Temple Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Tragically, serious accidents occur even in bike-friendly towns like Temple. A severe cycling accident could leave a rider with devastating injuries that might never heal completely. Even minor accidents can cause significant pain and inconvenience.
If a bike accident forced you to miss time at work or required medical treatment, a Temple bicycle accident lawyer could help you pursue compensation. Any negligent parties who contributed to the accident are liable for your damages. Protect your rights by speaking with a personal injury attorney from Chad Jones Law as soon as possible after your accident.
Bicycle Accidents Usually Due to Someone’s Negligence
Negligence occurs when someone fails to provide the level of care a situation calls for, resulting in someone else’s injury. Many bicycle accidents occur when other motorists act recklessly or carelessly on the road. Dangerous bicycle accidents can happen when a driver:
- Passes a cyclist too closely
- Does not yield to an oncoming bicycle
- Fails to see a bicycle on the road
- Opens a door into a cyclist’s path
- Does not observe a cyclist’s turn signal
Other examples of negligence that could cause or contribute to a bicycle accident include a faulty bicycle, defective components, poorly marked or maintained roads, malfunctioning traffic control devices, and cyclist error. A diligent accident attorney in Temple could investigate the circumstances of a bike crash to identify all the negligent parties and hold them accountable for their actions.
Documenting Bicycle Accident Damages
When an injured bicyclist seeks compensation from a negligent party who contributed to their injury, they must prove their damages and show that they suffered actual harm because of the accident. These damages can be economic or non-economic in nature. Punitive damages might also be available in certain situations where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious.
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to measurable financial losses incurred from an accident. This can include medical and rehabilitation expenses, such as mental health care to cope with crash trauma. Doctor and hospital records proving the costs of emergency and ongoing medical care can serve as crucial evidence in demonstrating the full extent of a bicyclist’s losses.
Lost wages and earning opportunities could be a component of a cyclist’s economic damages. Any documented expenses the cyclist or their family incurred due to the injury could be included in their compensation.
If the injuries affected the cyclist’s future earning potential or will require continuing care, damages could cover those projected expenses. A Temple bike collision attorney could engage an economist or other expert to calculate the cyclist’s future losses.
Non-Economic Damages
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.001(12) allows an injured party to collect damages for the subjective effects of their injuries. These are known as non-economic damages. In the case of a minor injury, the cyclist might collect non-economic damages for their physical pain, emotional distress, embarrassment, or inconvenience. If the injuries were more serious, a cyclist could seek damages for their disability, disfigurement, lost enjoyment of life’s pleasures, and loss of consortium. A plaintiff could establish proof of their non-economic losses through their testimony and that of their friends and family members.
Punitive Damages
If a defendant’s conduct was especially harmful, a plaintiff might seek punitive damages. These are intended to punish the defendant for their actions and defer similar behavior in the future. Courts rarely award punitive damages in personal injury cases, but if, for example, a drunk driver caused a cyclist severe injury, punitive damages could be available.
Seek Compensation with a Temple Bicycle Accident Attorney
Insurance companies often reach out to cyclists after an accident, offering a quick settlement in return for a promise not to sue. It is in your best interests to ignore such offers and instead contact a Temple bicycle accident lawyer.
A legal professional at Chad Jones Law could handle communication with insurers and demand compensation that reflects the severity of your injuries. Call today to get started.
