If you suffered injuries in an Iberia Parish collision while riding your bike, Louisiana law allows victims of negligence accidents to file an insurance claim or civil lawsuit against the at-fault party. In your case, a careless or reckless motorist likely collided with you.
A New Iberia bicycle accident attorney from the Morris Bart law firm could discuss your legal case with you today for free. We provide complimentary consultations for accident victims. Our personal injury law firm may be able to help you get justice and recover a cash payout to cover your damages.
Recoverable Damages in a New Iberia Bicycle Collision Case
Whether we recover compensation for our clients through a negotiated settlement or civil trial, we aim to get these monetary damages needed to compensate them for their losses and expenses:
- Economic expenses such as hospital bills and bike replacement
- Financial losses, including lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Intangible damages, including pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, and mental anguish
Wrongful Death Claims
Unfortunately, bicycle accident victims often sustain severe injuries such as:
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Internal bruising and bleeding
If the victim passes away before they hold the at-fault driver responsible, their immediate family might have a viable wrongful death claim.
La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.2 allows the spouse, children, or parents of an accident victim to make a legal claim for compensation based on their accident, losses, and death. We offer free consultations for family members following a deadly bike accident in New Iberia.
For a free legal consultation with a Bicycle Accident lawyer serving New Iberia, call (337) 446-4571
Morris Bart, LLC, Manages Traffic Accident Cases for Clients in New Iberia
For more than 40 years, the Morris Bart law firm has managed personal injury cases in Louisiana. We represent victims of a wide variety of traffic accidents, including when a careless driver hits a bicyclist.
We know how the claims process works and what needs to happen to prove our case and recover compensation for our client. We’ll take the necessary steps to develop our argument, file a claim, and demand a just payout. These steps include:
- Investigating the crash to determine what happened
- Gathering support for the insurance claim
- Proving negligence and liability
- Putting a fair settlement range on the case
- Negotiating with the insurer or responsible party
We often negotiate a fair settlement at this point. If not, we continue protecting the client’s rights while we prepare and file a lawsuit. If this action does not prompt an increase in the settlement offer, we will take the case to trial.
Deadlines for Suing the At-Fault Driver in a New Iberia Bicycle Accident Case
If we need to sue in a bicycle accident case in Iberia Parish, we generally have only one year to get started. If we do not file the initial paperwork by the first anniversary of the collision, the courts could bar our client from taking any further legal action in the case. This decision could mean they lose the option of pursuing damages.
While La. Civ. Code Art. 3492 sets the one-year limit for personal injury and wrongful death claims, exceptions to this statute could create additional deadlines. As a result, you might have less time depending on the facts of your case. We like to learn about these accidents as soon as the victim’s injuries allow us to meet to ensure we satisfy all applicable deadlines and protect our client’s rights.
Building a New Iberia Bicycle Collision Case for Compensation
Motorists have a duty to follow traffic laws and regulations in place to protect others from accident injuries, including:
- Other drivers
- Occupants of motor vehicles
- Motorcyclists
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
Breaching this duty could cause a crash, and the victim could suffer severe injuries and other damages.
Proving Negligence Essential to a Successful Claim
Understanding a driver’s duties is essential in proving any traffic accident case because we must show:
- The driver acted negligently
- Their negligence caused the accident, making them liable for any damages
- Our client suffered injuries and financial losses
For example, all drivers must yield to traffic when turning left at a green light. When they fail to do so because they don’t see an oncoming bicyclist, it can lead to a collision. In this example, all four elements of negligence are present:
- The motorist had a duty to yield to the cyclist who was going through the intersection
- The driver failed to yield, turning in front of the oncoming bicyclist
- This failure caused the collision
- The cyclist suffers injuries, financial expenses and losses, and emotional damages
By gathering evidence to prove these four things, we can support our client’s insurance claim and demand a just payout from the driver’s insurer.
Click to contact our New Iberia Personal Injury Lawyers today
Morris Bart, LLC, Attorneys Have a Proven Track Record
We won more than 6,500 cases for our clients during 2019, counting both settlements and awards issued by the court. Examples of our case results include:
- $852,845 for a Louisiana car accident
- $650,000 for a Louisiana drunk driving crash
- $430,000 for a bicycle collision in Louisiana
We represented each of these clients based on contingency fees. We never ask for a retainer or other upfront fees. Instead, we get our attorney’s fees as a percentage of any financial recovery in the case. We do not charge these fees if you do not receive compensation.
The Morris Bart law firm has 15 locations across Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi. We handle New Iberia and Iberia Parish collision cases from our Lafayette office on East Kaliste Saloom Road.
Morris Bart, LLC Offers Consultations for New Iberia Accident Victims
You can speak with a lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm for free today. Our attorneys are available to discuss your legal options following an Iberia Parish bicycle accident. Our lawyers will answer your questions and offer advice about what to do next.
You can reach our Lafayette office by calling (337) 446-4571 now.
Questions?Call (337) 446-4571
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
