Some bicycle crashes are minor, causing no injuries and requiring a small or reasonable amount of money to settle them. However, not all bike injuries or damages are the same, and riders should not rule out hiring a Orlando bicycle accident lawyer for an injury their case if they think they need one. If this is your situation, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer for your bicycle accident needs, especially if:
- You have been significantly injured and are due financial compensation.
- The auto insurance company refuses to give you a fair settlement.
- You do not understand your legal rights and monetary recovery options.
- You have concerns about who’s at fault for the accident.
- You are unsure about how to interpret Florida’s statute of limitations, as outlined in Florida Statutes § 95.11.
Why Hire a Bicycle Accident Attorney to Handle Your Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury claims and lawsuits rarely wrap up quickly. You may have a while before you see movement in your case or receive fair compensation if you win. While recovering from your injuries, it can be challenging to navigate the legal process on your own.
Hiring a personal lawyer from our firm could benefit you because we will handle all the claims or legal processes. We will build your case and show how the party who caused harm owes you damages. With more than 40 years of personal injury law on your side, we know we can deal with any complications that can arise like those we outlined above. The following sections further explore how an attorney from our firm can assist you.
If You Have Been Significantly Injured and the Other Party Owes You Damages
Common injuries in bicycle accidents range from minor to severe. Wounds can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, and internal organ damage, among many others. The more serious the injuries are, the higher the economic and non-economic damages are.
The medical bills to treat these injuries can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In some cases, the expenses from a bike crash will last until the victim heals for a lifetime, depending on how bad the accident is. Injured bicycle riders can also miss out on income if they must recover at home or in the hospital. A bicycle accident attorney can assess your damages and determine if the opposing party in your case owes you injury compensation.
They can also determine other liable parties you may not realize may owe you damages, such as a manufacturer of a defective bicycle or bicycle part played a role in the crash. If you are not sure whether to press ahead with legal action, a free consultation with a lawyer who can review your options for maximum compensation could help you decide. They can evaluate all your damages and let you know how much you could recover. If you win your case, you could have the recovery you need to cover monetary damages.
What to Do If the Insurance Company Offers You a Low Bike Accident Settlement
You do not have to accept an unfair settlement offer from the negligent party that caused your accident. If you believe your injuries and other damages entitle you to more money, you can continue negotiating. Yet, doing this by yourself can be burdensome and time-consuming, especially if you have medical bills piling up or your injuries keep you from working.
A lawyer on our team can take over negotiations with the insurer on your behalf. Our services include:
- Proving negligence
- Presenting evidence to prove your claims
- Citing the liability insurance policy
- Establishing the cost of your damages
- Pursuing a favorable settlement that covers your post-bicycle accident expenses
We can also file a lawsuit against the party responsible for the crash if these measures do not pan out. Sometimes, after we file a lawsuit, the insurance company agrees to our terms and resolves the dispute.
If You do Not Understand Your Legal Options
After a bicycle accident, you generally have two options when it comes to recovering your damages: you could file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. Our Florida bicycle accident lawyers can help you with either one. Both of these measures come with different obligations. Filing an insurance claim involves:
- Understanding industry jargon and insurance policy language
- Communicating with representatives, such as insurance adjusters, while protecting your rights and looking out for your interests
- Knowing what you should recover in financial compensation
Meanwhile, filing a lawsuit for bicycle accident injuries requires:
- Knowing how to build and present your case
- Navigating state and local traffic laws that apply to your situation
- Possibly going to trial to recover your losses
Missteps in either of these approaches can risk your right to financial recovery. A bicycle injury lawyer from our firm can tackle these obligations for you. Your focus right now should be on your health—not on learning personal injury law.
If You Have Concerns About the At-Fault Party in Your Case
Florida’s pure comparative negligence system allows you to recover compensation. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages from the other party, per Florida Statutes § 768.81.
If you are less than 50% responsible for the accident, your percentage of fault will be deducted from your settlement award. Our law firm’s team can ensure any percentage of fault you receive for the accident is accurate. We want you to recover the financial compensation for which you qualify—and nothing less.
Managing Florida’s Statute of Limitations and Time Limits for Your Bicycle Case
You generally have two years to file your lawsuit in Florida, so we encourage you to take prompt legal action to protect your rights. If you miss this deadline, you could lose out on the compensation you need to recover from your losses. However, Florida Statutes §95.051 says that the following scenarios could extend the initial two-year window:
- The negligent party left the state.
- The negligent party gave a fake name or otherwise tried to conceal their identity.
- You did not discover your injuries until after the accident happened.
- You were injured as someone under the age of 18.
Even if you think that too much time has passed since now and your accident, you still have legal rights. Our team can analyze your case and determine how the statute of limitations applies so you won’t miss out on compensation if there is still time to file.
To consult with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer today
855-780-9986
Other Things to Consider If You’re Weighing Whether to Hire a Bicycle Attorney
Even if the above reasons do not apply to your situation, you may still want to consider hiring legal representation. Here are other factors that may compel you to work with a lawyer from our firm:
- You may not have access to information that could serve as evidence in your case. For example, if the accident happened on a busy public road with a traffic camera, an attorney would know how to request access to this footage.
- The liable insurance company is employing “bad faith insurance practices” that are halting the progression of your case.
- The insurance company denied your claim for damages from the bike crash.
- You want to avoid the stress and time commitment of handling your bicycle accident case against a careless driver or another negligent party yourself.
We Can Represent You in a Bicycle Accident Case at No Upfront Fees or Costs
Personal injury lawyers have a reputation for being too expensive to hire. Yet, this is not the case with our practice. At our firm, we think that upfront payments and hourly rates should be the last thing on your mind. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not charge until your case is over. We seek our attorney’s fee only if we win your case. Our team gets paid from the money we recover for you.
Call Bogin, Munns & Munns for a Free Case Review After a Bicycle Accident
Are you still wondering if you need a lawyer for your bicycle accident? You can direct your questions and concerns to the team at Bogin, Munns & Munns. We can discuss your options for free and start laying the groundwork for your case.
You can ask us about our previous successes, our years of experience, and how we have won settlements in the past. Start exploring your case’s prospects by calling us today. The consultation is free.
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