Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Baton Rouge
It’s an obvious fact: When a bicyclist gets hit by a passenger car or commercial truck, serious and potentially fatal injuries are going to occur.
The medical care necessitated by these wounds won’t be inexpensive, and they can easily make it so that the victim is unable to work and carry out his or her daily life.
Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers can help you seek a settlement to cover your damages if you’ve been the victim of a bicycle-car collision. A Baton Rouge bicycle accident lawyer from our firm can help you determine both who was at fault and how much compensation would be a fair amount.
If you were involved in an auto wreck as a cyclist, the funds you’ll need to recover from your injuries will likely be substantial. Make certain that you get fully compensated by working with a Baton Rouge bicycle accident lawyer.
How Bicycle-Car Accidents Happen and Who’s to Blame
The process of seeking compensation through a personal injury claim starts with investigating the accident and identifying all of the parties who were at fault. Especially with bike wrecks, it can seem obvious who was at fault: most often, a negligent driver. However, there could be a number of other factors that contributed, and those responsible also owe you restitution:
Intersection Accidents
While intoxicated and distracted drivers are often at fault for causing crosswalk bike crashes, the government or a construction team might also be responsible if the intersection was poorly designed or if a traffic light malfunctioned.
Bike-Lane Crashes
While drivers are often at fault for causing bicycle accidents by not respecting bike lanes, debris in the road left by roadwork or an 18-wheeler might also have factored in.
Dooring Incidents
If a car’s owner opened his or her door into your path, the negligence will be obvious. However, a passenger might have caused a distraction or a property owner might have left an obstruction that obstructed the driver’s view.
Once your Baton Rouge bicycle accident lawyer has identified everyone at fault, you’ll then be able to name them all in your demand for compensation, thereby maximizing your potential settlement. It’s important to note that you can be partially responsible and still receive a settlement, and that while not wearing a helmet might increase your level of negligence, it won’t prevent you from seeking compensation from those who really caused the crash.
Fighting for Full Compensation After a Bike Wreck
Because Louisiana is a fault state for car insurance, the insurance of the driver who hit you will be where your final payout comes from. You might think that this will make things simpler, but nothing could be further from the truth. Insurers are notorious for offering lowball settlements and for pushing fault onto the victims of accidents — all in the name of protecting their own profit margins.
Your Baton Rouge bicycle accident lawyer will shield you from this by developing the strongest case possible and taking the negotiations directly to the insurer. By presenting the strongest evidence available, the insurance becomes more likely to present a comprehensive settlement offer without having to go to court. In fact, the vast majority of our cases settle through negotiations in this manner.
Trial only becomes necessary when they refuse to make a fair settlement offer. When this happens, we’ll advise you accordingly and represent you throughout the courtroom proceedings. We’ll make certain that you’re comfortable with what’s ahead and give you the best chance for a court-rendered verdict in your favor.
Financial Damages for a Bicycle Crash
Getting a full and fair settlement means first knowing what your claim is worth. Whether you suffered a brain injury or broken bones, a Baton Rouge bicycle accident lawyer from our firm will know how to assess your current and future accident-related needs.
Your doctor’s input will be pivotal in this process, as he or she will be able to indicate what your future medical needs will be and how your lifestyle will be impacted. These are just a few of the items we might need to consider in valuing your personal injury claim:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages, income, and earning capacity
- Travel and caretaker costs
- Mobility equipment and medication
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Lost companionship and sexual function
- Lost enjoyment of life
Help from a Baton Rouge Bike Accident Attorney
It’s not easy to recover from getting hit by a car as a cyclist. This is true for both your physical and emotional wellbeing and your finances. Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers has the experience you need to keep the insurance companies honest and to get them to produce a comprehensive offer.
To begin work on your case, schedule a free case evaluation with a Baton Rouge bicycle accident lawyer. Just complete the form here or give us a call at 225-387-2323.
Confidential. Secure. No obligation.