Raleigh Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving North Carolina
Riding a bicycle can be a sustainable way to exercise, run errands, and commute to and from work, but it can also be dangerous if other drivers on the road are not careful. If another driver acts negligently and causes a crash that involves a cyclist, severe injuries may result.
A Raleigh bicycle accident lawyer could help you take stock of your damages and pursue civil restitution if you were struck by a reckless or careless driver while cycling. With a dedicated personal injury attorney by your side, you may be able to recover compensation for a variety of economic and non-economic losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Laws Applicable to Bike Riders in Raleigh
In North Carolina, bicycles are viewed as vehicles and therefore governed under the same traffic laws as any other car or truck on the road. However, bicycles are slower, quieter, and often less visible than other vehicles, making them more difficult to see and hear as they approach.
Because of this, bicyclists must adhere to additional regulations beyond standard traffic laws, like having a light on their bike to illuminate their path or utilizing reflectors to make themselves more visible if they are riding after dark. It should be noted, though, that there are no insurance requirements surrounding bicycles, and cyclists do not have to have insurance to ride their bicycle on the road. A Raleigh bicycle crash attorney could provide further clarification about how specific statutes and rules may impact the outcome of a particular plaintiff’s case.
Causes, Effects, and Consequences of Bike Wrecks
A bicyclist can potentially suffer great harm if involved in a collision with a car because of how much heavier a car is and how much more exposed a cyclist is. There may also be a higher risk of multiple types of injuries. For example, a minor fender-bender between two commuter cars could result in only minor bruises and sprains, but a cyclist hit by a vehicle at low speeds could sustain severe road rash, broken bones, and even traumatic brain and spine damage from their impact against the vehicle or the roadway itself.
The most common causes of bicycle accidents are cyclists being struck by distracted drivers or being hit in an intersection when a driver is turning and does not see a cyclist traveling straight. A lawyer can help someone involved in a bicycle accident in Raleigh by establishing that the cyclist was not at fault and aggressively defending them against any allegations of negligence.
Drivers of cars who are involved in bicycle accidents often attempt to defend themselves by casting blame onto the cyclist and claiming that the cyclist was also at fault for the accident. However, legal counsel could work to refute those claims by demonstrating how the driver exhibited gross negligence and presented a high risk of injury to the cyclist.
Talk to a Raleigh Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
Attorneys handle bicycle accident cases similarly to other types of civil lawsuits—they investigate the facts and the scene as soon as possible, take statements from eyewitness while their memories are fresh, and collect all available documentation of injuries to prove liability by another driver. Handling all of this alone could leave you unable to recover appropriate compensation for all your damages, so retaining a Raleigh bicycle accident lawyer is almost certainly in your best interests. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
