Were you hurt in a bicycle accident in Lafayette, LA? If someone else’s negligence led to your injuries, you could have a legal right to compensation. Costs such as medical expenses, lost wages, future medical treatment, pain and suffering, and more can be addressed through a personal injury claim. A Lafayette bicycle accident lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and pursue financial recovery in a bicycle accident claim.
Bicycle accidents can involve severe and devastating injuries. Because of this, you might struggle physically and emotionally as you recover. The personal injury lawyers at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will discuss your options during a free consultation and help you get started on the path toward financial recovery. Call our law offices to learn more at (337) 473-2991.
How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Lafayette, LA Bicycle Accident
After being injured in a bicycle accident, you will face the stress, uncertainty, and pain that can follow a dangerous accident. A personal injury lawyer can help you figure out what to do next and how to seek the financial compensation you could be entitled to.
Your Lafayette bicycle accident attorney will investigate what happened in your accident and take other actions on your behalf, including:
- Meeting with you for a no-risk, no-fee consultation to discuss the facts of your accident
- Investigating all facts involved in your bicycle accident
- Gathering evidence related to your case. Evidence can include police reports, photos, video surveillance, physical evidence, and expert reports
- Negotiating with insurance providers to pursue a fair settlement of your bicycle accident claim
- Filing a personal injury case on your behalf
- Handling each step of the personal injury case, including negotiations and the exchange of evidence
- Taking your case to a jury trial, if necessary
At Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers in Louisiana, our Lafayette personal injury attorneys will help you navigate the challenging process of a personal injury claim. Our dedicated legal team will work hard to obtain the financial recovery you deserve.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer in a Baton Rouge Accident Personal Injury Case?
Lawyers typically work on a contingency basis in personal injury cases. This means that in a bicycle accident case, you would pay no fees upfront and would only be expected to pay attorney’s fees if you win your case. You pay nothing if your case is unsuccessful.
Your bicycle accident lawyer will submit documentation to insurance companies, hire expert witnesses, track down evidence and police reports, and pay filing fees associated with your case. The law firm would advance any costs involved, and you’d only be billed if you win a financial award in your case. Our Lafayette personal injury lawyers will gladly answer any questions you have about contingency fees. The key thing to remember is that you risk nothing financially when meeting with a bicycle accident lawyer. Call our law office to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced lawyer.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents In Lafayette, Louisiana?
Bicycle accidents are all too common in Louisiana, with hundreds of bicycle accidents occurring each year across Louisiana. Highly populated areas like Lafayette are even more likely to see bicycle accidents happen. Even bicyclists that ride safely, use proper gear and equipment, and obey the rules of the road can find themselves hurt in an accident.
Negligent drivers can cause serious accidents when their failure to drive safely and pay attention to the road puts them in contact with bikers. The sheer force involved when a heavy vehicle strikes a relatively unprotected bicyclist can lead to devastating consequences. If you were hurt in a bicycle accident, you can turn to a trusted Lafayette bicycle accident for help.
What Causes Bicycle Accidents in Lafayette, Louisiana?
Increasingly, distracted driving is a leading cause of bicycle accidents when a driver can’t pay attention to the road in front of them. Drunk or drugged driving can also cause serious bicycle accidents. Other common causes include:
- Failure to yield to bicyclists
- Opening car doors without checking for bicyclists
- Driving in lanes intended for bikes only
- Failing to check blind spots
- Speeding excessively
- Failing to obey traffic signals.
No matter what the cause, if negligence is involved, your lawyer will help to prove it.
What Types of Injuries are Common In Bicycle Accidents?
Injuries caused by negligence in a bicycle accident commonly include:
- Fractured bones
- Concussions and head injuries
- Skull fractures
- Knee and ligament damage
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Loss of hearing
- Loss of vision
- Wrongful death
Any type of injury suffered in a bicycle accident can lead to shock, pain, mental anguish, lowered quality of life, work and career limitations, and other catastrophic outcomes. In a bicycle accident claim, your lawyer’s goal will be to address the physical, mental, and emotional impacts of your accident.
What Is My Bicycle Accident Case Worth in Lafayette?
You could be entitled to economic damages and non-economic damages in a Louisiana bicycle accident claim.
Economic damages include financial costs from the accident, such as:
- Medical bills
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation, therapy, and counseling
- Lost wages due to your injuries
- Reduced ability to earn income in the future
Your lawyer will document your lost pay, medical costs, out-of-pocket expenses, costs of future treatment, and any other items that should be included as economic damages in a bicycle accident case.
Non-economic damages address psychological harm and other less apparent damage caused by the accident. Emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, disfigurement, disability, and other less-seen but equally devastating losses will be covered by your lawyer in a bicycle accident case.
Punitive damages are not available in all bicycle accident cases. However, punitive damages may be applied if the negligent party acted with extreme negligence or recklessness. Punitive damages are meant to punish wrongdoers and can be significantly higher than your economic damages in a personal injury case.
Your lawyer will be able to discuss what damages you might be able to pursue with you.
What Is Negligence in a Bicycle Accident Case, and How Do I Prove It?
Bicycle accident claims are a type of personal injury claim based on the theory of negligence. Negligence occurs when someone fails to use the reasonable care and caution expected of them in a situation. You must prove by a preponderance (more likely than not) of the evidence that the other person’s negligence caused or contributed to your injuries.
Four elements of negligence must be shown in a Louisiana bicycle accident case:
- Duty of care: Someone had a certain duty, law, or custom to follow in the situation
- Breach of duty: The at-fault individual did not follow their duty of care
- Causation: There was a causal connection between the other person’s actions and your injuries
- Damages: You actually suffered damages, such as medical bills or lost wages.
Your attorney will use evidence to support your claim, such as:
- Medical bills
- Photos
- Video footage from the accident scene
- Local laws and ordinances
- Witness statements and testimony
- Police reports
- Expert reports
- Accident reconstruction experts.
The Lafayette bicycle accident lawyers at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will take every step possible to prove your case and obtain payment for your damages.
Do I Still Have a Claim if I Shared Blame For the Accident?
Under Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence laws, you still have a personal injury claim, even if a percentage of the blame was on you. The law allows you to seek recovery for your damages even if you played some role in the accident.
For example, if you were found to be 25% at fault for a bicycle crash, that does not bar you from pursuing a personal injury claim. However, your financial payout would be reduced according to your percentage of fault. So, if you are entitled to $100,000 but are 25% responsible, your payout will be lowered to $75,000. Louisiana law allows you to recover even if you are 99% at fault.
Experienced bicycle accident lawyers know how this works and will push to reduce your share of liability to zero whenever it is possible. The key takeaway is that you should not let your share of the blame stop you from talking to a bicycle accident lawyer.
What Is The Deadline For Filing A Bicycle Accident Lawsuit In Louisiana?
Louisiana’s statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is now two years. The two-year statute of limitations covers accidents that happened after July 1, 2024. You should be aware that accidents prior to July 1, 2024, are governed by Louisiana’s previous one-year statute of limitations.
The deadline generally runs from the date of the accident, although exceptions can exist. A Lafayette bicycle accident lawyer will know when to file your case and how to prepare it on time.
Contact a Lafayette Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Lafayette, LA, you could have legal rights, including the right to fair compensation. The bicycle accident lawyers at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help clients like you seek the financial help they deserve. Call our Lafayette bicycle accident lawyers to set up your free consultation or visit our office to learn more.
