When you use your bike for transportation, it allows you to fit in healthy exercise, save on gas, and do your part for the environment – all of which are great. Riding your bike, however, also puts you at far greater risk of being seriously injured in an accident that’s caused by driver negligence. If this is the difficult position you find yourself in, it’s time to consult with an experienced Rochester bicycle accident attorney.
Important Risk Factors
When you’re on your bike, you share the road with much larger vehicles, and in the process, you experience inherent risks that it’s important to take into careful consideration, including:
- While you share the road with cars and other vehicles, you can’t keep up with them in terms of speed.
- There is nothing to buffer you from the full impact of an accident.
- You’re vulnerable to being dragged in a collision, which translates to the serious cuts, burns, and abrasions associated with road rash.
- You’re more difficult to see, which makes accidents more likely.
- While you’re nimbler on your bike, the road’s condition is a more serious concern.
Prioritizing your own safety should always be a top concern when you’re biking, but the motorists all around you also bear a serious responsibility in relation to your safe passage.
Driver Negligence and Bike Accidents
Sharing the road safely with bicyclists requires utmost care, and any one of the following forms of driver negligence can lead to a life-threatening bike accident:
- Distraction – Distracted drivers are less likely to see bicyclists in the first place.
- Exhaustion – Drowsy drivers are impaired drivers who put bicyclists at risk.
- Excess Speed – Excess speed not only increases accident risk but also increases the risk that resulting accidents will prove deadly.
- Aggression – Aggressive drivers make our roads more dangerous for everyone, and bicyclists are no exception.
- Impairment – Drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs have less control over their vehicles, and bicyclists can pay the price.
FAQs
Can I seek compensation for my medical bills?
Yes, you can file a bike accident claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy in pursuit of compensation for your losses in all the following categories:
- Current and ongoing medical costs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
How do I prove the motorist is responsible?
That’s a job for your knowledgeable bicycle accident attorney who will build your strongest claim based on their evidence gathering and legal insight.
Should I accept an early settlement offer?
If the involved insurance company comes back with a speedy settlement offer, it’s likely an attempt to resolve the issue before you fully appreciate the full extent of your losses. It’s always in your best interest to discuss any settlement offer with a savvy bicycle accident attorney.
It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Rochester Bicycle Accident Attorney
The diligent Rochester bicycle accident attorneys at Steve Foley Law Firm harness the full force of our impressive experience and legal skill in response to every case we take on, and we’ll do the same for you. For more information about how we can help, please don’t hesitate to contact us or call us at 716-249-2222 today.