Biking on the road can be unexpectedly dangerous due to neglectful and distracted drivers. If you have been hit by one such motorist, then you need to think about how you can get compensation for your injuries. For the past 30 years, our attorneys at Portner & Shure have represented victims of bicycle accidents in Frederick, Maryland. Why not make us your first choice for representation during your bicycle accident claim?
Dial right now to talk with our team about your bicycle accident.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents & Damages
Bicycle riders are subject to the same laws as drivers. For instance, a bicyclist must obey traffic signals and stop signs, and display turn signals when changing lanes or turning. Many motorists do not know that bicyclists must follow these rules, though, so they are confused when driving near a bicyclist. This confusion or inattentiveness can lead to a bad accident.
Common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:
- Distracted Driving
- Drinking and driving
- Vehicle passing too closely
- Vehicle cutting off a bicyclist
- Opening a car door without looking
Damages in a Bicycle Accident Claim
In Maryland, a bicycle accident victim can recover economic and noneconomic damages when injured due to someone else’s mistakes. Economic damages provide for lost wages, future lost wages, medical bills, and future estimated medical bills. Noneconomic damages provide finances in relation to the pain and suffering suffered by the victim due to the injuries and emotional trauma caused by their accident.
What Will the Opposition Say?
Maryland is one of four states that allows the defense of contributory negligence, which prevents the plaintiff from recovering any damages if they are found to be even just 1% liable for their bicycle accident. Insurance companies will try to contact you and discover if you were contributorily negligent to your crash, but they might not act so obviously. Instead, they will probably use kind, flowery language to try to coerce you into saying the wrong thing.
We strongly advise against discussing your case with a liability adjuster without obtaining one of our top Frederick bicycle accident lawyers first. We can speak to them on your behalf, so you do not have to worry about misspeaking. Insurance companies may also offer you a quick settlement offer, which you should never accept without letting an attorney review it first. Odds are extremely high that the settlement offer is far lower than what you really need to recover.
Bilingual Representation for Bicycle Accidents Clients
At Portner & Shure, we use interpreters and have bilingual paralegals and legal assistants. Several members of our staff speak Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Vietnamese, Korean, and Spanish, making it easier for us to represent people from our local communities. If you were in a bicycle accident and prefer not to use English as your first language, then please call to see if we can help you with the assistance of our multilingual staff.
Ready to Start Your Claim? We Are, Too!
Bicycle accidents happen all the time in Frederick, Maryland. Our law firm has been there for many of the victims in these crashes, offering steadfast moral support and reliable legal representation. Due to our dedication to excellence in all things we do, we have received countless five-star reviews, national recognition, and excellent case results. After being involved in a Frederick, Maryland bicycle accident, call Portner & Shure, P.A. and our friendly attorneys as soon as you can.
