Fayetteville Bicycle Accident Lawyer
While bicycles are legally allowed to share the road with other vehicles, many drivers do not exercise proper caution when driving near bicyclists. When drivers fail to pay attention to bicyclists, it could lead to serious accidents and devastating injuries.
After a serious injury, a Fayetteville bicycle accident lawyer could bring their knowledge of local laws to your potential claim. Once retained, your seasoned personal injury attorney could investigate the cause of an accident and help you recover the damages associated with your injuries.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
While some roads have designated bicycle lanes, most roads should typically be shared with bicyclists. This could include roads without bicycle lanes. Common causes of bicycle accidents may include:
- Unsafe passing
- Ignoring hand signals
- Speeding
- Swerving into the bicycle lane
- Failing to yield or give right of way to bicyclists
- Opening a car door in front of a passing bicycle
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
When a bicycle is involved in a collision, the bicyclist could sustain extremely serious injuries since bicycles offer little protection from other vehicles and obstacles. Injuries may range from minor bruises and abrasions to broken bones, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or other catastrophic injuries. Severe cases could also result in death.
Bike Laws in Fayetteville
To promote public safety, bicycle law in North Carolina treats bicycles in the same manner as other motor vehicles in the road. Bicyclists must adhere to the applicable rules of the road, which typically includes respecting stop signs, following traffic signals, and yielding to oncoming traffic. Similar to driving while intoxicated, operating a bicycle while intoxicated is prohibited by state law.
There are also laws that specifically refer to bicycles on the road. When bicycles are being operated at night, the operator must equip the bike with appropriate lighting for use in the dark or wear a reflective vest.
Bicyclists who adhere to all the relevant laws could still be involved accidents caused by other drivers. If someone else’s negligence leads to an accident, an experienced bike accident attorney in Fayetteville could help fight for compensation.
Filing a Bicycle Crash Claim within the Statute of Limitations
Monetary compensation may be available to those injured in bike wrecks. Compensation could cover the cost of medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damages.
The amount of damages available in a case could vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident. Many injured cyclists rely on an attorney experienced in handling bike crashes to help them understand the law, determine the value of their injuries, and ensure claims are properly filed.
To recover compensation, a potential plaintiff must file within North Carolina’s state deadline. The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Fayetteville is three years from the date of the accident. Filing a claim beyond this time frame could prevent an injured party from collecting damages. Fortunately, a Fayetteville bicycle accident lawyer could assist an injured individual with filing a claim within the statute of limitations.
Get Help from a Fayetteville Bicycle Accident Attorney
Bike crashes could lead to serious and devastating injuries. A well-practiced attorney could help protect bicycle riders and stand up for their rights. If you have been involved in a bicycle crash, schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Fayetteville bicycle accident lawyer to learn more about how you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.