Bicycle accidents can happen anywhere. Despite precautions in place to keep cyclists safe, bike crashes are increasingly common. Many of these crashes are caused when motorists do not follow traffic regulations. When you or a loved one are hurt in a bike accident due to someone else’s actions or failure to act, a skilled personal injury attorney could help you determine whether you have a viable claim for compensation.
While money cannot undo the pain or trauma of a bike accident, it can give you the means to move on from the incident and ease the financial burden you might face because of your injuries. Contact our office to speak directly with a Little Rock bicycle accident lawyer.
Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bike accidents can be serious; a rider may experience a catastrophic injury or even die. Common injuries cyclists experience include:
- Road rash
- Soft tissue damage
- Neck or back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
After a bike accident, the first thing an injured rider should do is seek medical treatment. Not only can prompt care treat or even help avoid serious health complications, medical records can serve as important evidence when filing an insurance claim or when going to court. A bike accident attorney in Little Rock could help a cyclist find the best medical provider to treat their injuries and one who has experience with personal injury claims.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Many cyclists are hurt when motor vehicle operators do not pay enough attention to their surroundings or otherwise drive recklessly. Bike accidents often happen when motor vehicle operators:
- Drive under the influence
- Speed or drive aggressively
- Fail to adjust to inclement weather
- Fail to adjust to poor road conditions
- Engage in distracted driving, such as texting or eating as well as talking with passengers
Drivers and cyclists can take precautions to limit collisions. Drivers should always give the right of way to cyclists and avoid any distractions that would take their eyes off the road. Cyclists should use hand signals to indicate turns, wear high-visibility clothing, and put lights on their bikes.
Working with a Little Rock attorney as soon as possible after a bike accident can help preserve the evidence they need to establish both the cause of a crash and who could be held responsible for any injuries.
Responsibility for Bike Accidents
Proving who is at fault is central to a personal injury claim for a bike accident. In order to be compensated, an injured cyclist must show that the person who hit them had a legal duty to drive safely and failed to uphold this duty, thus causing the accident and any injuries that resulted from it. This failure is known as negligence.
In negligence cases, Arkansas applies the “modified comparative fault” rule. This means the court will assign each person involved in the incident a percentage of blame; that percentage reflects their portion of responsibility, and their compensation will be reduced by that percentage. For example, if the court holds an injured cyclist 30 percent responsible for an accident, the cyclist’s award will be reduced by 30 percent. If the court finds an injured cyclist was more than 49 percent responsible for a crash, they will not receive any compensation.
Hire a Little Rock Bicycle Accident Attorney for Dedicated Legal Representation
When you are injured while riding your bike because of a motorist’s irresponsibility, contact the Reed Firm to speak with a Little Rock bicycle accident lawyer. Our team will evaluate your case and determine whether you have a claim against the driver and any other responsible parties.
Let us be here to advocate for you during this difficult time.