Bicycles are a great, eco-friendly way to get some exercise in and get where you need to go. But that doesn't mean they're the safest option. Unfortunately, many drivers fail to watch for bicyclists, injuring and killing many of them every year. Unfortunately, that means you may have already suffered a devastating injury because someone else was careless.
The good news is, a Columbia personal injury lawyer can help you recover when you're hurt and suffering following a bicycle accident. If you've been hit while on a bike and you believe you have grounds to sue, read on to learn more about your options after an accident.
When you're hurt in a bicycle accident, you may be suffering more severe injuries than others who are injured in motor vehicle accidents. While you may not have been going as fast as a car, you're exposed to the elements more than someone in a car would be. Even if you were wearing a helmet, you can suffer serious injuries to the head and neck. Other exposed parts of your body may suffer even more trauma.
Below are just a few of the injuries and conditions you may suffer from if you've been hurt in a bicycle accident:
Brain injuries
Spinal cord damage
Broken bones
Internal organ damage
Post-traumatic stress disorder
When you're hurt in a bike accident, your first step toward a lawsuit is identifying the at-fault party. In some cases, this process may be simple. You may have been struck by a driver who was texting and driving, for example, or driving in the bike lane. They were being careless, and that hurt you.
But not all claims are that simple. For example, you may have hit a pothole or other road hazard that should have been repaired by the Department of Transportation. If they fail to keep the roads safe, they can in some cases be held responsible for your injuries. Talk to your lawyer about who's liable in your claim.
Once you've prepared the right documents for your day in court, you also need to know what your claim is worth. Your compensation should include both economic and non-economic damages, or the suffering you've experienced both financially and emotionally.
Calculating your economic damages may seem easy. You may know about the financial costs, like hospital bills, bicycle repairs, and long-term care for your injuries. But what about non-economic damages? These emotional and mental tolls can be tougher. For example, you may have suffered from emotional trauma, or your injuries may have left you in severe pain.
Talk to your lawyer about your damages before you go to court.
When you're hurt in a serious bicycle accident, you need compensation that covers the costs of your injuries following the accident. But suing without legal guidance can be difficult. It's easy to make a costly mistake, one that can lead to long-term losses for you and your family.
The good news is, your lawyer can help you recover and get the answers you need. If you were hit while riding your bicycle, reach out to the lawyers at Louthian Law Firm, P.A. for a free consultation. We can review your claim and what we can do for you when you call 803-454-1200 or visit us online for more information.
For more than a half-century, the personal injury lawyers at the Louthian Law Firm have been committed to securing full and fair compensation for injury & accident victims throughout South Carolina. At the Louthian Law Firm, our clients work one-on-one with our South Carolina personal injury lawyers. Our passion for helping injured people in South Carolina remains as strong today as when attorney Herb Louthian founded the firm in 1959. Our attorneys offer free case consultations. Find out if you have a case, today: (888) 254-8573... View full business profile here: The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers
