Representing The Rights Of Injured Bicyclists In Plano, Texas

Although motor vehicles dominate roadways throughout the country, they must share the road with bicyclists as well. Unfortunately, cars and trucks sometimes collide with bicyclists, resulting in severe bodily injuries. If you were the victim of a bicycle accident caused by the negligence of another party, they might be liable for your injuries. To determine the nature and extent of the other party’s liability, you should enlist the professional legal services of a Plano bicycle accident attorney. Fortunately, at the Zen Law Firm, our dedicated legal team has over five decades of combined personal injury litigation experience focusing on traffic collisions, including those involving bicyclists.

Bicycle accidents often leave injured riders facing more than just physical pain. You may be dealing with mounting medical bills, a damaged bike, lost time from work, and pressure from insurance companies that want to resolve your claim as cheaply as possible. By working with a bicycle accident attorney who understands Texas negligence law and how insurers evaluate claims, you can level the playing field and focus on your recovery while your legal team handles communications, evidence gathering, and negotiations on your behalf.

In the Plano area, many serious bicycle crashes occur on busy roadways and intersections where vehicles and cyclists must interact, such as along U.S. Highway 75, the President George Bush Turnpike frontage roads, and major east-west corridors. Local hospitals like Medical City Plano and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center routinely treat riders with fractures, head injuries, and other trauma from these collisions. Understanding how these local conditions contribute to crashes allows a bicycle accident lawyer to better explain fault, connect you with appropriate medical care, and pursue compensation that reflects the true impact of your injuries.

To schedule a free consultation with one of our qualified bicycle accident attorneys, contact the Zen Law Firm, at (469) 361-8561 today!

Common Bicycle Accident Causes

A bicycle accident can result from the negligent conduct of anyone on the road, including vehicle drivers, pedestrians, and other bicyclists. For example, bicycle accidents are often caused by:

• Distracted driving;
• Drunk and drowsy driving;
• Dangerous road conditions, e.g., potholes, debris, etc.;
• Car doors suddenly opening in the bicyclist’s path;
• Pedestrian inattention.

In many Texas bicycle accident cases, disputes arise over who had the right-of-way, whether a driver checked their blind spot, or how fast each person was traveling just before impact. Insurance companies may try to argue that the cyclist was partly at fault for riding too close to traffic or not following roadway markings, which can reduce the value of your claim under Texas comparative negligence rules. A Plano bicycle accident attorney can evaluate how state and local traffic laws apply to your situation, review the crash scene and available video or witness statements, and push back against attempts to unfairly shift blame onto you.

What Should You Do After Being Injured In A Bicycle Accident?

If you’ve sustained injuries due to the negligence of a driver, pedestrian, government agency or fellow cyclist, follow these steps:

• Seek medical attention immediately. If your accident resulted in severe bodily injuries, you should immediately report to the hospital for emergency care. Even if you suspect that you’ve suffered only minor injuries, make an appointment with a doctor within the next few days following the accident. Some injuries may not reveal themselves immediately.
• Call the police and complete a report. An official police report is strong evidence of your claims. Law enforcement observations that corroborate your version of events will bolster your credibility.
• Identify the responsible parties and other witnesses. The at-fault party may attempt to evade responsibility for your injury. Thus, it is crucial to safely collect any evidence that will identify the at-fault party, including photographs, license plate numbers and contact information.
• Preserve evidence. It is important to preserve any evidence of the conditions leading up to your accident as accurately as possible. A faithful record of the accident’s circumstances will allow law enforcement and collision reconstructionists to make more precise measurements and accurate assessments of the crash. If you need to share evidence with other parties, send them copies rather than originals.
• Contact an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Plano. Contact a capable bicycle accident attorney in Plano as soon as possible. You should not discuss the accident with insurance adjusters or another party’s lawyer without the advice of legal counsel. Anything you disclose to them may be used against your claim. You should only discuss your claim with your lawyers, doctors and law enforcement officers.

Damages You May Recover After A Bicycle Accident

After a serious crash, many riders are unsure what losses can be included in an injury claim and worry about how they will stay financially afloat while they heal. In a typical Texas bicycle accident case, you may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and damage to your bicycle or other personal property, as well as for pain, suffering, and the overall impact the crash has on your daily life. A bicycle accident attorney can help you document these losses with medical records, employment information, and repair or replacement estimates so that insurers and, if necessary, a Collin County or Denton County court see the full picture of how the collision has affected you.

Some injuries lead to long-term or permanent limitations, such as ongoing back pain, reduced mobility, or cognitive issues after a head injury, and these future effects should also be carefully evaluated. Your lawyer may work with your treating physicians or other qualified professionals to estimate future medical needs, therapy, and assistive devices, as well as the ways your injuries may interfere with your career or household responsibilities. By building a thorough, evidence-based damages picture rooted in your specific circumstances, a Plano bicycle accident attorney can advocate for a resolution that takes both your current and future needs into account rather than focusing only on the bills you have already received.

Once you have addressed your immediate medical needs and taken basic steps at the scene, it can be helpful to write down your own detailed account of what happened while your memory is still fresh. Include information about the weather, traffic, lighting, road surface, and any comments the driver or witnesses made. Sharing this information with a bicycle accident lawyer gives them a clearer picture of the events leading up to the crash and helps them identify additional evidence, such as nearby businesses that may have security cameras or other drivers who might have seen the collision.

Call the Zen Law Firm, at  (469) 361-8561 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today!