If a driver struck you and caused you to suffer injuries while riding your bike in Lafayette Parish, our attorneys may be able to help. We protect the rights of bike accident victims and seek justice on their behalf.
A Lafayette, LA, bicycle accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm will discuss your legal options for compensation with you today for free. In addition, we offer complimentary consultations to bicycle versus car crash victims and their families.
Bicycle Versus Car Crashes Often Cause Significant Injuries
When a bicyclist is hit by a car, they can suffer various injuries that range from relatively minor scrapes and bruises to catastrophic, life-altering issues. Some common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Neck and back injuries
- Fractures
- Road rash and other soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
Most require some form of emergency assessment or treatment, and many need hospitalization. Unfortunately, this means medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses begin to add up immediately.
When another party causes this type of accident, the victim can hold them legally responsible and recover compensation for these expenses and other losses, known as damages. The recoverable damages most common in bicycle accident claims include:
- Medical bills
- Future care needs, including additional treatment
- Lost income from time missed at work
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damages and replacement
- Pain and suffering
Pursuing a Wrongful Death Action in Lafayette, LA
We also represent families who lost a loved one in a Lafayette bicycle crash. We may be able to hold the at-fault driver liable for your loved one’s death and recover compensation for your family based on La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.2.
We can often secure a payout for the surviving spouse and children or the parents of the deceased. This could include related expenses, financial losses, and non-economic damages suffered by surviving family members.
For a free legal consultation with a Bicycle Accident lawyer serving Lafayette, call (800) 537-8185
Our Law Firm Can Help You With Your Bicycle Injury Accident Claim
Our attorneys have been serving clients hurt in accidents for more than 40 years. We protect victims’ rights and pursue settlements and awards based on the facts of their claims. We are often able to secure monetary settlements or lawsuit awards. In 2019, we won cases for more than 6,500 clients.
Our office in Lafayette is one of 15 locations in four states across the Gulf South. This location is at:
400 E Kaliste Saloom Rd., Suite 1300
Lafayette, LA 70508
However, we will meet with you in your home, the hospital, or another place that works for you. We can also speak with you to assess your case over the telephone.
We will help you understand your rights, the strength of your case, your options for seeking compensation, and the likely outcomes of your case. Our bicycle accident attorney will also answer any questions you may have during this consultation.
We are a contingency fee law firm. We do not ask for a retainer or any other upfront fees. Instead, we use our resources, experience, a network of experts, and other tools to develop your case. We only charge for attorney’s fees after we secure compensation in your case. In fact, our fees come out of your settlement or court award, meaning you will not receive a bill.
Required Elements to Prove Liability in Bicycle Accidents
To secure a financial recovery for our clients, we must prove negligence and liability. Essentially, we must show the motorist caused the collision and is, therefore, legally responsible for our client’s harm.
There are four elements required to prove negligence. In a bicycle accident case, they include:
- The driver had a responsibility to do something specific to keep the bicyclist safe
- They did not uphold this responsibility
- Their action or inaction led to a collision
- The bicycle rider suffered physical, emotional, and financial harm
For example, motorists must leave plenty of room when passing a bicyclist. If they fail to do so, this could lead to the vehicle striking the rider. The bicycle rider could then get hurt and have medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
Our bicycle accident lawyers know the evidence necessary to develop this type of claim and prove our client deserves compensation. We also have a network of experts we can call on to help us establish our client’s case. This includes:
- Medical experts
- Accident reconstructionists
- Industry experts
- Economists
It is essential to hold careless or reckless drivers accountable for their bad behavior when sharing the roads with bicyclists. This is true not only for the individual hurt but for all riders. Unfortunately, each year, there are dozens of bicyclist deaths in Louisiana from these accidents.
According to Louisiana State University, 2020 saw:
- 735 bicycle versus car accidents in Louisiana
- 573 injuries
- 34 deaths
Lafayette Parish alone had 58 bicyclist injuries and five fatalities.
While this was an almost 25 percent decrease in statewide accidents from 2015, fatalities and alcohol-related deaths in bicycling accidents increased dramatically. In 2019, 59.1 percent of fatal bicycle accidents involved alcohol.
Click to contact our Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyers today
Louisiana Law Limits Your Time to Take Legal Action for Your Personal Injuries
In most cases, we do not need to sue or take a case to trial to recover compensation for an injured bicyclist. Instead, we are able to negotiate an appropriate recovery with the insurer representing the liable party, avoiding court.
When we need to sue, the deadline to do so is extremely short. Under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492, Louisiana law only gives us one year to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Some circumstances could mean you have less time to act. Missing a deadline could mean being barred from taking your case to trial.
Injured Bicycle Accident Victims Can Receive a Free Consultation Today
At the Morris Bart law firm, we provide complimentary consultations and case reviews for those injured in a bicycle versus car accidents in Lafayette Parish and nearby areas. We want to discuss your rights, prognosis, damages, and legal options with you for free.
Call (337) 446-4571 to speak with a bicycle accident attorney in Lafayette today.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
