Bicycle Accident Attorney in Fort Collins
A bicycle crash in Fort Collins, Colorado can change your life in many unexpected and unwanted ways. Because a bicycle doesn’t offer the protection a motor vehicle offers, you may suffer serious injury.
Bike accidents can also be costly. Your injuries may require medical treatment you don’t know how you’ll pay for. They could also deprive you of an income if you’re unable to work while recovering. If someone else caused the accident that injured you, you could be entitled to compensation for your accident-related losses.
At The Wilhite Law Firm, a Fort Collins bicycle accident lawyer can offer much-needed relief. We’ll review your case and explain whether you have grounds to file a claim for financial compensation. Contact us today for more information and a free consultation.
What Causes Fort Collins Bicycle Accidents?
Colorado bicycle accidents occur for numerous reasons. Sometimes, a bicycle crash results from a motorist’s careless actions. Examples of ways careless motor vehicle drivers can cause bicycle collisions include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Not checking for bicyclists when changing lanes or turning
- Ignoring traffic signs or signals
- Blocking designated bike lanes
- Aggressive driving
Bike accidents can also be the result of mechanical defects or errors. A bicycle crash could also occur due to hazardous road conditions.
What Injuries Occur Most Frequently in Fort Collins Bicycle Accidents?
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the following are among the most common injuries bicycle accident victims sustain:
- Skull fractures
- Concussions
- Brain contusions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Intracranial hemorrhages
- Dental and facial fractures
- Eye injuries, like foreign objects in the cornea
- Broken bones
- Dislocations
- Strains
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lung injuries
- Pancreatic trauma
- Traumatic hernia
- Abrasions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations
An injured bicyclist will almost certainly need medical treatment. Depending on the severity of their injuries, they might also face a range of other long-term struggles.
For example, serious injuries like a traumatic brain injury can affect cognition, mood, and memory. Such injuries can permanently limit a victim’s enjoyment of life, earning potential, and more. Our Fort collins bicycle accident injury attorney can help.
What Should I Do After a Fort Collins Bicycle Accident?
Check yourself for injuries immediately after a bike accident. If your injuries require immediate care, getting treatment is your first priority. Otherwise, take the following steps:
- Move to a safe spot away from traffic if you can do so without seriously exacerbating your injuries.
- Check to see if anyone else was injured in the bike crash. Help them seek medical attention immediately.
- Make a note of identifying details of the vehicle that struck you. Get the license plate number in case the driver flees the scene.
- Exchange names and contact information with any drivers involved in the wreck. Don’t escalate the situation by accusing them of causing it. Additionally, don’t say anything to suggest the crash was your fault or your injuries aren’t serious.
- Call 911 and report the crash. A dispatcher will send an officer to investigate.
- Take pictures of the crash scene, damage to your vehicle, and any visual signs of injury.
- Ask witnesses to provide statements. Get their names and contact information if you can’t get statements at the scene.
- Contact a bicycle accident attorney to help you with the next steps.
Once the police say you can leave, head to an emergency room or urgent care clinic. You might not immediately notice the symptoms of your injuries, but seeing a doctor is a vital step regardless of whether you believe you’ve been hurt. Contact our Fort Collins bicycle accident lawyer today.
Who Is Usually at Fault in a Bicycle Injury Accident?
Parties who may be at fault in bike accident cases include:
- Motorists
- Other bicycle riders
- Pedestrians
- Bike manufacturers or designers
- Vehicle manufacturers or designers
- the manufacturers or designers of safety equipment, such as helmets
- Government agencies responsible for addressing hazardous road conditions
Assuming a bicyclist isn’t at fault, the party most likely to cause a bike crash is a motorist. However, it’s not always clear who caused a wreck in the immediate aftermath. Determining liability may require conducting an investigation.
What Damages Could I Collect from a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit?
Bike crashes often involve high claim amounts because of the severe injuries they involve. You may file an insurance claim if you’ve been hurt in a bike accident resulting from someone else’s actions or carelessness. Sometimes, insurance companies refuse to offer fair settlements. Filing a lawsuit to seek damages in court is an option when this happens.
Bicycle accident lawyers can help you seek full and fair compensation for your claim. You may seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses after a bike crash through a personal injury claim. Economic losses include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other quantifiable losses. It may be necessary to estimate the value of certain economic losses, like the cost of future medical treatment.
Non-economic losses do not relate to a direct economic harm, but they are every bit as real as economic losses. Non-economic losses include pain, suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement. An experienced attorney can determine the value of your non-economic losses.
Unfortunately, if you were to pursue compensation on your own, you might have to burden yourself with the following tasks while you’re recovering from your injuries:
- Determining who is liable
- Gathering evidence of liability
- Calculating how much compensation you may deserve
- Collecting documentation of your losses
- Completing claim paperwork and filing a claim
- Negotiating with insurance claims adjusters
Hiring an experienced Colorado bicycle accident lawyer to handle your claim is wise.
Does Colorado Have a Time Limit for Filing a Bicycle Accident Claim?
You’re very vulnerable on a bike. Your injuries after a wreck can be severe. If you plan to file a lawsuit, the statute of limitations in Colorado establishes different deadlines for different kinds of lawsuits. If a motor vehicle strikes you and causes injury, you have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. If a pedestrian or other non-motorist party is at fault, you have two years from the date of the crash to sue.
Contact a Fort Collins Bicycle Accident Lawyer
You don’t have to handle the claims process alone. At The Wilhite Law Firm, a Fort Collins bicycle accident lawyer is prepared to offer the representation you deserve now. Learn more about what we can do for you by contacting our Fort Collins personal injury lawyer online today for a free initial consultation.
