Car accident cases are commonly hot topics, but there are a lot of bike accidents happening in the US today. It's a much more frequent story than you'd believe, and it means there's a lot to worry about as a cyclist.
A personal injury lawyer is one of your biggest assets. An intimate understanding of applicable laws combined with a vested interest in seeing you get the financial compensation you deserve for your medical bills and other expenses creates the perfect recipe for the legal representation you need.
If you want a reputable law firm for your Iowa bicycle accident case, look no further than Tom Fowler Law. The initial consultation is characterized by a free case evaluation. Contact the team at (515) 203-8434 today to discuss the circumstances surrounding your claim and what action can be taken.
What Are Some Common Bike Accident Causes Caused By Motor Vehicle Drivers?
Motor vehicle drivers cause bicycle accidents in numerous ways, leaving bicyclists injured in the process. Some of the most common factors that have yielded this result over the years are:
The road has potholes, ice, or other hazards that prove difficult for a car to navigate
A car accident that sends a motor vehicle careening into a bicyclist
A driver opens a door and hits a cyclist
A motor vehicle makes an unexpected turn
Drivers ignore traffic lights
Bicycle Accident Liability in Iowa
Liability can be a difficult thing to explain as it depends on how the injured party ended up in the predicament and how the whole ordeal started.
If a motor vehicle driver is to blame, then the claim is very straightforward. Alternatively, the state of the road may have been conducive to causing accidents. The injuries could even have been sustained from a defect in the bicycle's composition. Even a dog could cause a situation that leads to cycling injuries.
Whether you're dealing with West Des Moines, Iowa City, Sioux City, Fort Dodge, Cedar Rapids, or another Iowa-based location, those situations would point liability at four different parties.
This would be the vehicle driver, the government, the bicycle shop or manufacturer, or the dog owner, respectively. Your bicycle accident lawyer in Des Moines helps you to address the matter effectively and provide context on who is to pay for your injury.
What Kind of Compensation Is Typically Associated with a Bicycle Accident?
An accident attorney typically helps clients recover the cost associated with damages from the bicycle accident. Some of the important types to remember include:
Skull fractures or any other head injury
Partial or full paralysis
Workers compensation
Broken bones
Contusions
A review of your circumstances considers every way in which the accident made you suffer. Therefore, these considerations may see your attorney seek damage costs for medical bills, pain and suffering, and even for present or future lost wages.
How Can You Identify a Good Attorney in Ankeny, West Des Moines, or Elsewhere in Iowa?
You're being told that the best course of action is to retain an expert accident lawyer from a reputable law firm. The question is, how do you determine if an attorney is a good selection? Some of the telling information you may find includes:
Registration with the relevant state bar association
Review statements on the law firm website
Decades of collective relevant experience
Past results in cases, which can help you gauge what future results may look like
The education and qualifications that the team possesses
What Does an Iowa Attorney Do for You?
You may not believe this but cases involving cyclists can be as difficult as those involving multiple motor vehicles. Nevertheless, what do you get if you or a loved one should consult an experienced personal injury Iowa lawyer? Some of the essential tasks attorneys carry out include:
Witness statement gathering
Collating the required facts from snippets of details about the accident scene
Identifying the resources required to create the strongest possible case
Speaking to insurance companies on your behalf
Learn about the driving history of the driver who displayed negligence
Determine who caused the accident with the support of facts
Provide an expert opinion on the value of your personal injury claim
Lower Your Accident Risk
While a law firm helps its clients by providing a slew of top-tier accident attorney options, it would be best if these accidents never occurred in the first place. Apart from following the rules of the road, you're advised to ensure you do the following as you share the road with motorists:
Work hard to be visible. Use reflectors, lights, and wear brightly colored clothing
Take advantage of a helmet to protect yourself from head injuries
Don't drink before you ride
Bicycle Accident Coverage from an Insurance Company
In West Des Moines, Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Waterloo, and other Iowa Communities, auto accident insurance typically covers people in bicycle accidents. It may sound strange, but that's the way it works.
This is especially true if personal injury insurance is a part of your package. Lawyers tend to check for this kind of thing after accidents. So, when you consult an attorney, ensure you hand over all the relevant information during the case evaluation.
Steps to Take After Your Cycling Accident
If you're a bicyclist who's been involved in an accident, you can't psychologically evaluate the situation as well as you would typically. Therefore, it would do you well to remember these guidelines:
Get out of the road
Phone an ambulance
Contact the IA police
Collect as much evidence as possible. Take photographs, speak to eyewitnesses and request the documentation and contact information of all parties involved
Deny any audience that the at-fault party's insurance company may request
Contact your Iowa law firm and speak to an accident attorney
Contact Tom Fowler Law Today for a Free Consultation
Tom Fowler Law has been helping injured cyclists get the compensation they deserve for many years. If you've been injured in a bicycle crash in Ankeny, Dubuque, Des Moines, or any surrounding areas in the state, reach out to one of the top Iowa bicycle attorneys available.
Schedule your free initial consultation by calling (515) 203-8434.
Other Ankeny Practice Areas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do I Know What Kinds of Compensation I'm Entitled to?
Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to workers' compensation, pain and suffering, medical expense reimbursement, etc. Personal injury lawyers in Ankeny, IA can help you to understand your entitlements.
When Do I Start Preparing for Court?
Depending on the extent of negligence, cooperativeness of insurance companies, the strength of your case, etc., you may spend no time in court at all.
Most people who have dealt with a reputable law firm in these situations find that their settlements occur before a trial becomes necessary.
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