Compared to a typical motor vehicle’s speed and size, bicycles are often at a significant disadvantage in an accident. When the car hits the bicycle, even at speeds that seem slow to the motor vehicle driver, the cyclist is immediately in extreme danger of suffering life-changing injuries.
A bicyclist who is hit by a car could have injuries that leave them unable to work in the same capacity as before the accident. Additionally, the cyclist could face a lengthy rehabilitation while trying to recover from injuries.
Some injuries may never heal properly, leaving the bicyclist unable to enjoy life in the same way they did before being hit by the automobile. You should not have to pay for your losses on your own after this happens.
You deserve a fair settlement, so count on an Orange City bicycle accident lawyer to protect your rights. At Bogin, Munns & Munns, our team takes pride in helping victims of accidents. Call us today for a free case review. Our Orange City personal injury lawyers look forward to helping you fight for compensation.
Our Orange City Accident Team Will Take Care of Your Needs
At Bogin, Munns & Munns, we understand the challenges you face after a bicycle accident. You have a lot going on right now, and it’s easy to forget about key tasks or misunderstand procedures when you try to take on the other party alone.
Our team can take over the legal processes so you can focus on healing. Here’s how we will work tirelessly on your behalf:
Comprehensive Investigation
We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your bicycle accident. This includes collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing police reports.
Our goal is to build a strong case that proves the other party’s liability.
Negotiation With Other Parties
Dealing with insurance companies can be daunting. We will handle all communications and negotiations with insurers to ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We make sure your needs are met before accepting a settlement.
Legal Representation
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we will not hesitate to take your case to court. Our trial lawyers will represent you, presenting a compelling case to secure the compensation you deserve.
We have over 40 lawyers on staff with experience in various areas of practice, and we know what it takes to handle a bicycle accident in Orange City.
Ongoing Support
Throughout the legal process, we will provide continuous support and updates. We are always available to answer your questions and address your concerns, ensuring you feel confident and informed every step of the way.
We will also coordinate with medical professionals to ensure you receive proper care and document your injuries accurately. This documentation is crucial for substantiating your claim.
We know that dealing with insurers is stressful and isolating, but we’re here to provide the dignified and respectful care that you deserve during this difficult time. Trust Bogin, Munns & Munns to be your dedicated advocates and call us today.
To consult with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer serving Orange City
855-780-9986
Possible Damages Bicycle Accident Victims Can Pursue
If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, the physical, emotional, and financial impacts can be overwhelming. At Bogin, Munns & Munns, we are committed to helping you understand the various forms of damages you may be entitled to pursue. Here are the different types of damages you can seek:
Economic Losses After a Bike Collision
These are quantifiable financial losses directly resulting from the accident and include:
- Medical Expenses: This accounts for expenses and costs related to surgeries, hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, physical rehabilitation, and any expected medical treatments related to the accident.
- Lost Wages: We can seek compensation for the income you have lost due to your inability to work following the accident.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries result in a long-term or permanent inability to work, you could receive damages for the loss of future earnings.
- Property Damage: Our team and pursue costs related to the damage or destruction of your bicycle and other personal property.
You may have additional economic losses and expenses not mentioned above, and we will make sure to account for all of them when negotiating a settlement on your behalf.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages are more subjective and cover the intangible impacts of the accident. You may be able to pursue damages like:
- Pain and Suffering: This addresses the physical pain and discomfort caused by your injuries.
- Emotional Distress: This form of damages compensates for the psychological impact, including anxiety and other forms trauma resulting from the accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in activities and hobbies you previously enjoyed, you may be entitled to compensation.
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the negative impact on your relationship with your spouse or family due to the accident.
While these losses cannot be directly measured like economic damages, they are incredibly important, and we will make sure to consider all non-economic damages when seeking compensation.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a loved one has tragically died in a bicycle accident, a personal representative of the estate may pursue damages through a wrongful death action. Some of the damages they could pursue include:
- Funeral and Burial Expenses: We can seek the costs associated with the funeral and burial of the deceased.
- Loss of Financial Support: This addresses the loss of income and financial support the deceased provided.
- Loss of Companionship: Damages for the emotional loss of companionship, guidance, and support from the deceased family member.
- Pain and Suffering of the Deceased: Compensation for the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before their passing.
The Bogin, Munns & Munns team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the full compensation you deserve for all your losses.
Proving Negligence of the Driver in a Bicycle Accident
In a bicycle accident that resulted in injuries to you, we can hold the driver accountable for their actions when we can prove that the driver acted negligently.
Proving negligence does not mean you have the show the driver purposefully tried to collide with your bike. You just have to show that the driver could have taken a different course of action or could have made a different choice, and they would have avoided the accident.
Proving Four Elements Under the Law
When you are attempting to show negligence on the part of the driver, your Orange City bicycle accident lawyer will need to show that four items exist in your case, including:
- Duty of care: We must show that the driver owed you and other bicyclists on the road a duty to do everything possible to avoid hitting you. The driver’s duty to exercise care is part of Florida law. While bicyclists do have responsibility on the road, drivers should stay alert. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) outlines responsibilities for both parties on its Share the Road campaign page.
- Breach of duty: Our personal injury attorneys will show that the driver violated their duty to exercise care by taking an action that does not show a reasonable level of care.
- Cause of accident: Our team will prove that the driver’s actions or inactions in failing to exercise care directly led to the accident.
- You have damages related to the collision: Your bicycle accident attorney must show that the accident led to injuries and damages for you, such as through medical bills, pain, suffering, or emotional trauma.
We Will Work Tirelessly on Your Behalf
When you have done nothing wrong while riding your bicycle, yet you have significant injuries because of an automobile driver’s negligence, you may be feeling quite a bit of frustration. You may be facing a lengthy rehabilitation process and an uncertain future with your health.
At Bogin, Munns & Munns, our team understands your frustration. We are ready to help you receive the settlement you deserve. We will investigate the facts in the case, study police reports, interview witnesses, and speak with your doctors to determine the fairest settlement amount to request.
For a free consultation, call us today. Should you choose to hire us, we will be ready to begin working on your case immediately.
Orange City Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me
855-780-9986
Frequency of Bicycle Accidents
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center reports that more than 1,100 bicyclists died in crashes with motor vehicles in 2022 in the United States. About 37% of fatal accidents between bicycle riders and motor vehicles occur at intersections.
Driver Inattention
In some accidents where a motor vehicle hits a cyclist, the automobile driver will say that they simply did not see the bicycle, whether it is in the crosswalk, along the side of the road, or somewhere else.
Drivers may be looking for other vehicles and hazards, so they just miss seeing the bicycle. This inability to see a cyclist does not absolve the driver from being at fault for the crash, but it does speak to the cyclist’s need to ride defensively any time they are around motor vehicles.
According to a 2023 report from a local community news site, the Orange City Police Department participated in High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) Program to address the high rate of bicyclists and pedestrians in Volusia County. Some of the noted problem intersections were along South Volusia Avenue between:
- Miller Road to East Elm Drive
- East Rhode Island Avenue to East Blue Springs Avenue.
Insufficient road crossings or huge crosswalks can present major hazards for bikers and pedestrians alike, and it’s important that drivers are aware of their surroundings.
Driving While Distracted or Impaired
Sometimes, a driver will have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs before climbing behind the wheel. Driving while impaired is a sign of negligence.
Operating a vehicle while impaired can cause the driver to be unable to see others as clearly as they normally could because of the influence of alcohol or drugs, which can affect vision.
An impaired driver also may struggle to control their motor skills, which means the driver may be swerving in and out of the driving lane. Drifting outside the driving lane could cause the driver to hit a cyclist in a bike lane or on the shoulder.
Bicycle Accident Lawsuits Are Subject to the Statute of Limitations
In Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit, including bicycle accident cases, is typically two years from the date of the accident per Florida Statutes § 95.11. This deadline is crucial because if you fail to file your lawsuit within this period, you may lose the right to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.
Meeting this deadline is vital to ensure your case is heard and your rights are protected. Missing the statute of limitations means the court will likely dismiss your case, leaving you without legal recourse for your losses.
Bogin, Munns & Munns is invaluable in navigating these deadlines. Our attorneys will ensure all legal documents are filed timely and accurately, safeguarding your ability to pursue justice and compensation.
Contacting an attorney early in the process gives us more time to investigate the crash, collect evidence, and perform all the other necessary tasks to prepare your case.
Click to contact our Orange City Bicycle Accident Lawyers today
Call Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys Now to Get Started
As your trusted Orange City bicycle accident lawyers, the team at Bogin, Munns & Munns has seen the issues that victims of bicycle accidents face when recovering from their injuries.
This can be a lonely feeling, but you can count on us to stand by your side throughout the entire process of filing a personal injury claim against the driver who hit you.
Reach out to us as soon as possible so we can get started on your case. We offer a free initial consultation to clients, where they can discuss the details of their case.
Our firm also takes cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you only pay us if we win. We know how costly bicycle accidents can be, and it’s important to us that people like you are able to seek justice without worrying about legal fees. Call us now to get started.
Call or Submit Our Consultation Request Form Today
