Did you sustain injuries when a car hit you while riding a bicycle in Morris County, Alabama? If so, a Decatur bicycle accident attorney from Morris Bart could help you develop a case and recover money damages. You have a right to financial recovery if you can show the at-fault driver acted negligently.
Morris Bart in Huntsville offers free legal consultations by appointment for Morris County bicycle accident victims. We will review your rights and legal options with you for free. We can put a plan in place to seek compensation based on your expenses and losses.
How Can I Recover Damages after a Decatur Bicycle Collision?
When our attorneys win a payout for clients, we usually negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company. While our trial lawyers can sue and fight for a verdict at trial, this is not always necessary. Instead, we can save our clients both money and time by getting an out-of-court payout.
The damages available in an insurance settlement or verdict depend on the expenses and losses we document during our investigation into the accident. These damages often include:
- Medical bills and related costs
- Lost wages and other income
- Reduced ability to work and earn a living
- Property damage
- Miscellaneous expenses related to the crash or injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Other intangible losses
Wrongful Death in a Decatur Bicycle Accident
Unfortunately, severe injuries are common when a vehicle strikes a bicyclist, especially at a moderate or high speed. Many cyclists pass away from the injuries they suffer. When this happens in Alabama, their surviving family members may be able to pursue damages under Ala. Code § 6-5-410.
However, Alabama does not allow family members to pursue compensable damages in these claims. For example, they cannot request compensation for medical bills, lost income, or other economic or noneconomic damages. Instead, Alabama only awards punitive damages in wrongful death cases.
Our team handles wrongful death claims and can help you understand how this law may affect your financial recovery. We offer complimentary consultations.
For a free legal consultation with a Bicycle Accident lawyer serving Decatur, call (256) 666-3010
How do I Prove Liability for My Decatur Bicycle Accident?
Proving fault and holding a driver legally accountable for their reckless actions requires evidence that proves negligence. The four elements of negligence are:
- Duty
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Harm
As an example, imagine a driver failing to yield to a cyclist when turning left in an intersection. They entered the turn without seeing the cyclist coming, despite having a duty to look for traffic and yield. By turning instead, they breached their duty. This failure was the cause of the collision, which caused physical and financial harm to the cyclist.
Our attorneys know what it takes to prove these cases, including the evidence commonly used to show negligence, liability, and value. The steps we may take to build a compelling case include:
- Obtaining critical documents such as the accident report and medical records
- Interviewing witnesses
- Enlisting the help of experts
- Reconstructing the crash
- Surveying the accident scene
- Analyzing videos or photographs
- Documenting damages
How Does ‘Pure Contributory Negligence’ Affect My Claim?
It is also crucial to understand that Alabama is one of only four states that apply “pure contributory negligence” in personal injury cases. Under this negligence accident rule, victims cannot recover damages if they contributed to causing the crash in any way. The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed this rule in Golden v. McCurry in 1980.
Our lawyers know how to fight these allegations. If the at-fault driver blames you for your injuries, you do not want to risk handling your claim on your own. We will review your case and offer advice on your next steps.
When Is a Lawsuit Necessary in a Decatur Traffic Accident?
Occasionally, we’ll need to sue to help our clients recover compensation. A lawsuit may be necessary when:
- There are disputes over the facts of the case
- The insurer refuses a fair settlement
- They try to blame our client for contributing to the accident
We will also need to sue if the deadline is near. Running out of time would bar you from filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation. In general, we have two years to sue in a personal injury case under Ala. Code § 6-2-38. However, some cases may have even shorter timelines.
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Morris Bart Represents Bicyclists Injured in Decatur Collisions
Morris Bart has protected the rights of injured cyclists for more than 40 years. We represent collision victims and fight for compensation on their behalf. We believe victims hurt by another driver’s negligence should not be stuck with bills and financial losses. Instead, the at-fault motorist should be responsible for these damages.
We have 16 locations and serve the entire Gulf South, including Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Our Huntsville location serves Decatur and Morris County.
In 2019, our locations recovered compensation for more than 6,500 clients. This included a client who received a $430,000 payout after sustaining severe bicycle accident injuries, including a skull fracture, head injury, and a broken hip.
Talk to an Attorney from Morris Bart About Your Crash
You can speak with a Huntsville personal injury lawyer about your Decatur bike accident case for free. Morris Bart offers free consultations for victims of these crashes. We represent them on a contingency basis, without asking for a retainer or other upfront fees, and we only receive payment if we recover a payout or verdict for our clients.
We may be able to seek and recover compensation for you. Call our Huntsville office today at (256) 666-3010 to make an appointment with an attorney.
Questions?Call (256) 666-3010
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
