Biking is a hobby and form of exercise for many people across the United States. Unfortunately, this activity has the potential to be dangerous. Many vehicles such as cars and trucks fail to yield to bicyclists and may not see cyclists in time to avoid an accident.
If you have been involved in a bicycling accident and suffered injury, a Michigan City bike accident attorney is waiting to assist you with your case. A diligent personal injury attorney may be able to advise you on the best method to recover for your injuries so that you may heal from your injuries without the weight of costly medical bills causing you undue stress.
Bicycle accidents are often caused by a variety of factors. Some of the most common include driver lack of attention, distracted driving due to cell phone usage, speeding, reckless turns or lane merges, running a red light, or even opening a car door into a passing cyclist. As a direct result, bicycle accidents may cause serious traumatic injuries including broken bones, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries.
These injuries are rarely short of serious when a vehicle is involved in a bicyclist’s crash. For these unfortunate victims of carelessness, the long-term effects these wrecks have are often exceptionally costly and life-altering. Fortunately, the law provides them a means to seek compensation from wrongdoers.
Bicyclists involved in accidents most often recover through insurance companies. The claim may be brought through the at-fault driver’s insurance, or even through the bicyclist’s insurance.
When a victim and a Michigan City bicycle accident attorney work together, they try to calculate and categorize the recoverable losses, known as damages, a victim could seek. Damages often include reimbursement for medical expenses, rehabilitation, loss of wages, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, or emotional trauma. However, every case is different, and a close examination of the particular facts is necessary to obtain the proper amount of damages.
Indiana Code §34-18-1, states that an injured party has two years from the date of the personal injury to file a lawsuit—however, depending on the circumstances, there may be exceptions to this limit. If a prospective plaintiff does not file a claim within the time limitations mandated by law, their claim may be forever barred and they will not be eligible to recover for their injuries. To preserve the right to compensation it may be beneficial to hire a Michigan City bicycle accident attorney who is familiar with the civil procedures of Indiana.
A Michigan City bike accident attorney may be able to advise you the best course of action to obtain compensation from your injuries that occurred as a result of a bicycle accident. A lawyer well-versed in civil injury cases would likely know what evidence to gather, determine which parties are important to interview, and file the appropriate documents with the court. This would give you an opportunity to recover from your injuries knowing that your case is in the hands of an experienced legal professional. Reach out to an attorney today.