Bicycle Accident Lawyer Irvine

Bicycle Accident Lawyer Irvine

A bicyclist faces serious risks on California’s roadways, especially when a negligent motorist is on the road. Even a passenger vehicle traveling at a low speed can seriously injure a bicyclist upon impact. This type of accident can leave the bicyclist with permanent or severe injuries such as spinal cord damage, head trauma, or broken bones. Rebuilding your life after this type of accident can be difficult, but a bicycle accident lawyer Irvine at MVP Accident Attorneys, we are here to help.

Why You Need a Bicycle Accident Attorney

Our California bicycle accident lawyers know the challenges you and your family will face after an accident. Insurance companies will undervalue your claim, or they may delay payment. This leaves you facing significant financial hardship, as the medical bills continue to pile up. For years, we have been representing California’s accident victims, fighting for their rights to fair compensation after a major accident. The team at MVP Accident Attorneys is here to help.

Proving Liability in a Bicycle Accident Case

A bicycle accident lawyer must first determine the cause of the accident. Next, they must determine who is responsible for paying for the damages and injuries you sustained. The at-fault party can be held responsible for your emotional trauma, lost earnings, medical expenses, and any damages to your bicycle.

The following are common causes of bicycle accidents in California:

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of bicycle accidents. A distracted driver may be texting, talking on the phone, speaking to a passenger, eating, or playing with the radio, taking their eyes off the road.

Drunk Driving/Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

A driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be held responsible for your injuries and other damages and may also face criminal charges.

Aggressive Driving

A driver may not give a bicyclist sufficient space on the road or may make a right turn into a bicyclist’s path.

What to Do Immediately Following a Bicycle Accident

Immediately after a bicycle accident, you may feel disoriented, in pain, and unable to move. A bystander or the driver may contact 911 for emergency treatment. If you’re able to stand up and walk around, you must use this opportunity to gather evidence for your claim.

Begin by using your phone to take photos of the area, the vehicle that hit you, the damage done to your bike, road signs, traffic signs, and your injuries.

Speak with Eyewitnesses

If anyone witnessed the accident, get their contact information, including their full name, address, and phone number.

Speak with the Police

If you’re not being transported to the hospital in an ambulance, speak with the police. The police will write up an accident report that includes all of the information concerning the events that led up to the accident, who they believe is at fault and the driver’s personal information.

Seek Medical Treatment

After an accident, you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Some injuries may not be obvious. It may take several hours or even days before pain and other symptoms appear. A medical professional can examine you, order all of the necessary tests and properly document your injuries. These documents will be used as evidence in your claim.

Do Not Speak to an Insurance Company

The goal of every insurance company is to pay as little as possible. The driver’s insurance company may try to contact you right after the accident. During the conversation, they will ask you many questions regarding the accident and may even ask if they can record your statement. While the insurance adjuster may seem helpful and friendly, they are trying to get you to say something that can damage your claim. They will use your answers against you during settlement negotiations or in court. To protect your rights and your claim, avoid speaking to an insurance company until you have met with an attorney.

Contact an Attorney

Contact an attorney as soon as possible. An attorney will immediately head to the scene of the accident to gather evidence. They can also help with getting your bike replaced or repaired and take over settlement negotiations with the driver’s insurance company or the other driver’s attorney. This will take plenty of stress off your shoulders and can allow you to focus on your road to recovery.

Hiring a knowledgeable Irvine bike injury lawyer is the very best way you can prevent an insurance company from taking advantage of you. Many studies have shown the profound effect that hiring a lawyer can have on a personal injury claim, potentially increasing the value of a claim by up to five times what an accident victim would get if they tried to settle a case on their own. Don't allow an insurance adjuster to push you around. Meet with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer and make the wrongful party pay you what you are owed according to California law.

The Claims Process

The first step in a claim is investigating the case. A thorough investigation and accident reconstruction can reveal and prove the cause of your accident. With our knowledge and resources, we’re confident in our ability to help you win the settlement you deserve.

We will gather all the important documents that can help us build a strong case, such as medical documents, statements from eyewitnesses, and the police report. We will also visit the scene of the accident and gather as much evidence as possible.

We will bring in accident reconstruction experts, private investigators, and other experts needed to prove the driver was at fault. If you have been permanently disabled as the result of the accident, we can also meet with economists to accurately calculate the cost of ongoing medical treatment for the foreseeable future.

Building Your Claim

One of the most time-consuming steps in the personal injury claims process is building the claim. Our legal team must wait until after you’ve finished your medical treatment before we can compile all of your medical documents related to the injuries you have suffered.

Negotiating a Settlement

Once you have finished medical treatment for your injuries, your attorney will send out a demand package to the insurance company. Once the insurance company’s claim adjuster receives the demand letter, the negotiations will begin. If we cannot negotiate a fair settlement, the next step is filing a lawsuit. In many cases, the insurance company will back down once they realize you’re serious about taking your case to court. A trial can be very time-consuming and costly.

Litigation

Litigation is the longest step in the claims process and can extend the life of a claim for one to two years. If you decide to file a lawsuit, you may be required to appear before a judge and jury. Fortunately, most insurance companies will settle out of court. However, a good attorney will not waste time with an insurance company that is unwilling to play ball.

Why Do You Need a California Bicycle Accident Attorney?

In most cases, the driver who hits the bicyclist fails to observe the bicyclist before taking the action that led to the accident. Negligence makes the driver liable for any injuries the accident victim sustained.

Every bicycle accident case is different, so determining liability for the accident will depend on the specifics of the case. Determining liability can be a lengthy and complex process. An insurance adjuster will usually attempt to intimidate a victim into accepting a lowball settlement offer. An attorney with experience handling these types of cases can gather all of the evidence needed to make your case and will not back down from insurance companies while fighting liability, and during the negotiations process.

Contact the California Bicycle Accident Lawyers at MVP Accident Attorneys

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident in Irvine, California, contact a bicycle accident lawyer at MVP Accident Attorneys today. Don’t put off seeking legal guidance during this challenging time. Meet with an experienced attorney and discuss your legal options. Every case is unique. Our attorneys have years of experience with bicycle accident claims and can help guide you through this challenging and complex legal process. Contact our office today and schedule a consultation. At MVP Accident Attorneys, we will hold the liable party responsible for your injuries and other damages. We are not afraid to battle with an insurance company, and we will work tirelessly to ensure you are taken care of and receive the compensation you deserve.

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