Bike riders are in an especially concerning category of road users, as the serious injuries they can end up with after a collision with a motor vehicle can be life-changing or even fatal.
Without the kind of protection afforded by being inside a vehicle, there are always concerns when bicycle accidents happen surrounding what life may be like afterward for injured cyclists.
Like car accidents and pedestrian accidents, bicycle crashes in Clive, IA, routinely occur, and those at the center of them need assistance in getting back on their feet both literally and figuratively.
This is especially true considering the potential long-term physical impact and expense associated with bicycle accident injuries.
You can retain the services of a Personal Injury Lawyer from Tom Fowler Law Firm to help you get the compensation you deserve as the injured party in a bicycle accident because of someone else's negligence.
Contact the team at (515) 203-8434 to schedule a free consultation with one of the best personal injury attorneys in Clive.
Types of Bicycle Accidents
The way a bicycle accident claim goes often depends on the kind of accident it was. A bike accident attorney will use this information to help build your case, especially if the way the accident occurred shines a light on the negligent behavior of the other party. Common bicycle crash types are:
Failure to yield - Distracted driving, speeding, etc. can cause motor vehicle drivers to fail to yield when they're supposed to, resulting in an accident.
Dooring accidents - A vehicle driver or passenger may open a door as a bicycle rider is attempting to pass, which leads to an unavoidable crash
Road rage accidents - While bicycle accident victims of road rage are sometimes targeted, they also often end up getting hit as a side effect of one driver creating a dangerous situation for another
Accidents involving children - Often the result of distractions, drivers sometimes end up hitting child riders they don't notice.
Bicycle defects - Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that their products don't end up being the reason bicycle riders get injured. However, component-related accidents still occur.
Roadway defects - Many different occurrences can lead to a less than stellar roadway. Bicycle accident lawyers must be adept at their practice to ascertain who is negligent in these cases.
How Does Tom Fowler Law Firm Handle Bicycle Accidents?
If you're planning to hire a bicycle accident attorney to seek fair compensation on your behalf, it helps to at least know what a legal team does to provide the required assistance.
First, there's the consultation stage. This comes at no cost and involves listening to your synopsis of the turn of events.
Based on legal knowledge and awareness of how personal injury claims work, experienced lawyers then explain your options to you, as well as provide a recommendation of how to proceed.
Should you agree, then you get expert assistance throughout the process. Personal injury cases such as these are taken on a contingency fee basis. In other words, there are no legal fees unless you win.
Your bicycle accident lawyer also ensures that you take the right steps to get medical attention. Beyond having a professional establish that you are an injured bicyclist who needed care, you also get documented medical expenses, which can be used as a part of the strategy to seek a settlement.
The insurance claim negotiation is also taken care of by your lawyer. It's not uncommon for an insurance company to try to avoid paying an injured cyclist, but it's not possible to swindle the attorney.
When Should Victims of Bicycle Accidents Call a Clive Personal Injury Attorney?
Unfortunately, injured bicyclists don't always take the right course of action following their bike accidents. This means that insurance claims become a challenge, as is proving a driver's negligence.
If possible, you want to gather as much data from the accident scene as possible. This could include pictures showing the fact that the bike lane wasn't respected, documents of any car drivers involved, positions of motor vehicles, witness contact information, etc.
Ensure you file a police report. A bike rider who neglects to do this could jeopardize a compensation claim. If there isn't a police officer called to the scene, ensure you make the report at the station on your own.
Get medical care. An injured person doesn't always feel the extent of potentially life-threatening conditions.
Even if you feel fine, get checked out. As is the case with motorcycle accidents and other vehicle accidents, decline to speak with an insurance company unless legal representation is present. A Des Moines bicycle accident law firm can assist in communication with the insurance company.
If you are the loved one of a bicyclist who suffered fatal injuries, Iowa road law makes provisions for wrongful death claims. Exercise your legal rights and get the full compensation possible for your loss following a free consultation with an attorney.
Remember Iowa Is a Comparative Fault State
Bicycle laws in Iowa, much like those concerning other vehicles on the road, speak to the comparative fault principle. Even if you were seriously injured and have high medical bills, you can only get total compensation if the other party is the only responsible party in the equation.
If the defense can also prove recklessness on your part, then Iowa law will only grant you partial compensation. The deduction will be based on the proportion of fault that can be attributed to you.
Even before the case, if you think you were partially at fault, tell your lawyer. Your attorney-client relationship grants you full confidentiality.
Other Clive Practice Areas
Conclusion
Commercial trucks, cars, compromised roadways, etc. are just a few of the reasons bicycle crashes end up happening and resulting in injured clients that need help sifting through the legal issues to get proper compensation.
Tom Fowler Law is well versed in several personal injury areas such as bike accident cases. If you're in Clive, Des Moines, IA, or surrounding areas in the state, call (515) 203-8434 for a free initial consultation with a top-tier attorney who is familiar with all the details of Iowa laws surrounding bicycle crashes.
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