Bicycle accident injuries, whether you have suffered traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries, road rash, whiplash, or any other type of injury, may have a significant impact on your life for years to come. Is another person or party responsible for causing your bicycle accident? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Explore your options for financial relief when you reach out to a Greenville personal injury lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Schedule a free case evaluation with a Greenville bicycle accident lawyer who has more than a decade of experience, from our firm today.
When you do, you can learn more about what you can expect from the bicycle accident claims process and how much your damages could be worth.
How Bicycle Accident Victims in Greenville Can Demand Justice
Your bicycle accident lawyer in Greenville is here to help you demand total compensation for every way your life has been affected by your injuries. After all, you are already dealing with the physical consequences of your injuries. Why should you be stuck covering the financial costs while you struggle to cope with your emotional trauma?
The at-fault party should pay you accordingly. However, if you hope to maximize your damages, it is important to be prepared to pursue both insurance and civil claims. Although many bicycle accident victims want to avoid the hassle that comes with a lawsuit, unfortunately, many insurance claims do not sufficiently cover victims’ damages, and that’s where a Greenville personal injury lawyer can help.
With a Greenville bicycle accident lawyer, you gain the advocacy you need. Your attorney will find all available evidence to document what occurred and who was at fault before thoroughly examining the losses you have. Then, your bike accident attorney will negotiate on your behalf to hold the insurance company of the at-fault party accountable.
Insurance Claims and Civil Lawsuits
Although South Carolina law requires all motorists to carry automobile insurance coverage according to the South Carolina Department of Insurance, if the defendant does not have coverage, the only way to recover compensation may be by filing a claim with the Greenville civil court system. Even if the defendant does have insurance coverage, it may not be enough to cover your damages in full.
It certainly will not cover your non-economic damages. This is because most insurance claims only cover medical bills, property damages, and sometimes, lost income. By being prepared to file an insurance claim and bring your case to court, you can pursue restitution across all avenues of financial recovery and get your costs covered in their entirety.
Our bicycle accident attorneys in Greenville aid victims in determining all parties at fault so that all types of compensation, whether from an insurance claim or a lawsuit, are considered. It is always your right to request legal guidance after someone hurts you. Let us answer those questions for you during a free consultation.
Potential Liable Parties in Greenville Bicycle Accident Claims
Liability in a bicycle accident case is dependent on the victim’s ability to prove that they were hurt due to a negligent party. To be negligent, the party you need must have owed you a duty of care, violated that duty of care, and the violation must have directly caused your injuries and losses. It may seem like the other driver is at fault, but that is not always the case.
By examining all parties potentially liable for your injuries and losses, our lawyer expands the availability of compensation for you. This gives you the ability to maximize the claim you file as well. Let us go to work building a strong case for you.
For many bicycle accident cases to be successful, it will be essential to establish liability. Your bicycle accident attorney in Greenville will be prepared to open up a thorough investigation into the cause of your injuries. Typically, bicycle accidents occur because a bicyclist is struck by a negligent driver.
Dangerous Drivers
Negligent driving can take many forms. Recognizing negligent driving could help you determine whether the driver who hit you is at fault. Examples of unsafe driving practices known for causing bicycle accidents include:
- Failure to yield
- Speeding
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Making illegal turns
- Road rage
- Distracted driving (call a Greenville distracted driving accident lawyer)
- Driving while fatigued
- Drunk driving (a Greenville drunk driving accident lawyer can be of assistance)
- Drugged driving
Through the use of evidence from dashcams, driver statements, passenger statements, and witnesses, we can better understand what occurred at the time of the accident to cause your injuries. Note that we fully investigate your claim. That means if there is evidence out there, our Greenville bicycle crash lawyer will strive to find it.
Defective Parts and Dangerous Roads
That does not necessarily mean negligent driving is always the cause of bicycle accidents, however. In fact, hazardous road conditions and defective vehicle parts also contribute to bicycle accidents regularly, and when this happens, there are several parties who could share fault. Examples of entities that could be blamed for defective parts and dangerous roads include:
- Bicycle parts distributors and manufacturers
- Motor vehicle parts distributors or manufacturers
- Bicycle retailers
- Motor vehicle dealerships
- Safety inspectors
- Maintenance professionals
- The city of Greenville
- Other municipalities
- The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)
- Other government agencies
There are several potential parties that could share the blame for your damages based on how your accident occurred. We must identify anyone and everyone who shares liability for your damages so we can bring them to justice. Only a thorough investigation will uncover the truth and allow you to make the liable party pay.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries to Sue for in Greenville
If you are worried that your bicycle accident injuries were not severe enough to pursue a lawsuit, you are not alone. Your attorney with Shelly Leeke Law Firm has 10+ years of experience working with clients who are worried they will be accused of seeking compensation via a frivolous claim. However, it is the way in which your injuries have affected your life that determines whether you have the right to compensation.
It is not the type of bicycle accident injuries you sustained. This should help you feel empowered to demand the compensation you deserve. Some of the more common injuries our Greenville catastrophic injury lawyer sees in bicycle accidents across the state include:
- Traumatic brain injuries, where a Greenville traumatic brain injury lawyer can help
- Amputation
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Road rash
- Lacerations leading to septic shock
- Herniated discs
- Whiplash
- Broken bones and fractures
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Internal bleeding or organ failure
Types of Damages You Could Be Awarded
We will meet with our Greenville bicycle accident lawyer to discuss your accident. One of the first questions we will ask you is how this accident is impacting your health and well-being. We want to know the details of how your life is impacted in every way because those are the damages owed to you. Be open and honest with us about the types of losses you are experiencing even now.
From there, we can build a claim up to the highest allowable amount based on the law. Our team will not promise you any specific value but can give you an estimate of what to expect during a consultation. Do not give up on your case until you speak to our team.
The damages awarded to bicycle accident victims are extensive. You might have thought there might be limits on the amount of compensation you could be awarded, but this is not the case. You have the right to be repaid for every loss so you can be made whole.
Economic Damages
Your bicycle accident attorney at our firm is here to take an inventory of your damages to ensure you are compensated fairly. We will need to categorize them as economic damages or non-economic damages accordingly. Examples of economic damages include all financial losses, such as:
- Home accommodations for medical reasons.
- Costs of medical equipment, including prosthetic limbs.
- Costs of ongoing medical treatment and future medical care.
- Costs associated with repairing or replacing your damaged bicycle.
- Childcare expenses.
- Costs of household maintenance.
- Damage to your credit score and report.
- Costs of increased insurance premiums.
- Diminished earning capacity and loss of income.
Economic damages typically are the base of your claim. We need to be sure we include all potential losses as they could play a role in the non-economic damages you recover. Even if you are not sure it qualifies, let us know about the costs you have.
Non-Economic Damages
There are also a number of non-economic damages you could be entitled to after a serious injury that a Greenville bicycle accident lawyer may be able to help recover. These can be more difficult to quantify but are often considered far more valuable. Some examples of non-economic losses could include:
- Disfigurement
- Skin scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Psychological distress
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Embarrassment
- Shame, shock, and fear
- Reputational damages
This is another area in which you need to be open and honest with your lawyer since it directly impacts your financial future and well-being. Let us know all the ways in which you are facing challenges now that you were not facing prior to your accident. Expect us to fight for all of those losses.
What to Do if Your Family Member Dies in a Bike Accident
The tragedy that often unfolds in a moment like this is terrifying and heartbreaking. For the family members of a person killed in a bicycle accident, getting justice should be a priority. We can help you in several key ways:
- Gather evidence to document fault. The more evidence we can produce to make it clear who is to blame, the better. We gather evidence from every possible resource, including cameras, statements from witnesses, and accident reconstruction.
- Contact a Greenville bike accident lawyer now. Insurance companies know these accidents carry some of the most significant weight (and cost to them). That is why they work hard to push these cases through fast. Let us minimize that risk.
- Let us build a strong claim for you that includes your family member’s losses prior to their death, their funeral and burial costs, as well as the impact on your income and companionship.
- Expect us to build a robust claim that documents a significant amount of compensation. Then, our team will work to protect your rights and negotiate a fair level of compensation.
- Going to court is not uncommon in a wrongful death case. Let us use our years of experience to build a strong case against those who hurt you.
If your family member died as a result of a bike accident, seek out legal guidance immediately, stay off social media, and let us go to work on your case for you now. Expect our Greenville wrongful death lawyer to be there to fight for your rights as an advocate. Set up a free consultation today to discuss your rights.
There is no Risk in Speaking to a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Greenville
No one finds these types of conversations easy to have, but if you do not take the steps to talk to our Greenville bicycle accident attorney, you miss the ability to get justice for your family member.
There is never an out-of-pocket cost to you, and we never put any pressure on you to move forward with the case if you decide, for any reason, not to do so. Reach out to our legal team to find out what we can offer in the death of your family member.
Greenville Bicycle Accident FAQ
When you have questions about the bicycle accident claims process, you should be able to find answers easily. That is why we have compiled this quick FAQ below. Further questions can be discussed during your free consultation.
When Do Bicyclists Have the Right of Way?
Bicyclists are required to adhere to the same traffic rules as other motorists on the roadway. This means they have the right of way when they are in bicycle lanes or traveling with traffic. Bicyclists must stop at stop signs and traffic lights, or they may face citations.
What are South Carolina’s Bicycle Helmet Laws?
South Carolina does not have a bicycle helmet law. Legally, you are allowed to ride your bike without wearing a helmet. However, if you do so, it could give the liable party an opportunity to blame you for the accident, which could reduce your settlement based on South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence laws under South Carolina Code §15-38-15.
Can I Hire a Greenville Bicycle Accident Lawyer on Contingency?
You can absolutely hire a bicycle accident attorney in Greenville on contingency when you choose Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Working on contingency means we cover the expenses and only get paid if we are successful. If we lose, we do not get anything from your settlement.
If we win, a percentage of your award covers our attorney’s fees. The percentage that will be deducted from your settlement will vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case.
What Evidence Can Prove I Did Not Cause a Bike Accident?
When you are hurt in a bike accident, it is quite frustrating to learn the police or other parties believe you are responsible, especially when you know that is not the case. By speaking to our team, we can help you find evidence through numerous strategies, including photos, accident reconstruction work, expert statements, and forensic evidence that goes further. Our objective is to make it clear who is at fault for your injuries.
Reach Out to a Greenville Bicycle Accident Attorney for Help Today
If you are feeling overwhelmed or intimidated at the thought of bringing your bicycle accident case to court, you are not alone. It is common for injury victims to feel anxious about pursuing their case. However, when you have a dedicated legal advocate in your corner, you can rely on us to bring the at-fault party to justice so you can recover the compensation that is rightfully yours.
To get started on your case, schedule a free consultation with a reputable Greenville bicycle accident attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm today. Call our office or use our online contact form. When you receive the just settlement you deserve, you will be proud of yourself for being your own strongest advocate.
