Bicycle Accident Compensation

After an accident, injured bicyclist can seek a financial award for:

• Property damage;
• Past and future medical bills and expenses;
• Past and future lost wages; and
• Pain and suffering.

However, securing a full settlement that is equal to the extent of your injuries may be difficult due to the use of tactics by insurance companies.  Insurers will often attempt to settle claims with lower than fair offers or deny claims altogether.  In order to ensure you receive the compensation, you are qualified for, hiring a bicycle accident attorney who can negotiate and handle your claim for you will be vital.  Kentucky bicycle accident lawyers who handle these cases often work on a contingency agreement and will not charge any legal fees unless your case is successful.

Common Causes of bicycle Accidents

Many bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles are caused by:

Distracted Driving

Distracting driving is becoming increasingly problematic.  When engaging in distracting driving behaviors such as cell phone use, eating, changing the music, or using a navigation system, motorists are much less likely to notice bicyclists in enough time to avoid collisions.

Right Turns or Left Turns

Right-turn accidents occur when a driver is turning right and typically either fails to see a cyclist in the bicycle lane or misjudges their speed and distance.  For similar reasons, accidents with bicyclists often take place when vehicles are turning left as well.

Failure to Yield

Severe and possibly fatal collisions with bicyclists can be caused by drivers who ignore traffic lights and signs, or who fail to follow the basic rules of the road.

Drunk Driving

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous for both the driver and everyone else on the road, especially bicyclists.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of all the fatal bicycle accidents in 2017, alcohol was involved in 37 percent of them.

Sharing a Lane

Drivers often do not leave enough space between them and bicyclists, causing accidents.  Kentucky law dictates that drivers must leave at least three feet between themselves and cyclists.

Driving the Wrong Way

Although rare, head-on collisions can occur if drivers unexpectedly depart lanes or drive down a road in the wrong direction.

Common Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

Although bicyclists have the same right to use the road as any motor vehicle, they pose a serious risk of suffering catastrophic injuries in accidents due to a lack of protection.  Some of the extremely serious injuries cyclists may suffer, include:

• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Internal Injuries
• Fractures
• Contusions and lacerations

When accidents are not fatal, injured bikers may face life-altering changes and may be incapable of maintaining gainful employment.  Injuries this devastating can take a heavy toll on victims and their families, both financially and emotionally.  Accidents that are caused by negligent drivers may give victims the right to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for any losses.