permanent this is especially tragic and unfortunate. While not everyone will receive major injuries in a bicycle accident there are some who do. When this happens it is especially important to speak with a bicycle accident lawyer Lafayette, IN trusts from Hall-Justice. Our firm will fight against the guilty party and insurance company to ensure that our client gets the compensation and other benefits they deserve for this unfortunate occurrence.
Compensation for Injuries
Compensation is available in most accident injury cases. The same can be said for bicycle accident injury cases. Compensation comes in a few different forms and covers a variety of things. One of these things is pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is awarded out to the victim for the pain the accident caused them and for the subsequent suffering it caused them too. The amount for this will depend on the details of the case but some individuals have received quite a high financial amount for this particular item. Other things that may be compensated for are lost wages from work. If the victim had to miss work due to the injury then this should be compensated for. Medical bills and therapy sessions are also typically compensated for. When someone has to spend time in the hospital receiving medical care the bills can quickly add up. The same can be said for visiting with specialists and therapists to help with the recovery process. Make sure to ask a lawyer about these things to ensure compensation is met.
Assistance From a Professional
A Lafayette bicycle accident lawyer who specializes in bicycle accident injuries can assist with these circumstances and the possible case against the guilty party. Our experience and skill goes a long way to ensuring the victim has their bills paid for and that pain and suffering is taken seriously. We understand what the opposing parties are attempting to do regarding their own client. That is why we fight hard for the victims to ensure they are treated fairly and compensated fairly for the injustice that has been done to them. Reach out to a bicycle accident lawyer Lafayette, IN trusts from our firm at Hall-Justice.
Get in Touch with Hall-Justice Today
At Hall-Justice, we know that a bicycle injury can turn your life upside down. But, we also know that you deserve a legal representative who can walk you through your case and get you some much-needed financial compensation – whether through insurance, or otherwise. Get in touch with us today, and see how a Lafayette bicycle accident lawyer from our office can help.
5 Factors to Look for When Choosing an Attorney
Before selecting an attorney, you should consider these five following factors:
1. The Right Experience
The legal profession covers a wide basis, and you’ll want to pick an attorney with experience in personal injury law. Additionally, it helps even more if they specialize in automotive accidents, including bicycle accidents. You also want an attorney qualified they practice the law in the specific state where the accident happened. Of course, being qualified and specializing in a field doesn’t automatically constitute a good fit. That’s why you want to research and determine if they have experience winning cases.
2. Satisfied Clients
When you read any service on a person’s webpage or social media, these pages are likely to create the best impression possible. While you can learn a lot from reading online reviews and viewing an attorney’s pages, these don’t hold a candle to direct referrals from satisfied clients. When interviewing potential attorneys, be sure to ask them if they can showcase any referrals from satisfied clients. A confident attorney shouldn’t shy away from doing so and may even provide them without you asking.
3. Do They Have Enough Time
Being an attorney takes lots of hard work and many attorneys and law firms have a packed schedule. Likely, you probably won’t be your attorney’s only client. However, you want to ensure your potential client has enough of an open schedule to assist you. Ask them plainly how many hours can they devote to your case alongside how long they believe it’ll take to settle your case. A respective attorney won’t shy away from telling you much time they can realistically devote to your case. Additionally, they should be open if they believe they’re unable to tackle your case due to a busy schedule.
4. They’re Willing to Go to Trial If Necessary
Despite what TV shows or movies may portray, many attorneys prefer avoiding trial if necessary. For bicycle accidents, it’s often better for both parties to reach a settlement as a trial takes a lot of time and money and can create unfavorable results. While a settlement can sometimes take compromise, a trial can result in you receiving a much lower settlement or not receiving one at all. As such, your attorney may often advise settling—of course, after many negotiation sessions. However, an attorney also shouldn’t be afraid to go to trial if necessary and should be willing to fight for you.
5. Is Always Honest With You
Unfortunately, sometimes an attorney has to tell you something you don’t want to hear, such as that they don’t think you have a strong case or that you won’t obtain a better settlement. An attorney should honestly advise you and provide you with realistic options. Sometimes there might be multiple roads to take or other times, in their legal opinion, there may only exist one legal course of action. A bicycle accident lawyer in Lafayette, IN, will help guide you with honesty and integrity.