The popularity of cycling has led to the promotion of bike lanes throughout San Antonio. Unfortunately, the prevalence of cyclists on the road has also increased the number of injury accidents. When cyclists collide with motor vehicles, the resulting impact could cause life-altering injuries and severe damages. A compassionate personal injury attorney can help a cyclist pursue legal action against the driver that struck them.
If you or a loved one were injured while riding a bike, you have the right to seek compensation from the person responsible for the crash. A San Antonio bicycle accident lawyer can analyze the facts of your case and help you hold the reckless party accountable for damages. En Español.
Many different combinations of factors could combine to cause an unexpected crash involving bikes and cars, but some causes are more common than others. Generally speaking, most bicycle crashes happen due to speeding, distracted driving, not looking out for cyclists, and failing to yield the ride of way. In other situations, a driver might rear-end a cyclist by not stopping quickly enough at a red light.
Meanwhile, some other less common triggers include but are not limited to texting while driving, accidentally travelling too close to a bike rider in the same lane, or operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Any of these behaviors could cause a crash that results in severe injuries and determining the cause of the collision is a crucial part of filing a civil claim. Thankfully, a hardworking attorney in San Antonio can investigate the cause of a bicycle accident and demonstrate that a negligent defendant is to blame.
The weight disparity is significant between bicycles and motor vehicles. Given the size of these vehicles and the lack of protection offered by a bike, the injuries a bicyclist can sustain can be devastating in a bicycle crash. Bike accidents are often fatal. Those that survive these collisions could face long-term or permanent injuries that could dramatically alter their quality of life. Some of the type of severe injuries a bicyclist could sustain include:
A person injured in a San Antonio bicycle accident can benefit from engaging with an attorney to bring a civil claim. By pursuing the responsible driver for compensation, the injured cyclist could recover compensation for their injuries.
The compensation in a bike accident claim will depend on the type and severity of the injuries. There are two types of damages that are commonly available in bicycle accident claims, including economic and non-economic damages. In cases where a bicycle accident results from egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be awarded.
Economic damages are losses stemming from an accident that are easy to quantify. They involve compensation for medical bills, bicycle repair costs, or lost wages. These types of damages allow an injured cyclist to recoup out-of-pocket expenses like hospital bills or bike repair invoices. If they need to replace a set of bike parts, completely replace the vehicle, attend physical rehabilitation sessions, or pay for in-home treatment, economic damages could help repay for these aspects. These reimbursements could even cover the cost of replacing a broken helmet, expensive clothing that got ripped in the crash, or a cellphone that smashed when hitting the road.
Not all losses from a bicycle accident are monetary in nature. The compensation for these losses is known as non-economic damages. Common types of economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. For example, if a wounded cyclist has new physical limitations like back pain, financial compensation could account for the impact of this reduced quality of life. Non-economic damages could also reimburse for the emotional impact of physical disfigurement, like scarring or severe road rash. All of these traumatic setbacks or losses deserve consideration, and non-economic repayments can help.
While rare, punitive damages could be available in a bicycle accident claim. Punitive damages serve the purpose of punishing the cause of a bicycle accident. Juries will only award these damages when they find the defendant to have acted with extreme recklessness or malice. For example, if a driver is found to be intoxicated during the crash, they could be held liable for damages.
A personal injury resulting from a bike crash could take weeks or even months to heal. In many cases, the injuries and damages sustained in a crash could be permanent. A San Antonio bicycle accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for damages.
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