Bicycle accidents between bicyclists and motorists often cause the bicyclist to suffer painful and permanent injuries. Despite the severity of the injuries, insurance companies routinely make minimal settlement offers or outright deny valid claims. To obtain proper compensation for their injuries, bicycle accident victims should seek zealous legal representation by a Bel Air, Maryland bicycle accident lawyer, like our award-winning team at Portner & Shure, P.A.! Using our decades of collective legal experience, we are ready to take on any challenge the opposition throws at your case.
Contact us now to get your claim moving in the right direction.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Some of the most common reasons for bicycle accidents are:
- Distracted driving
- Following a bicycle rider too closely
- Drunk driving
- Driver’s cutting off a bicyclist
- Driving while using a smartphone
The cause of your bicycle accident is important because it will help our attorneys reach a better liability determination. We want to get your liability as low as possible, right down to 0%. If we can prove that the other party caused your injuries, then your liability should drop.
Laws Regarding Bicyclists in Maryland
Under Maryland State law, bicycle riders are generally subject to the same laws as regular automobile drivers with some exceptions. For instance, bicycles are prohibited from traveling on roads with a speed limit higher than 50 miles per hour. Bicycles must travel in a bicycle lane, as well as travel on the right side of the road.
If you were violating any of these laws when you were hurt, then your chances of recovering a fair amount of compensation will be reduced. Through our evidence investigations, we will look for ways to prove that you were not in violation of bicycle safety laws in any capacity that would have contributed to the crash.
Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicycles offer minimal protections to their riders. In most crashes, injuries can be quite severe.
Injuries commonly diagnosed after bicycle accidents include:
- Brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Emergency medical care and surgery may be required to repair a catastrophic injury. Extensive rehabilitation such as physical therapy and occupational therapy will also likely be required once the bicyclist is allowed to leave the hospital.
Seeking Maximized Damages
You can seek economic and noneconomic damages when filing a bicycle accident claim in Maryland. Economic damages are those related to tangible costs and financial harm, like medical bills and lost wages. Noneconomic damages are those related to intangible concepts, like pain, suffering, hardship, and a lessened enjoyment of life.
The insurance company answering your claim will certainly try to stop you from getting all the damages you deserve. They will attempt to deploy as many defense strategies as they can. Namely, the defense of contributory negligence is a favorite among insurers. This defense makes the argument that you made negligent mistakes that contributed to the accident and your injuries, and, therefore, you should be provided a smaller reward.
An Outstanding Team for Difficult Times
Our Bel Air bicycle accident attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. have been successfully representing bicycle accident victims for more than 30 years. We have numerous five-star reviews and top-tier awards from professional organizations to prove that we are going above and beyond for our clients. You will also like to know that we receive no attorney fees unless we can obtain a favorable settlement or judgment in court for you.
