In a largely suburban area like Bear, riding a bicycle can be a great way to get around town while running errands or simply to get some exercise on a day with nice weather. Unfortunately, being on a bike on or even near an active roadway puts you at risk of getting seriously injured in a collision, and often one caused entirely by the negligence of a motor vehicle driver rather than by anything you yourself did wrong.
Even worse, taking legal action over an injury sustained in a wreck like this can be much more difficult than you might expect if you try to do it without a seasoned personal injury attorney on your side. If you want the best chances possible of securing the best possible result from your civil claim, you should prioritize seeking the help of a Bear bicycle accident lawyer from Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz, and Bhaya.
Common Causes of Bicyclist Injuries in Bear
In theory, motor vehicle drivers are supposed to keep an eye out for bicycle riders and give them the same amount of space and respect on the road as they would for anyone else inside any other type of vehicle. In reality, though, there is no shortage of ways in which drivers act irresponsibly around bicyclists and end up causing very serious crashes as a result, with some of the most common ones being:
- Speeding, or not slowing down for poor weather/road conditions
- Not checking blind spots when turning or switching lanes
- Running stop signs or traffic lights
- Driving while substance-impaired
- Driving while distracted, particularly by a cell phone or smartphone
- Overly aggressive driving
- “Dooring,” or opening a car door directly into the path of an oncoming bicyclist
All these actions—not to mention many others—qualify as “breaches” of the “duty of care” motorists have to act responsibly and lawfully at all times while driving. Proving that such a breach was the main and direct cause of an otherwise avoidable collision is the focus of virtually every personal injury lawsuit built around the legal theory of “negligence,” as a Bear bicycle injury attorney can explain in more detail.
What to Do After Being Involved in a Bicycle Wreck
Although they are much more likely to get hurt in traffic collisions compared to motor vehicle drivers, the “hit and run” laws that prohibit drivers from prematurely leaving the scene of a car crash also apply to bicyclists who end up in collisions resulting in significant property damage and/or any personal injury. That means that unless an injured bicyclist needs emergency medical attention, they should call 911 immediately after being hit by a negligent driver and then stay at the scene of the crash until police arrive.
In the meantime, it can be vital to collect some preliminary information that could later serve as vital evidence for a civil claim, including photos/videos of the crash scene and all property damage, contact details from eyewitnesses, and insurance information from the allegedly at-fault driver. A bicycle crash lawyer in Bear can go into further detail about the steps a particular person should take to strengthen their possible lawsuit during a confidential consultation.
Contact a Bear Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
Collisions with cars driven by irresponsible people are one of the biggest causes of bicyclist injuries nationwide. Unfortunately, that does not mean a civil court will always side with you if you try to file suit against a driver who negligently injured you while riding, especially if you do not have capable legal representation helping you to enforce your rights.
The help you may need to get the favorable case result you want is available from the team at Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz, and Bhaya. Call today to get a dedicated and dependable Bear bicycle accident lawyer on your side.