Skilled Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Riverview, Florida

Riverview Bicycle Accident Attorney Riverview is a city of cars and traffic. Riverview streets were designed to move cars and trucks as quickly as possible. Traffic congestion defeats that goal, convincing many residents to use bicycles as an alternative form of transportation. Unfortunately, streets that were designed to move cars have grown increasingly dangerous for Riverview’s bicycle riders.

When bicycle accidents are caused by careless motorists and cyclists, bicycle riders are entitled to compensation for their injuries. According to the NHTSA, in 2018 there were a total of 857 bicyclists killed in traffic collisions in the United States. That number has since increased. Our Riverview bicycle accident lawyer helps victims of serious injuries obtain the compensation they need to pay for past and future pain, bills, and preparation for the future.

Does Insurance Cover the Responsible Driver?

Yes. If a cyclist is injured because of someone else’s poor driving, the injured cyclist can bring a claim against the responsible driver’s insurance company.

The insurance that will provide the responsible driver with coverage is either the person’s auto insurance or homeowners insurance. It depends on whether the offending person was operating a car when he hit you, or if he was pedaling his bicycle when he ran into you.

If a cyclist strikes another cyclist, then the at-fault cyclist will be able to pay for the injured cyclist’s injuries and medical care by using his homeowner’s insurance. Car insurance will protect a car driver who causes an accident; homeowner’s insurance will protect a bicycle rider who causes an accident.

If the Defendant’s Insurance Company is the One Paying the Settlement or Verdict, Then Why is the Case Against the Defendant?

Lawyers are not allowed to utter the word “insurance” in court. When you file a lawsuit, you are not allowed to write “State Farm Insurance” as the defendant, or “Travelers Insurance” in the caption of the case, or “Allstate Insurance Company” at the top of the page. The law says that you can never, ever, use the words “insurance” in court. You can’t even tell the jury that insurance is involved. Instead, when an insurance company forces you to file a lawsuit because the insurance company does not want to tender a fair and reasonable settlement, you have to actually name the person who injured you (i.e., the insurance company’s insured); then you serve that person (through a professional process server) with the lawsuit; and that person gives the lawsuit to his insurance company.

So even though your case/claim is against the insurance company, the papers you file with the court and the evidence you present at trial all identify the defendant as the individual.

To be clear: the person you are suing will not pay you a dime out of his own pocket even though to the outside world it looks like he will. Rather, that person’s insurance company, whether his auto insurance or homeowner’s insurance depending on whether he was driving a car or pedaling on his bicycle when he rode into you, will pay you the jury’s verdict.

Why Are Riverview Bicycle Accidents Increasing?

According to Riverview’s transportation plan, a majority of bicycle accidents occur on just a few roads. Unfortunately, infrastructure changes have not kept pace with the growing popularity of bicycle riding.

In addition to competing with cars on busy streets, bicyclists are at risk from negligent and reckless drivers. The frustration of traffic congestion promotes aggressive driving, including abrupt lane changes, attempts to beat red lights, and speeding in school zones. When bicycle lanes exist, some drivers use them as traffic lanes or turn right without checking to see whether the lane is occupied.

Florida law regards a violation of a traffic safety law as negligence. Bicyclists who are injured by a negligent driver are entitled to compensation. The families of bicycle riders who are killed by a negligent driver are entitled to wrongful death compensation.

How Does Valrico Law Group Help Injured Bicycle Riders?

Bicycle accidents cause devastating injuries. When a car crashes into a bicycle, it is the bicycle rider who suffers. Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, can impair the ability to think, remember, and concentrate. Spinal injuries can lead to full or partial paralysis. Crush injuries damage vital organs.

Other serious bicycle accident injuries include broken bones, facial scarring, dental and jaw injuries, joint damage, and torn muscles. Road rash can cause infections that result in prolonged hospitalization.

Our Riverview bicycle accident lawyer helps injury victims rebuild their lives. We limit our practice to serious injuries and wrongful death cases so that we can help the people who need us the most. Our Riverview car accident lawyer, Adam Banter, is the best person to assist you after an accident.

Compensation is essential to rebuilding a life. Without compensation, hospital bills go unpaid. Accident victims who cannot afford future medical treatment live with pain and disabling conditions when they do not receive injury compensation.

Bicycle accident victims lose wages when they cannot work. They may lose the ability to perform their work. Compensation replaces the loss of past wages and makes it possible to obtain rehabilitation services and training for new employment.

Compensation also helps bicycle accident victims recover from emotional injuries. Injury victims use compensation in ways that relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. We want bicycle collision victims to live the best life they can after suffering the consequences of a serious accident.

When a bicycle accident victim dies, we help families obtain wrongful death compensation. We know that compensation is an inadequate substitute for a life. We also know that victims of fatal accidents would want their family members to have the money they would have earned if they had lived a full life. Our Florida Wrongful Death Law FAQ explains how families seek and distribute compensation after a loved one’s death.

What Makes Valrico Law Group Different?

Our firm is dedicated to making the Riverview area a safer place for bicycle riders. Drunk drivers, texting drivers, and impatient drivers all endanger bicyclists. By bringing claims for substantial compensation, we help our clients send a message that Riverview will not tolerate dangerous drivers.

Our Riverview personal injury lawyers have a reputation for providing fearless, ethical representation to injury victims. Insurance companies keep track of lawyers. They know which lawyers back down and settle for less than a case is worth. They know our lawyers are not afraid to take cases to trial when insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement. Most of our cases settle because insurance companies do not want to take cases to trial that they are likely to lose.

When Should I Contact Valrico Law Group?

Obtaining emergency health care is the first priority of any injury victim. Getting legal advice should be the next priority. Insurance adjusters try to take statements from accident victims before they have a chance to talk to a lawyer. Obtaining legal advice is the best way for injury victims to protect their rights.