If you were hurt in a crash caused by a negligent motorist in Caddo Parish, we are here for you. A Shreveport, LA, bicycle accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm may be able to file your claim and recover compensation for you based on the facts of your case.
We provide free consultations for victims and their families. We will offer information, advice, and guidance based on the specific details of your case. We may be able to represent you and seek monetary damages on your behalf.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Bicycle Accident in Shreveport
Our attorneys have two options for recovering compensation for our clients. In most cases, we file an insurance claim based on the at-fault driver’s liability policy. This is a mandatory coverage in Louisiana.
By demanding a fair payout from the driver’s insurer, we may be able to recover an appropriate settlement for our client without needing to sue or go to trial. In addition, an out-of-court settlement is generally less stressful, cheaper, and quicker for the victim.
Our demand for a just settlement is based on the value of the damages our client suffered. While this is specific to each case, the most common types of recoverable damages we see in these claims include:
- Medical bills, current, and future
- Ongoing care costs and related expenses
- Lost wages and other income
- Diminished earning ability
- Property damages
- Miscellaneous costs
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic damages
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Bicycle Accident
When an accident victim passes away before they have an opportunity to bring their claim or personal injury lawsuit, La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.2 allows their surviving family to pursue wrongful death damages instead. This is generally available to the immediate family, such as a surviving spouse and children or the victim’s parents.
Recoverable damages in a wrongful death claim include:
- Medical bills
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost income
- Other expenses and losses
- Non-economic damages experienced by the family
For a free legal consultation with a Bicycle Accident lawyer serving Shreveport, call (318) 553-5470
How a Bicycle Accident Attorney Can Help You
Our bicycle accident attorneys fight for justice for injured victims. This includes bicyclists struck by a careless or reckless motorist in Shreveport or a nearby area. Our legal team knows what it takes to protect victims’ rights, build a strong case, and recover cash payouts through a negotiated settlement or civil trial.
Personal injury attorney Morris Bart and his team have helped clients through difficult times for more than 40 years. In 2019, cases were won for more than 6,500 clients, securing financial recovery based on the harm they suffered.
The law office in Shreveport is located at:
333 Texas St, #1225
Shreveport, LA 71101
This is one of 15 offices we have to serve injured accident victims across the Gulf South, covering all areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. We are a contingency fee firm. We do not charge upfront fees or retainers. Instead, we use our time, financial resources, knowledge, and experience to develop each claim and pursue justice for the client.
We charge clients for our attorney’s fees only after reaching a settlement or receiving a court award. After that, we take our percentage from the settlement or award check the insurer sends, so you never have to worry about paying out of pocket.
Moving Forward with Your Legal Case Against the At-Fault Motorist
While Caddo Parish did not have any bicycle versus car casualties in 2020, there were 14 injury accidents that required an involved party–likely the bicyclist–to seek medical care.
Statewide, Louisiana State University reported 735 bicycle-related traffic incidents during 2020. These crashes caused 573 injuries and 34 deaths. Many of these collisions involved alcohol, either a drunk motorist or an impaired bicyclist.
In most cases, the driver of the motor vehicle is legally responsible. While there are exceptions, motorists have an obligation to share the roadways and be aware of bicycle riders. This creates additional duties on top of how they must interact with other drivers. Therefore, when we prove negligence in a bicycle accident claim, we must have evidence to establish:
- The driver had a duty to act in a certain way, either because of a traffic law or their duty to keep our client safe.
- They failed to uphold their duty.
- Their action or inaction caused the collision.
- The accident victim suffered injuries, financial losses, and other damages.
Once you decide to file a claim and seek financial compensation for your bicycle accident case, you will need to begin the investigation to determine what happened, why, and who is responsible. If we represent you, we will handle all aspects of this process. This generally requires us to:
- Interview eyewitnesses
- Obtain the police report, your medical records, and other relevant documents
- Work with an accident reconstructionist
- Survey the crash scene
- Seek video and photographs of the collision
- Enlist the help of medical and economic experts
- Document your personal injuries, losses, and expenses
- Prepare the claim
- Demand compensation from the liable party’s insurer
- Negotiate for an appropriate settlement
- Determine if/when we need to sue the at-fault driver
If we need to sue the driver who caused your bicycle crash, we likely only have up to a year to do so. Under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492, Louisiana has one of the shortest personal injury deadlines in the country. Some cases could have even less time.
If you do not begin the process and file the initial paperwork before the first anniversary of your accident, the court could bar you from recovering any compensation through the legal process. This could also make it very difficult to negotiate a fair and just settlement with the insurer.
Click to contact our Shreveport Personal Injury Attorneys today
Discuss Your Shreveport Bicycle Accident and Injuries with an Attorney Today
The Morris Bart law firm in Shreveport provides complimentary consultations for injured bicycle accident victims and their families. A bicycle accident lawyer in Shreveport will discuss your rights and legal options with you for free today. You can reach our office 24/7 by calling (318) 553-5470.
Questions?Call (318) 553-5470
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
