About Bicycle Accidents

As the public becomes more focused on health and environmental causes, there has been a huge increase in people choosing to use a bicycle to get to and from work, or for a healthy form of exercise during weekends.  Children have used the bicycle as their main form of transportation for decades and are found on street and sidewalks in every city and town.  With the increase in bicycle riders unfortunately comes an increase in serious bicycle accidents.  These are almost entirely related to the automobile coming in contact with the bicyclist.  Even though most states require at least children to wear helmets, the rest of the body is unprotected, and helmets can only do so much, and have been known to break or fail.  Many of these accidents cause fatal injuries, as the bicyclist is thrown through the air and often suffers fatal head injuries.  In other cases, the spine is so badly injured that the victim suffers paralysis, either paraplegia or quadriplegia.

Insurance Claims and Bicycle Injury Accidents

As the injuries can be so severe and often life-threatening, many of these accidents have literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.  The families of the injured individual is rightfully focused on their loved one's health and recovery, and usually has very little time or inclination to deal with complex insurance claim forms, or any legal aspect of the incident.  Nonetheless, a proper handling of this situation is a critical matter for the injured and their families.  As insurance companies are profit making corporations, any reduction in claims helps the bottom line.  This situation puts the injured and their families in a tough position.  They may be offered a settlement - but is it really fair and full considering the injuries?

It is usually advised that you get legal representation to deal with the claim, as a personal injury attorney knows what the claim should be.  The lawyer can help to ensure that you do not accept a claim that is too low to cover the actual costs that are in the future with regard to medical care, nursing, rehabilitation, medical supplies, and others.  In many cases, a family member must quit work in order to care for their injured loved one, and the wages that have been lost are part of the claim made.   A lawyer can advise you what to expect in the claim and guide you through the process, and protect the injured and their families.