Riding a bicycle can be a relaxing pastime that helps you stay fit while also being good for the environment. As with any mode of transportation, though, you can experience an accident while riding a bike, especially in a populous state like Arizona. Because you only have a helmet to protect you in a collision, the injuries you sustain can be severe.
If you’ve suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, state law allows you to seek compensation for your losses by filing a personal injury claim. At Valley Injury Team, our bicycle accident attorneys can help you understand your rights and fight for the damages you deserve.
In Arizona, cyclists have all of the rights that drivers have, as well as the same responsibilities toward others on the road. One of the issues that many cyclists face is that drivers don’t yield the right-of-way to them. This can be a significant problem at intersections.
“Dooring” accidents are common, as well. These occur when the occupant of a parked car opens the door without looking and hits a cyclist. The hit can knock the cyclist over or send them crashing into other lanes of traffic.
Another type of accident that can cause injuries to cyclists is rear-end collisions. When a motor vehicle doesn’t maintain a safe driving distance, it can hit the cyclist if the latter abruptly stops or slows down.
There’s also the issue of unsafe passing. Motor vehicles can pass a cyclist in the same way that they can pass another vehicle, which involves providing enough space for the maneuver. If they don’t allow for at least three feet of clearance, they’re putting the cyclist in danger.
Our lawyers can assist you with all types of bicycle accidents.
A number of situations can lead to a bicycle accident. Most of the time, driver errors are to blame, but there may also be liable third parties.
A distracted motor vehicle driver is one who isn’t wholly focused on driving. They could be using their phone, eating, changing radio stations, or even talking to passengers while driving, which can all lead them to look away from the road.
If a driver is distracted, they won’t notice hazards on the road, including a bicycle entering their lane or coming to a stop in front of them.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can result in severe injuries. These substances impact concentration levels, coordination, and reflexes, which means that a motor vehicle driver won’t be able to react appropriately to any hazard that appears on the road.
A driver who engages in behaviors they know can put others on the road at risk is committing reckless driving. Speeding, rapid lane changes, brake checking, and not stopping at red lights or stop signs are all examples of reckless driving. Such actions can seriously affect cyclists, along with everyone else on the road.
If a bicycle has a defective part, it could lead the cyclist to lose control of it. For example, if a tire bursts or a chain snaps off, the bicycle could swerve into traffic or topple.
The road itself can lead to accidents as well. If there aren’t enough lights or clear signs, drivers and cyclists can get confused, resulting in collisions. Roads with poor pavement conditions can cause the cyclist to lose control of the bike. Potholes are particularly dangerous and can lead the bicycle to bounce.
If you’ve been in a bicycle accident that resulted in injuries, it’s possible to hold the liable parties responsible. In most accidents, this means relying on the principles of negligence. Our bicycle accident lawyers can help you with every step of this complex process.
To prove negligence in Arizona, you have to meet a few requirements. The first is to show that the other party owed you a duty of care. Anyone operating a vehicle on the road owes others the responsibility to drive safely and obey all traffic laws.
You then have to show that they breached that duty of care. If they broke the law in any way, such as by speeding, distracted driving, or operating a vehicle under the influence, they failed in their responsibility to others. Your lawyer can demonstrate that this conduct led to the injuries you suffered and that you can be compensated for them.
If a defective part led to the accident, you can hold the manufacturer liable. In these instances, you don’t have to prove negligence. Strict liability requires that you only show that the part malfunctioned and caused the accident that led to your losses.
In Arizona, you’ll need to keep the statute of limitations in mind when filing a personal injury claim of any kind. The state gives you up to two years in most cases to file your claim, but you never want to wait that long. To ensure the evidence is fresh and that witness testimonies are still available, hiring our team quickly is critical.
This is particularly important if you’re filing a claim against the government entity supposed to maintain the road in which the accident occurred. You will have a much shorter window of time in which to file when the government’s involved.
After suffering injuries in a bicycle accident, consulting Valley Injury Team as soon as possible is essential. We have decades of experience with these claims, allowing us to provide reliable guidance for any type of bicycle accident.
One of the vital things we can do is to gather evidence to show that you deserve compensation. You may be dealing with serious injuries and may not be able to focus on the legalities involved with filing a claim — but we can handle this step for you.
It’s not easy to negotiate with insurance companies. They’ll be looking for any way to keep from paying you what you deserve, and you may accept a low offer without knowing the truth worth of your claim. This situation isn’t a concern when you have our team on your side.
We’ll aggressively negotiate with insurers to help you get what you deserve. If we feel that the insurer isn’t negotiating honestly, we can take your claim to court and advocate for you there. That’s often enough to encourage insurance companies to get back to the negotiation table and avoid a costly trial.
Perhaps most crucially, you get support from our team. We understand how difficult dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be. You may be facing life-altering injuries and find the entire process of filing a claim stressful. But we can put you at ease and offer the support and encouragement you deserve.
If you’ve been in a bicycle accident and suffered injuries, you may be able to receive compensation to cover the medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering you’ve experienced. As straightforward as you may think your claim is, you never want to go through this process on your own.
At Valley Injury Team, we can determine whether you’re eligible to file a claim. We can gather the needed evidence and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure they don’t low-ball you. With our extensive track record in litigation, we can also defend you in court,
Contact Valley Injury Team today to schedule a consultation with our Arizona bicycle accident injury lawyers.
If you suffered injuries in an accident due to someone else’s negligence or wrong doing, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. At Valley Injury Team, we fight tirelessly to protect your rights and seek the compensation you need. We’re proud to serve clients throughout the Phoenix area, including Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale and Queen Creek.
Valley Injury Team is committed to helping you understand your legal rights and options, reducing your stress and uncertainty, and giving you the support you need during this challenging time. Contact us today to learn more in a free consultation.
