Collierville Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycles are an excellent transportation mode, but they come with some risks. As a bicyclist, you know you must stay in bike lanes and sidewalks for your safety. Unfortunately, following the laws is not enough to avoid accidents because motorists are negligent and reckless. 

It has devastating consequences when a motorist takes the curve or drives too close to a bicyclist. If you are in a bicycle accident, you must discuss your situation with a Collierville personal injury lawyer. You need experienced legal representation from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC.

Lack of Protection on a Bicycle

Bicycles do not offer protection against injuries in a collision. While bicyclists wear helmets and knee pads, that is not enough to avoid injuries. It can diminish the severity, but it is challenging to walk away unscathed when a car strikes you. 

Causes of Bike Accidents in Collierville

The cause of a bicycle accident in Collierville is negligence. The person behind the negligence will vary by the details of the accident. Bicyclists should be safe in bike lanes and sidewalks, and drivers should stay in their lanes and obey traffic laws. 

Bicycle accidents happen in seconds, but the repercussions last a lifetime. Common causes of Collierville bicycle accidents are:

• Distractions
• Illegal turns
• Road rage
• Speeding
• Intoxication 
• Defective parts 
• Ignoring right of way 
• Fatigue 
• Night driving
• Mechanical issues 

Depending on the cause of your accident, there are different parties that bicycle accident lawyers in Collierville can hold liable. Hazardous roadways and inclement weather can also be contributing factors in bicycle accidents. You need a thorough investigation to determine fault and negligence. 

Bike Accident Injuries 

Bicycle accident injuries are catastrophic and life-altering for the victims. You are left with permanent ailments and scars and must adjust to a new way of life. The severity of your injuries will impact your medical and monetary recovery. 

Your lifestyle will drastically change for months, years, or life, depending on what injuries you walk away with. The psychological impacts of an accident haunt victims. Some physical injuries you can suffer in a bicycle accident include:

• Bone fractures 
• Traumatic brain injury 
• Spinal cord trauma 
• Road rash
• Nerve damage 
• Dental injuries 
• Facial injuries
• Beck injuries 
• Burns 
• Crush injuries
• Paralysis 
• Internal bleeding
• Scars and disfigurement 
• Herniations 
• Broken bones 

Bicycle accident victims can suffer a range of injuries when drivers are negligent. In the worst cases, you can lose a loved one from another person’s negligence. Catastrophic injuries require extensive treatment like physical therapy, injections, diagnostic testing, surgery, and in-home medical care. 

Treatment can last several months or years; if you have a permanent injury, you will need medical care for the rest of your life. Our Collierville bicycle accident lawyers can assist in filing a claim.

Liability and Your Claim

During an initial investigation, the driver is named the at-fault party, and you assume their insurance company will pay for your medical expenses and other losses. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not keen on paying victims and will use tactics to lower or deny your claim. 

If they cannot deny liability, they will begin to focus on your injuries and argue that you are not suffering as much as you claim. Liability disputes are common in these incidents, and some of the parties who can be held liable include:

• Mechanics
• Motorists
• Dealerships
• Construction workers
• Parts manufacturers
• Auto part retailers 
• Government agencies 

When there are hazardous road conditions or an unsafe construction zone, you just hold construction companies or the local municipality responsible for your losses. The recovery process is confusing but rely on your bicycle accident attorney in Collierville, TN, to determine who must pay you for your losses. 

Damages You Can Recover After a Collierville Bike Crash

As a bicycle accident victim, you can recover damages that help pay for your losses. Many victims do not file claims because they have car and health insurance and assume that will cover everything. They also believe the other party’s insurance company will pay for the losses. 

While that is how it should be, that is rarely how accident claims work. Our bicycle accident lawyer in Collierville, TN, will seek compensation for the following:

• Property damage
• Lost wages and benefits
• Mental anguish 
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Past and future medical expenses
• Loss of future earnings and earning potential 
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Rehabilitation care

You need substantial compensation to cover your losses. A compensation claim is higher for bicycle accidents because the injuries are life-altering. Work with personal injury attorneys that have been helping clients since 1970 and have the resources available to get you a fair settlement. 

Calculating your losses is complex, and the Collierville bicycle accident attorneys at GKBM know what to look for and will also work with financial experts to estimate your future losses accurately. 

Wrongful Death Claims After a Bicycle Accident

Injuries are life-altering when there is a car and a bicycle, but there is another outcome. While many victims survive these accidents, many do not. Surviving families often think they do not have any options, but you do. 

Families can file a wrongful death claim and recover damages depending on their relationship. The compensation you can obtain includes:

• Loss of consortium 
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of benefits
• Medical bills incurred from the accident before their passing
• Loss of guidance 
• Loss of household contributions 

While these claims do not bring your loved one back, they provide a financial foundation and punish the negligent parties for their actions leading to your loss. These are challenging cases, and you must enlist the help of a Collierville bicycle accident lawyer. 

Call the Office of Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC 

Moving on from a bicycle accident is challenging, and most victims will need to adjust to a new way of life. These losses are immeasurable, making matters worse; the negligent party walks away without a scratch. They must pay for their actions. 

Focus on your physical and medical recovery, and let the Collierville bicycle accident lawyer at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC focus on your legal options. We have decades of experience handling bicycle accident cases and are here to help you. GKBM offers free consultations for your convenience, so fill out our contact form and get started today.