Accidents Involving Cyclists
Our Baltimore personal injury lawyers specialize in a wide range of personal injury cases, including accidents involving cyclists. Cyclist accidents can be especially devastating since you are more exposed to the elements and vulnerable. When a cyclist is hit by a motor vehicle, your bike is likely to be severely damaged, and, worst of all, you may be dealing with extensive injuries.
When you have Murphy Falcon Murphy law firm on your side, you can utilize our years of experience to gain the compensation you deserve after a bicycle accident with a negligent driver. If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident and are looking for an accident injury lawyer, contact us today.
What To Expect With Bike Accidents
If you were involved in a hit and run, or if the driver that collided with you doesn’t have insurance, we can still help. We understand that these cases can be more difficult to win, but we are up for the challenge. With our experience and knowledge, we will do everything we can to get you the compensation you need and deserve.
Whether you were hit by a car while riding your bike or had some other type of accident, we want to hear from you. Our accident attorney will sit down with you and go over the details of your case. We will then put together a plan of action and get to work on getting you the compensation you need to cover your injuries and expenses.
To help recover compensation for your losses, your accident injury lawyer may:
- Collect witness statements
- Review police reports
- Examine accident reconstruction
- Consult with experts
Depending on the severity of the injuries that result from an accident involving a cyclist, payment under personal injury protection (PIP) insurance may not cover the healthcare expenses. This is especially true if you experience long-term injuries or require rehabilitative care. In this case, it may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver in order to recover the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.
Types of Bicycle Accident Lawsuits
There are two main types of cyclist accident lawsuits — negligence and product liability claims.
Negligence
Most cyclist accident lawsuits are based on the legal theory of negligence. In order to win a negligence case, your accident attorney will need to prove that the driver that hit you:
- Owed you a duty of care
- Breached their duty of care
- Caused your injuries
- You suffered damages as a result
Product Liability Claim
If there was a product defect that contributed to the accident, you may be able to file a product liability claim. In order to win a product liability case, your accident attorney will need to prove that:
- You were injured while using the product as intended
- The product had a defective design
- The product was defectively manufactured
- The manufacturer knew or should have known about the defect
What Causes Bicycle Accidents?
Although many more people in Baltimore drive cars than ride bikes, there is still a significant amount of accident risks for cyclists, as well as personal injury claims that are filed defending the cyclist. Bicycle accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most common include:
- Distracted driving (texting and driving, fiddling with GPS)
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Drunk driving
- Defective bicycle parts
- Failure to yield the right of way to the cyclist
- Failure to use turn signals
Contact an accident injury lawyer at Murphy Falcon Murphy if you or a loved one was involved in an accident while riding a bike. We will review the details of your case and help you understand all of your legal options.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries:
Some of the most common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Head injuries: Head injuries are some of the most serious injuries that can result from an accident. They can lead to long-term problems, including cognitive issues and paralysis.
- Neck injuries: Neck injuries can be very painful and may require extensive medical treatment. In some cases, they can lead to permanent damage.
- Back injuries: Back injuries can range from mild to severe. They may require surgery and can lead to long-term pain and disability.
- Broken bones: Broken bones can be very painful and may require surgery to heal properly. In some cases, they can lead to permanent disability.
- Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue injuries, such as bruises, scrapes, and cuts, can be painful and may require medical treatment.
Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Bicyclist
Maryland is a pure contributory negligence state, which can be bad news for vehicle accident victims because it means that if you are even 1% at fault for the accident, you cannot recover any damages from the other driver, no matter how much they were at fault. Often, it is argued that the bicyclist contributed to the crash by disobeying a law or statute.
Because of this, it is important that cyclists know (and follow) the rules of the road. For example, bicyclists must follow the same rules that cars do. This means that they must:
- Ride in the same direction as traffic
- Stop at stop signs and red lights
- Use turn signals when appropriate
- Yield to pedestrians
- Obey speed limits
Drivers must pass cyclists at a safe distance and always leave space, as well as ensure that the bicyclist is a safe distance away before making a turn. If the car is making a turn, the bicyclist has the right of way, and cars must yield to the biker when making turns. If a motorist does not yield when making a turn and causes an accident, you may have a successful personal injury case. Along with following these rules, bicyclists under 16 must wear a helmet.
Start Your Free Consultation With a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle accident, contact an accident injury lawyer at Murphy Falcon Murphy today to schedule a free consultation. We will review the details of your case and help you understand all of your legal options.