Baldwin Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Even in areas with dedicated bike lanes, riding in traffic can be dangerous. Many drivers are ignorant of or choose to ignore rules that protect bike riders who use public streets. As a result, thousands of people are injured each year in accidents that involve cars and bicycles.
If you are injured in such an accident, you have the right to retain a personal injury attorney and seek compensation for the financial and emotional losses you sustain. A Baldwin bicycle accident lawyer could help you fight back against aggressive insurance companies and work to protect your rights and best interests.
Pursuing Compensation After a Bike Wreck
Every driver on the road assumes a duty to protect everyone else sharing the road with them from avoidable harm. This includes protecting other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bike riders. To win a civil case, an injured bike rider must prove that actions taken by another driver directly resulted in a crash, making that driver legally liable for the damage they caused.
This legal concept, known as negligence, allows people injured in accidents to hold the at-fault party legally responsible. It does not matter that the defendant did not intend to cause an injury—the law assumes that because the defendant was driving in an unsafe manner that they take responsibility for the incident.
However, even in the most straightforward examples of defendant negligence, a bike rider’s case may still fail if the case is not filed in a timely manner. Under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules §214, a potential plaintiff must start their case in court within three years of the date of injury.
It should be noted, however, that this does not mean accident victims cannot engage in settlement negotiations prior to this time. In fact, most cases never see the inside of a courtroom, since in many situations a skilled Baldwin bicycle crash attorney could negotiate a fair settlement well before the expiration of this three-year time limit.
What Damages Could an Accident Victim Claim?
The foundation of any bicycle accident claim—and indeed, all personal injury claims—is physical harm. Regardless of its specific severity, as long as the plaintiff sought medical attention for their injury, they may be able to claim compensation for the costs associated with any medical treatment they had to seek.
However, a thorough bicycle accident claim should examine the full impact that an incident had on a person’s life. One major aspect of this impact is often lost wages from time missed at work. Any money that a person loses resulting from the accident, either during their recovery or from any lost future earning ability, may be included in a settlement demand.
Plaintiffs should also not discount the emotional impact that these accidents can have. A bicycle accident lawyer in Baldwin could seek compensation on an injured party’s behalf for loss of enjoyment of life, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and even loss of consortium with a loved one.
How a Baldwin Bicycle Accident Attorney Could Help
Bicycle riders enjoy all the same rights when on the road as other travelers, including the right to claim compensation for injuries that result from another person’s negligence. A Baldwin bicycle accident lawyer may be able to help you press your claim with insurance companies and, if necessary, pursue your case in civil court.
The consequences of a bicycle accident could forever change your life, so do not take the risk of going it alone against aggressive insurance companies. Let an experienced bicycle accident attorney work for you. Call today to schedule a consultation.
