Wisconsin Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle accidents usually cause serious injuries to bicycle riders. Whether you were riding your bike for exercise, a leisurely adventure, or commuting, this incident will likely leave you with massive medical bills and the inability to work until you heal, causing lost wages.

These financial burdens only make things worse when coupled with your regular monthly expenses. It’s not right that you should be stuck with these added costs when a negligent driver is to blame. Who will fight for you when you have severe injuries from a bicycle accident?

Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm will rise to the occasion to protect our clients’ lives and get them fair compensation for the injuries suffered in bicycle accidents. Our Wisconsin bike accident law firm has secured millions for victims in bicycle accidents, and each of our Wisconsin personal injury attorneys is deeply committed to fighting for you. Contact our bicycle crash lawyers in Wisconsin today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

The most common cause of bicycle accidents that our Wisconsin bicycle injury attorneys have noticed is distracted driving. While many people imagine texting while driving as distracted driving, this isn’t the only distraction. Even seemingly benign actions such as talking to passengers, changing the music on the stereo, or looking up GPS directions can take a driver’s focus off the road, either visually, manually, or cognitively.

It only takes a fraction of a second for a car driver to look away and run down a bicyclist. Aside from distractions, a drunk driver behind the wheel, drivers who engage in reckless driving behaviors, and drivers who fail to obey traffic laws, most commonly cause bicycle accidents.

In rarer circumstances, it may be the result of a defective bicycle. Regardless of how bicycle accidents occur, they tend to leave victims with significant injuries. Being hit by a motor vehicle while riding your bike may cause common injuries, such as head injuries, broken bones, arm injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries like road rash. For many victims, permanent injuries are the result, leaving them with life-altering impacts.

If you are the victim in this type of personal injury case, you have the right to seek compensation. Contact a Madison bicycle accident lawyer from our legal team today to discuss your situation.

The Legal Process: What to Expect in a Bicycle Accident Case

After suffering a personal injury in a bicycle accident, you have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury case. It will first start with filing an injury claim with the insurance company of the motorist. Perhaps the driver engaged in reckless driving behavior, one of the more common causes of bicycle accidents. You might expect the insurance company to provide a fair settlement for your medical expenses and other losses.

However, victims often learn too late that insurers are out to protect their own interests. This is why you should always seek legal representation from the start of a bicycle accident claim to ensure your legal rights are safeguarded. An Eau Claire bicycle crash attorney can help you with the initial claim, investigations, evidence gathering, and negotiations, and be ready to take your bicycle accident case to court to fight for your full and fair financial compensation.

Determining Liability in Bike Accidents

After a bicycle accident, determining liability is an essential step. While you might be inclined to think the driver will always be held liable, it’s not always the case. Rider error may be a factor that contributed to the accident, and if so, you may be assigned partial blame under the modified comparative negligence rule. As long as you are not more than 50% at fault for your injuries, you can still seek compensation.

Unfortunately, our bicycle accident lawyers have seen insurers issue unwarranted blame to cyclists to lower payouts or deny claims. For example, the state does not require that bicyclists wear helmets, except for the city of Port Washington. The insurer may try to claim the injuries were partially your fault for not wearing a helmet.

Helmets are a great way to protect yourself from injuries, but drivers need to do their part to watch for cyclists. Our bicycle accident lawyers will investigate and gather evidence to show that the vehicle driver was liable for causing your injuries and fight for your compensation.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Bike Accident

Here is what you should do if you get hit by a car while riding your bike:

Call the Police

The driver may try to convince you to settle things between yourselves. In those initial moments, your adrenaline will soar, potentially masking any injury symptoms. Get the police on the scene to have them file a police report, which will detail the officer’s findings. If the driver was issued a citation for breaking a traffic law or the officer believes they caused the crash, it will be noted in this report, which will be a valuable piece of evidence.

Get Medical Care

Never turn down medical treatment after being hit by a car while riding your bicycle. You may think you only have a few scrapes or bumps, but your internal organs may be bleeding, or you could have a traumatic brain injury, even if you were wearing a helmet. Getting the medical care you need helps you avoid a life-threatening situation and creates medical records that can be used in your case.

Gather Evidence

While you should prioritize your health and safety first, if it’s at all possible, take photos and videos of the accident aftermath. Try to be as comprehensive as you can, and if anyone saw what happened, make sure you get their contact information. It helps to record their statement while the events are fresh in their mind.

Speak with Wisconsin Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The most likely scenario after an accident on your bicycle is that you will need to be transported to the hospital immediately. This means you won’t be able to capture any evidence and will likely have a long road to recovery ahead of you. Due to the complexities involved, you should have someone to advocate for your legal rights and ensure justice is served.

Our legal team is here for you from the start. We have extensive resources that allow us to step in to investigate, gather evidence, and hire expert witnesses to reconstruct the accident and testify about the medical impacts you’ve endured. We are aggressive negotiators who won’t back down while providing unwavering and compassionate support throughout the entire legal process.

Why Choose Pemberton for Your Bike Crash Case in Wisconsin?

Those who ride bicycles, regardless of whether it’s for pleasure, exercise, or commuting, should feel safe. While you need to be mindful of traffic laws, drivers need to watch for more vulnerable road users like bicyclists and pedestrians.

When someone runs you over while you are on your bike, the expenses will be high. In addition to the physical pain caused by this incident, the mental impacts will make it hard for you to move forward. You may be anxious about riding your bike again, or experience depression because you are left with permanent damage that prevents you from enjoying the activities you once loved. The financial impacts from this situation will likely leave you feeling worse for wear. Instead of suffering, let Pemberton fight for you.

We take over the entire case, allowing you to rest and recover. We protect what matters most – your future. When you have been injured by the negligent driving behaviors of another person while riding your bicycle, you have the right to legal recourse. Let us hold them responsible and make your life as whole again as possible after enduring this accident. Contact our attorneys today to set up a free initial consultation to discuss the factors of your bike crash.