Halifax Injury Lawyers Are Well-Known
for Handling Bicycle Accident Injury Claims
Like most people, you probably don’t consider bicycle accident injury claims until you or someone you care about is involved in a serious bicycle accident. Then, you’re faced with astronomical expenses, lost wages, and the prospect of a long recovery. You may also be dealing with the insurance company – and if so, you know just how frustrating that can be. That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side.
Statistics and Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
The Road Safety Dashboard provides a thorough summary of the annual crash statistics from 2018. We’ll examine the years 2018 through 2021 since the data for 2022 still needs to be improved as of this writing. Injuries from crashes, both fatal and non-fatal, decreased significantly in 2020. It fell to 4,561 collisions from 6,193. In Halifax, collisions decreased overall for the year. This is probably because fewer people are traveling due to Covid-19 and the limits put in place in the city to stop its spread.
But after a year, there have been 365 more collisions, bringing the total to 4,906 by 2021. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicycle accident deaths make up 2% of all traffic-related deaths.
The NHTSA has listed the most frequent reasons for bicycle accidents below:
Distracted Driving
All kinds of vehicle collisions, including those involving bicycles, have distracted driving as a primary contributing factor. Drivers are more likely to cause dangerous collisions when concentrating on their phones rather than their surroundings. Reading and responding to text messages, making phone calls, conversing on the phone, and using social media are all common distractions.
Failure to Leave an Adequate Buffer
Unnecessarily passing within three feet of a cyclist and maintaining a close following distance of them both pose potentially dangerous circumstances. These motorists not only have a higher chance of hitting cyclists, but they also provide bikers significantly fewer options for avoiding crashes and other mishaps.
Speeding
Speeding reduces the amount of time that drivers have to make judgments while driving and lengthens the time it takes to stop. As a result, even accidents at relatively moderate speeds can be quite dangerous for cyclists, even though high-speed collisions are more likely to cause serious (or even life-threatening) injuries.
Weaving Through Traffic
Cyclists sharing the road are less likely to be seen by drivers who are weaving through traffic. In attempting to prevent crashes, they are also less likely to be able to do evasive maneuvers. Drivers that weave frequently veer onto bike lanes, shoulders, and lanes outside of traffic.
Unsafe Lane Changes
An incorrect lane shift can be dangerous, even when a motorist is not weaving. In addition, drivers that make unsafe lane changes into cyclists’ lanes frequently do so without checking to see if the lane is clear, which often results in bicycle accidents.
Turning without Looking
Drivers frequently receive a green light to turn at junctions, but they are still required to look out for pedestrians and bikes. Bicycle accidents at intersections are commonly caused by turning without looking for bikes and are entirely preventable.
Running a Red Light or Stop Sign
Running stop signs and red lights is another frequent cause of intersection collisions. This holds true not only in city centers and other metropolitan regions, but also in communities and suburban areas. Running a stop sign or signal is risky in and of itself, but the dangers are increased when motorists neglect to look out for bicycles that have the right of way.
Failure to Yield
Another example of negligent or reckless driving that seriously endangers cyclists is failure to yield. At various crossroads, including those with merging lanes and roundabouts, drivers of motor vehicles are required to yield to approaching traffic, including bicycle traffic.
Impaired Driving
Drivers who choose to consume alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel endanger both themselves and other road users. In addition, driving while intoxicated results in an excessive number of collisions involving cyclists since it severely impairs drivers’ judgment and capacity to avoid accidents.
Driver Fatigue
Although the risks of driving while fatigued are less well-known than the risks of driving while intoxicated, research has revealed that the severity of these risks is comparable. In addition, the likelihood of catastrophic crashes being caused by drivers out driving early or late or attempting to return home after a long day at work can considerably increase.
Different Types of Bicycle Accident Claims
Negligence Claim
Many factors can cause bicycle accidents, but one of the most common is negligence on the part of another party. To succeed in such a claim, the injured person must show that the other party was at fault for the accident and that their actions (or lack of action) led to the injury.
Premises Liability Claim
You could file a premises liability claim if you were injured while riding your bicycle. This type of claim could be filed against a property owner or manager if they were negligent in maintaining the property, which led to your accident. For example, suppose you were riding your bike on a sidewalk and fell because of a cracked pavement. In that case, you could file a premises liability claim against the city or property owner.
Assault and Battery
Assault and battery claims are common in bicycle accidents. This is because assault and battery are intentional torts, meaning that the person who committed the act intended to cause harm. This is different from negligence, which is when someone accidentally causes harm.
For example, if a driver hits a bicyclist with their car, that would be considered negligence. But if the driver got out of the car and pushed the bicyclist off their bike, that would be regarded as an assault and battery. To win an assault and battery claim in a bicycle accident, the victim must prove that the defendant intended to cause them harm.
Benefits of Hiring Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Bicycle accident injury claims are complex. Several variables must be considered to determine who is at fault and what kind of compensation you could be entitled to. That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. Here are some benefits of hiring one:
Knowledge of the Law
Navigating the many laws while making a personal injury claim can be challenging. For instance, Halifax’s Vehicle Code contains specific regulations that will affect your claim. To avoid jeopardizing your case, you must be aware of these laws.
You can consult with your lawyer rather than negotiate the intricate legislation on your own. Our bicycle accident injury lawyers have the in-depth legal knowledge necessary to successfully negotiate the legal system, taking into account regional subtleties and various laws.
Case Analysis
One of the first things your attorney will do when you speak with them is assessing your case. Then, they can decide if it is worthwhile to pursue. For example, sometimes, there isn’t enough proof to show that someone else was to blame for a bike accident.
Due to the fact that accidents occasionally may not include a motor vehicle, our injury attorneys can also assist with no-driver instances. For example, this collision might occur due to poor bike lanes, broken bikes, or obstructed sidewalks. Even in cases with less frequent factors and accidents, our lawyer can determine if you have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Negotiation Skills
The last thing you want to do after an accident is to base your case on shaky legal ground. The good news is that accident attorneys with expertise in compiling compelling personal injury claims have a wide range of options. Personal injury claims are typically more complex. Negotiating bicycle coverage and the at-fault party’s insurance with insurers is common. No matter how strong your case is, this can be difficult.
Bicycles frequently lack insurance, which makes it more challenging to get paid for the costs incurred to treat your injuries. Our attorney will communicate on your behalf and give you the required assistance. In addition, our injury attorney has the bargaining skills and case-building expertise to handle any problems that may occur. They will ensure your case includes every information to handle any insurance company objections, protect your case, and ultimately win.
Help with Cases of Uncertain Fault
Sometimes it’s difficult to determine who caused a bicycle collision. Everyone makes mistakes occasionally, even the most cautious cyclists, after all. Perhaps you failed to turn on your light or check your blind spot.
What transpires then when there is a shared fault or when fault is not apparent? Laws will change depending on which state the accident happened in. If both parties are determined to be at fault, compensation may be significantly reduced without the proper legal counsel. Even if the payment is smaller than it would be if you were not at blame, our injury attorney will be able to manage instances with ambiguous fault and make sure the settlement is still fair.
Legal Assistance in Court
Even though only four to five percent of personal injury cases go to trial, you will undoubtedly need counsel if this happens. You can reach an out-of-court settlement with the aid of an experienced personal injury attorney. Even so, there are times when parties are unable to come to an agreement, and the matter ends up in court.
Without a lawyer, your chances of winning your bicycle accident injuries lawsuit will be considerably lower. They are capable of handling the courtroom, questioning, and negotiations. Additionally, they will explain the procedure to you so you can be ready, and it won’t seem as intimidating.
Focus on Bicycle Accident Recovery
Bicycle accidents frequently result in head injuries, face injuries, fractures, sprains, skin injuries, and soft tissue injuries. These can be very serious and take time to recover from. In addition, a crash’s psychological effects might have a long-lasting impact.
Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that some people have and typically requires rehabilitation support. The last thing you want is to experience the strain of a personal injury claim while still dealing with the injury from the bicycle accident.
By hiring our attorney, you may concentrate on your bicycle accident recovery and get the rest you need to heal quickly. Additionally, lawyers will handle the claim in the most effective manner, reducing the likelihood that it will drag on for an extended amount of time. You can proceed as quickly as the proceedings permit.
Ideal Compensation
Receiving the money you are due is among the finest advantages of hiring a bicycle accident attorney. Your compensation for any property damage, lost pay, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and stress will be ensured by a lawyer. In addition, with a lawyer that has dealt with situations similar to yours in the past, you have a better chance of getting a sizable settlement and medical care.
Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer? Contact Halifax & Nova Scotia Personal Injury Lawyers Today!
Being involved in a bicycle accident can be a very traumatizing experience. Dealing with insurance companies, recovery, and lost wages is challenging enough, but navigating the legal system on your own can be overwhelming. However, by hiring experienced personal injury lawyers at Halifax & Nova Scotia, you will be able to obtain the compensation you deserve for the injuries you sustained as a result of the bicycle accident.
We have represented many clients involved in bicycle accidents and have the knowledge and experience to get you the best possible outcome. We will review your case and advise you on the best action to take. You shouldn’t have to suffer because of someone else’s negligence, so call us today to schedule a free consultation, and let us help you get the justice you deserve.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If someone else’s negligence led to an accident that injured you, you might be able to hold them responsible. This could apply to the person who caused the collision, such as the car’s driver, the owner of the vehicle, or the bike or car’s manufacturer. Additionally, the bicycle repair business can be held accountable if a poor repair contributed to the accident.
It is possible that a defect in the road, such as a drainage screen, uneven surface, pothole, crack, or other issue, could have contributed to your accident. The circumstances will determine whether or not this constitutes negligence. To determine whether negligence was a factor, you must provide evidence that the person or entity in charge of road maintenance should have known about the defect and had the opportunity to fix it.
It is possible for someone to be held liable for your injuries even if there was no direct physical contact between you and the other party. This can happen in situations where another person’s actions or negligence led to your injuries, even if there was no direct collision. For example, if you can prove that someone else’s actions caused you to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a crash and as a result, you were injured, that person could be held liable for your injuries.
