Bicycles are a fun and popular form of transportation around Raleigh, but they present many dangers. Due to bicycles’ small size and lack of cabin protection, collisions with motor vehicles can cause devastating injuries or even death.
If you have been in a recent bicycle accident, you need to speak to a bicycle accident lawyer in Raleigh from DeMayo Law Offices. Bicycle accident victims may face several obstacles to recovering compensation, but we can provide professional legal support and guidance.
We have recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for deserving clients from all walks of life. Contact our offices today to learn more about how a personal injury lawyer in Raleigh can help you after a bicycle accident.
Injuries From Bicycle Accidents
Given the size and speed difference, passenger vehicles pose an extreme threat to cyclists. Even at low speeds, a car crash with a bicycle can throw the rider to the ground and cause severe injury.
Common injuries from a bicycle accident include:
- Road rash and scrapes
- Face and mouth injuries
- Eye injuries
- Finger and hand injuries
- Bruising and soft-tissue injuries
- Joint sprains and muscle strains
- Cuts and lacerations
- Concussions and traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones and fractures
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputations
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer serving Raleigh, call (877) 333-1000
Causes of Bicycle Accidents
The dynamics of bicycle accidents are complex, which can make investigating their causes difficult. Below are some common factors that can contribute to bicycle accidents:
Negligent Motorists
Many bicycle accidents are caused by negligent motorists. Motorists are negligent insofar as they breach basic rules of safety and reasonable conduct on the road.
Common examples of negligent driving behaviors that can cause bicycle accidents include:
- Not signaling before turning
- Following too closely
- Crossing bike lanes without looking
- Ignoring a vehicle’s blind spot
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield to cyclists
Cyclists are entitled to share public roads and are owed the same care and consideration as other motorists. If a negligent driver has harmed you, a Raleigh bike crash lawyer can sue them for your injury-related losses.
Defective Bicycle Equipment
Bicycle accidents may happen due to defective bicycle equipment, like chains, brakes, or tires. Even minute manufacturing defects can cause failures while riding, which can culminate in a significant accident.
Defective safety equipment, like helmets or pads, can also fail to prevent injury. In both cases, you can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Poor Road Maintenance
Bicycles are more sensitive to road conditions than passenger vehicles because of their smaller tires and traction. Bad road conditions, like potholes, gravel patches, or other defects, can cause cyclists to lose control.
If your accident was caused by poor road maintenance, you could file a lawsuit against the entity in charge of road construction and design.
Raleigh Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (877) 333-1000
Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries
Depending on your circumstances, a bicycle accident lawyer in Raleigh can pursue financial compensation for the following injury-related losses:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- The cost of surgeries and rehabilitative services
- The value of lost income from missing work and other employment compensation
- Diminished earning capacity due to permanent impairment or disability
- Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish
- Loss of convenience and quality-of-life reductions
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Contributory Negligence and Shared Fault for Bicycle Accidents
North Carolina’s contributory negligence system completely bars victims from financial recovery if they are partially responsible for their injuries.
Even if they were just 1% at fault, they wouldn’t be able to recover any damages at all. For example, if you didn’t wear a helmet and sustained an injury, it could significantly jeopardize your case.
Contributory negligence is of particular concern in bicycle accident cases. Many have biases against cyclists and are quick to perceive them as the cause of accidents. Similarly, many people believe that cyclists “assume the risk” when riding and so shouldn’t be able to sue.
An experienced Raleigh bicycle accident attorney can push back against these perceptions and work to avoid judgments of shared fault.
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Time Limit for Filing a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit
North Carolina’s personal injury statute of limitations generally establishes a three-year time limit on negligence-based lawsuits, including bicycle accident lawsuits. If you let the three years pass without filing a lawsuit, you will forever lose your chance to recover compensation through legal means. There are some exceptions to this rule, but they are limited and should not be relied on to protect your case.
Three years sounds like a long time, but building a robust case may take months or even years. The sooner you start, the easier it will be to gather evidence and connect your injuries to the accident. A bike accident lawyer can initiate your case promptly and reduce the risk of payment delays or complications.
Contact a Raleigh Bicycle Accident Lawyer
You can follow all the ways to prevent a bicycle accident and still get into a collision due to a negligent driver. A bicycle accident lawyer in Raleigh from DeMayo Law Offices can offer our legal advocacy and fight for the compensation you need after a devastating bicycle accident.
We will use every available strategy to secure the best possible resolution to your case. Contact us today to schedule a case consultation with a team member.
Consultations are free, and we don’t collect a fee unless we win, so you have nothing to lose by getting in touch.
Call or text (877) 333-1000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
