When a car hits a bicyclist, the driver may be legally responsible for any injuries or expenses the victim incurs. The bicyclist can hold the driver accountable if there is evidence to show they acted negligently and caused the collision. Victims can recover compensation for their medical care, lost income, injuries, and more. An Auburn bicycle accident attorney from the Morris Bart law firm may be able to help.
At the Morris Bart law office, we represent victims of traffic collisions, including bicycle crashes. We provide free consultations for potential clients who were hurt in Auburn. We can review the facts of your case and determine your options for seeking compensation.
Recovering Money Damages Based on an Auburn Bicycle Collision
When a driver causes an Auburn bicycle accident, the cyclist often suffers serious injuries. This is true even when the crash was relatively low-speed, and no one inside the vehicle was hurt. Bicycle riders hit by a car may have a wide range of injuries, including:
- Limb fractures
- Serious lacerations, abrasions, and contusions
- Traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and other back and neck injuries
- Internal injuries
- Hip and pelvic injuries
Many cyclists will require ambulance transportation or emergency department evaluation even when their injuries turn out to be relatively minor. Those with moderate or serious injuries may require hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. They could miss weeks or even months of work. All of these financial costs and losses can cause significant stress on top of the pain they endure.
All of these are recoverable damages in a civil lawsuit or insurance claim. The victim may be able to negotiate an insurance settlement or get an award at trial to cover these damages. The compensation could include money for:
- Medical care for accident injuries, current and future
- Lost income from missed work
- Reduced earning capacity if they cannot go back to their job
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Other economic and non-economic damages
What If My Family Member Died from Auburn Bicycle Collision Injuries?
Alabama’s wrongful death statute, Ala. Code § 6-5-410, limits who can file this type of legal action and the types of damages they can recover. In general, these cases pay out only punitive damages, and they go to the estate of the deceased.
This is unusual. The family cannot recover the expenses and losses they incurred under this law. Punitive damages are based on the heinousness of the liable party’s bad behavior and are usually awarded by a jury.
The only party who can file a wrongful death action in Alabama is the personal representative of the deceased. This may be a spouse, adult child, or parent, but not always. It is usually:
- The administrator of the estate plan
- The executor of the will
- The party named by the court during probate
Our team can help you identify the party who has the legal authority to file this type of case and recover compensation for your loved one’s heirs.
For a free legal consultation with a Bicycle Accident lawyer serving Auburn, call 800-537-8185
Morris Bart & Associates, LLC Handles Auburn Bicycle Crash Cases
The Morris Bart law firm has 15 locations and serves four states. With more than 40 years of experience managing traffic accident claims and other personal injury cases, we know what it takes to prove negligence and recover compensation for our clients. We had 6,500+ financial recoveries for accident victims in 2019 alone. Our case results show we can pursue and secure appropriate and significant compensation based on the facts of our clients’ cases.
While we have 15 locations, we offer representation across Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Our Montgomery office usually serves Auburn, Opelika, and the rest of Lee County. However, we travel to meet with our clients and manage their cases where it is convenient for them, when necessary. We also offer telephone and video conferencing when preferred.
The Morris Bart law firm works based on a contingency fee. We do not ask our clients to pay hourly fees for our team’s work. Instead, our attorney’s fees are a percentage of the total compensation we recover in their case. We can discuss this percentage and how this works during your free initial consultation.
Developing a Claim Based on Your Bicycle Accident in Auburn
Recovering compensation for a client hurt in a Lee County bicycle accident case requires our attorneys to prove the motorist acted carelessly or recklessly and caused the collision. In a legal case, this is known as negligence.
When a driver is guilty of negligence, they are usually liable for the damages that the victim suffered in the accident. Although Alabama law bars recovery for any victim who contributed to their own injuries, our lawyers can often prove negligence and liability and recover compensation for our clients.
As a part of this process, our clients count on us to:
- Protect their right to an appropriate payout based on their losses
- Manage all communication with other parties about the case
- Investigate what happened and gather evidence to support the claim
- Value the damages suffered
- Pursue a fair and appropriate payout through an insurance claim or lawsuit
- Represent their best interests during this entire process
While there is no set deadline for filing an insurance claim, you need to reach a settlement before the time runs out to sue the liable parties. This is because the ability to take the case to trial provides leverage when negotiating a settlement with the insurer. In general, most victims have up to two years to sue under Ala. Code § 6-2-38.
Click to contact our Personal Injury Lawyers today
Morris Bart & Associates, LLC Offers Free Consultations for Accident Victims
You can speak with an attorney about your Auburn bicycle accident injuries for free today. We provide these complimentary consultations so you can get answers to your questions, learn about your rights, and find out how we may be able to help you seek compensation. These consultations are always free, confidential, and no obligation.
Reach out to our Montgomery, AL, office today.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
