Waterbury Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle accidents have the potential to keep victims bedridden at home or the hospital for months. Riding a bike is an excellent form of exercise and increasingly an inexpensive method of transportation. Still, any collision or wreck can leave cyclists with horrifying injuries and staggering medical bills. The pain from these injuries and hospital bills is often unimaginable.

Call Etemi Law today to speak with a Waterbury bicycle accident lawyer. Our firm helps accident victims navigate the personal injury claims process. It is possible to receive monetary compensation for your bicycle damage and injuries. Let us explain more in a free consultation.

How Common Are Bicycle Accidents?

Riding a bicycle is a rite of passage for most children. Many of us remember the first time we rode a bike without an adult holding onto the back. Unsurprisingly, accidents are common:

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 130,000 bicyclists are injured every year across the nation.
• According to the CDC, almost 1000 people die each year in a bicycle accident.
• The youngest cyclists have the highest rates of injuries. This includes pre-teens, teens, and young adults. However, those aged 55-69 have the highest rate of a fatal accident.
• According to the National Safety Council, preventable bicycle accident deaths are most common in the summer due to warmer weather.

Common Bicycle Accidents

You can suffer serious injuries in the following types of traffic accidents:

• Dooring accidents. A motorist in a parked car might suddenly open a door without checking behind their blind spots. A cyclist riding close to the shoulder can crash into the door of a motor vehicle and fly through the air.
• Intersection accidents. Many accidents happen at intersections with motor vehicles who ignore the bike lanes. A distracted driver might fail to hit the brakes as they approach a light, or they make a sudden left-hand turn and strike a bicycle coming through the intersection and lead them into oncoming traffic, even if they’re using a bike lane. Careless drivers can also cause these accidents by not paying attention to traffic signs, stop signs, or traffic lights.
• Pothole accidents. Road defects like potholes can upend a bicycle, with injured cyclists suffering injuries as they skitter along the road.
• Driveway accidents. A motorist backing out of a driveway could slam into a cyclist because the driver is in a hurry and fails to check that their blind spots to see if it’s clear, and leaving the cyclist injured.
• Pedestrian collisions. A pedestrian could step immediately in front of a cyclist, leading to a crash.
• Bicycle malfunction. Some parts on a bicycle could fail to work properly, either due to improper repairs or a design defect.

The Full Cost of Accidents

A cyclist can suffer a serious bicycle related injuries in a crash from motor vehicles, pedestrians, and more, such as:

• Concussion
• Neck injury
• Biker’s arm
• Road rash
• Back injury
• Paralysis
• Broken Bones

These injuries are expensive and cause many non-financial consequences and economic damages:

• Medical treatment, such as surgery or doctor’s appointments from a medical professional. Many of our clients must rehab their injuries with physical therapy.
• Lost wages. Some injuries are too painful for a person to return to work, so they lose months of income as they rehab or rest at home.
• Bicycle damage. A crash will likely damage your bicycle.
• Physical pain. Bodily injuries cause intense bodily suffering, including acute or chronic pain. Some people can’t sleep well at night due to discomfort.
• Mental anguish and emotional distress. Reliving the accident can lead to anxiety. Any injury can also cause depression or irritability.

After you file a police report, you should request compensation to cover all financial and non-financial losses. Let Etemi Law handle the legal complexities of your case and review how much you can request in a settlement from your insurance company and fair compensation from the driver’s insurance company to cover property damage and medical expenses.

Why a Bicycle Accident Attorney from Etemi Law Should Represent You

Our Connecticut bicycle firm brings a unique set of credentials to these personal injury cases to seek compensation:

• Relevant experience. Our firm focuses on personal injury law, including bicycle accidents. We can handle your case from start to finish.
• Legal expertise. Personal injury law changes every year, with court decisions shaping how the law applies to cases. We stay on top of all developments.
• Personal support. In addition to legal work, we help our clients access medical services, such as finding a doctor if you lack health insurance.
• Open communication. The major hurdle to any attorney-client relationship is a lack of communication. We are transparent about what is happening with your case and will answer any question you have.

Let us explain the legal aspects and our fee structure in a no obligation consultation for your bicycle accident case. There is no risk to calling our law firm today to file a personal injury lawsuit with our legal team.

Negotiating a Bicycle Accident Settlement With a Connecticut Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Our law office has handled many bicycle accident cases. Typically, we sue whoever is responsible for the accident, and we end up recovering the economic damages after negotiating with their insurer.

For example, if a negligent motorist struck you, we could make a claim directly with their liability insurer. Connecticut requires that most drivers carry liability insurance, which can pay for medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering from catastrophic injuries. We can negotiate a settlement with their insurer.

When a road defect is to blame for internal injuries, our bicycle accident attorney can make a claim on the government agency responsible for the road. There are critical deadlines to meet whenever you sue a government agency.

Where a bicycle is defective, we might sue other parties. For example, if you rented a bike, we could sue the rental company, which has a duty to only rent safe bicycles to prevent severe injuries to the bicycle rider. Where your bicycle was defectively designed or manufactured, our bicycle accident attorney can sue the bicycle manufacturer for the bike accident.

Comparative Negligence and Bicycle Accidents

Some insurance companies automatically blame cyclists for the bicycle accident. They might claim you made an aggressive move or cut off a motor vehicle and are therefore really to blame for the bike accident.

If you were negligent, Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-572h applies:

• Your own negligence will reduce your damages in proportion to your share of fault. If you were 40% to blame, you will receive 40% less in compensation.
• If your own negligence is greater than all defendants, you cannot receive anything. That means someone 51% to blame will take nothing home.
• We negotiate with the other side to allocate fault between the parties. If your case goes to trial, a jury will assign comparative negligence.

Call Our Waterbury Bicycle Accident Attorneys from Etemi Law

Bike accidents are challenging to overcome. Anyone seeking compensation should contact our Waterbury bike accident lawyers. Many victims need months or even years to slowly rehab head and back injuries. For help with your case, call Etemi Law today. Our Waterbury bicycle accident lawyers can review all legal options and ensure you meet critical deadlines. Call our Connecticut bicycle accident attorneys to schedule your initial meeting regarding your bicycle accident. We will protect your legal rights and seek justice against the at fault party.

Call call our personal injury lawyers at (203) 680-8080, email, or via our online Free Case Evaluation Form to set up your free consultation today with a bike accident lawyer at our law firm today.