Except for their helmets and other protective gear, bicyclists have very little protection. If a negligent driver strikes a cyclist, the cyclist may suffer serious and sometimes permanent injuries.
If you recently sustained injuries in a bicycle accident, you need experienced and compassionate legal help to guide you through the insurance and litigation processes. The knowledgeable San Antonio bicycle accident attorneys at DJC Law understand the pain, suffering, and inconvenience frequently accompanying bicycle accident injuries.
Our experienced legal team can handle the legal components of your case while you focus your attention on making a full recovery. In addition to handling settlement negotiations with insurance company representatives, we can represent you in court at various litigation proceedings and pursue the most compensation available to you in your case.
For your free case evaluation and legal consultation with our trusted San Antonio bicycle accident attorneys, please contact our office to learn more.
Why Choose Us to Represent You?
After suffering injuries in a bicycle accident resulting from a motor vehicle driver's negligence, you want the best possible legal team handling your case, representing you during settlement negotiations, and advocating for you in court.
When seeking thoughtful, experienced, and aggressive legal representation, you should look no further than the San Antonio bicycle accident attorneys at DJC Law.
Our team is fully aware of the tricks and tactics that insurance companies routinely use to try and undervalue bicycle accident claims and lawsuits. We aggressively fight for our clients' legal rights when negotiating with insurance company representatives – and when litigating cases in court. We can also help you retain qualified and well-respected experts to testify in your case.
Let us help you pursue and recover the monetary damages you need for your accident-related losses.
How Much Money Is My San Antonio Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
The monetary value of a San Antonio bicycle accident case depends on the nature and extent of your bicycle accident injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, and the likelihood that you will experience pain and other symptoms moving forward.
Since every bicycle accident case differs, some accident victims may recover different monetary compensation than others. Our legal team can develop realistic expectations for your case and give you an idea of the monetary damages you may recover in your case.
To be eligible for monetary compensation following a bicycle accident, bicycle accident victims must fully satisfy their legal burden of proof.
First, they must show that a driver behaved unreasonably under the circumstances. In many situations, this means the driver violated one or more traffic laws. In addition, a bicycle accident victim must show that the other driver's violation resulted in the bicycle accident and their physical injuries.
To establish these legal elements, our team can help you retain one or more experts to testify in your case. Common experts may include accident reconstructionists who can visit the accident scene, review police reports, talk to witnesses, and draft a report about how the accident happened and who caused it.
We can also help you retain a medical expert to establish the causal relationship between the bicycle accident and the injuries you suffered.
Bicycle accident victims who prove these legal elements may recover monetary damages.
First, they can recover monetary compensation for their related medical expenses, including the costs associated with doctor visits, physical therapy appointments, appointments with medical specialists, and medical procedures, including surgical procedures.
Moreover, if the accident victim suffered a permanent injury that requires ongoing medical treatment, they can recover those anticipated medical costs as part of their settlement, binding arbitration award, or jury verdict.
Similarly, if the bicycle accident victim had to miss time from work after their accident, they can pursue lost income compensation. If they suffer a permanent injury that requires that they switch jobs and subsequently take a pay cut, they can recover their loss of earning capacity.
In addition to these out-of-pocket expenses, bicycle accident victims may receive compensation for their intangible losses.
These non-economic damages may compensate accident victims for all their mental anguish and distress, loss of the ability to use a body part, loss of life enjoyment, loss of spousal consortium and companionship, lifetime care costs, inconvenience, past and future pain and suffering, and long-term disability or disfigurement.
Our team will work to maximize the total monetary damages you recover in your case to make you whole again after your bicycle accident.
Where Do Bicycle Accidents Occur in San Antonio?
In San Antonio, bicycle accidents are, unfortunately, all-too-common.
In recent years, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported a total of 2,426 bicycle crashes at various locations throughout the state, 617 of them fatal.
Common locations for bicycle accidents in San Antonio include:
- Downtown San Antonio
- Designated bicycle lanes, especially those that are next to a busy road
- Parking lots
- Parking garages
- Residential areas located throughout the region
You have legal options if you sustained injuries in a bicycle crash in one of these locations.
The experienced San Antonio bicycle accident lawyers at DJC Law can explore all of your legal options and chart a successful course of action for your case. We can handle all written and oral communications with insurance company representatives on your behalf and, if necessary, file a lawsuit in the Texas court system and litigate your case to a favorable resolution.
Types of San Antonio Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents in the San Antonio region typically happen when drivers are careless or reckless. Traffic law violations are among the most common causes of San Antonio bicycle accidents.
When drivers violate one or more traffic laws, they significantly increase their chances of causing a collision with a bicycle or some other vehicle.
Common road-rule violations that lead to bicycle accidents include:
- Speeding, especially in areas with high bicycle traffic
- Failing to yield the right-of-way to bicyclists at the proper times
- Failing to use turn signals when appropriate to do so
- Failing to use side view mirrors, rearview mirrors, and backup cameras, especially in parking lots and garages where bicyclists might be present.
In addition to these traffic violations, bicycle accidents may happen when drivers are reckless. This type of driving often stems from road rage. Many drivers become frustrated with bicycles because they are relatively slow-moving vehicles. Therefore, drivers will honk horns, tailgate bicyclists, cut off bicyclists in traffic, and engage in other overly aggressive driving maneuvers.
When drivers speed and act aggressively around cyclists, they may strike the bicycle, dislodging the cyclist from their seat and onto the ground.
Bicycle accidents also frequently happen when people drive distracted or inattentively. Since bicycles are very small vehicles that are relatively low to the ground, drivers may miss seeing them if they are not paying close attention to the road.
With the plethora of electronic devices in motor vehicles, it is very easy for drivers to lose focus. In some cases, GPS navigation systems or smartphones may distract drivers. Non-electronic reasons, including daydreaming, may distract drivers. When a driver takes their eyes or mind off the road, even if only for a few seconds, they may fail to see a bicyclist, bringing about a serious crash.
Finally, some bicycle accidents occur when drivers are illegally under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In most scenarios, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 percent are legally intoxicated. These drivers frequently experience physical and mental symptoms affecting their ability to drive safely.
Intoxicated drivers frequently experience dizziness and blurred vision. As a result, they may not see an approaching bicycle or may not accurately judge the distance between their own vehicle and the bicycle. In addition, intoxicated drivers may experience impaired mental concentration, delayed reflexes, and delayed reaction time. As a result, they may not stop their vehicle in time to avoid an accident with a bicyclist.
When drivers are distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent, they may cause several different types of bicycle accidents.
Those accidents may include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Broadside or T-bone accidents
- Sideswipe accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Head-on collisions
If you suffered injuries in one of these bicycle accidents due to another driver’s negligence, you should immediately contact the experienced San Antonio bicycle accident attorneys at DJC Law. We can explore all your legal options and help you file the appropriate claim or lawsuit to get you the compensation you deserve.
Bicycle Accident Injuries in San Antonio
Victims of bicycle accidents in San Antonio may stand to suffer very serious injuries. If bicyclists fall on the ground with significant force, they may suffer traumatic head and brain injuries, bone fractures, and other serious complications.
Other common injuries that cyclists frequently suffer in accidents can also include:
- Road rash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Mouth, teeth, and jaw injuries
- Rib fractures
- Complete and incomplete spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Death
If you suffered one or more of these injuries in a San Antonio bicycle accident, we can handle the legal aspects of your case while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Fighting the Insurance Company Following a Bicycle Accident in San Antonio
Following a bicycle accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is never on your side. In fact, insurance companies and their adjusters will go to great lengths to save themselves money. After all, the insurance company does not make money when it must pay out significant settlement or litigation compensation to a bicycle accident victim.
Our experienced legal team can fight the insurance company on your behalf and negotiate aggressively with adjusters. We can also retain a skilled medical expert to testify in your case. If the insurance company refuses to make you a fair settlement offer, we can threaten them with litigation and take your case to a civil jury trial or binding arbitration proceeding.
What to Do After a San Antonio Bicycle Accident
Following your San Antonio bicycle accident, you should take a few important steps.
First, concentrate on completing your medical treatment regimen, ensuring you fully recover from your injuries. Attend all prescribed medical visits and never discharge yourself prematurely from treatment. Otherwise, the insurance company may question the severity of your injuries.
You should also retain all pertinent documents in your case, including copies of police investigation reports, witness contact information, witness statements, photographs of your visible injuries, accident scene photographs, camera footage, and photographs of any property damage.
Once you forward those documents to us, we can assemble them into a settlement demand package and present that package to the insurance company for review.
Speak With Our San Antonio Bicycle Accident Lawyers Today
After a bike crash, you might watch your bills pile up due to medical care and lost income. You may not know where to turn or what to do.
When you hire our firm, you can focus on your medical recovery and leave the legal process to our bike accident attorneys.
Never worry about having funds to pay us upfront for our legal services, as we work on a contingency fee-basis. We will evaluate your rights for free and never charge fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your losses.
The experienced legal team at DJC Law can pursue and recover the maximum monetary damages you deserve for your bicycle accident injuries. For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a personal injury law firm in San Antonio, please call us at (210) 220-2222 or contact us online. We are ready to help you.
DJC Law – San Antonio
2374 E. Southcross Blvd,
San Antonio, TX 78223
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a bicycle accident claim in San Antonio?
To start a bicycle accident claim in San Antonio, document the accident scene, seek medical attention for any injuries, and contact a bicycle accident attorney to help you navigate the legal process and file your claim.
What are some common bicycle accident injuries?
Common bicycle accident injuries include cuts and bruises, fractures, head injuries, and sometimes severe injuries like spinal damage. It’s crucial to get a thorough medical evaluation after a bicycle accident to document all potential injuries for your claim.
How can a bicycle accident attorney help me with my case?
A bicycle accident attorney can provide legal advice, represent you in negotiations with insurance companies, and help you file a personal injury lawsuit if necessary to ensure you receive adequate compensation for your injuries and damages.
What should I expect during a personal injury lawsuit for a bicycle accident?
During a personal injury lawsuit for a bicycle accident, expect a process involving evidence collection, witness testimonies, and possibly a trial. Your bicycle accident attorney will handle the legal proceedings while you focus on recovery.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in San Antonio?
Typically, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a bicycle accident claim in San Antonio. Consulting with a bicycle accident attorney early can help ensure that you meet all legal deadlines.
What types of compensation can I recover in bicycle accident cases?
In bicycle accident cases, compensation might include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and compensation for any severe injuries that have long-term effects. Your bicycle accident attorney will aim to secure the maximum compensation possible.
How do severe injuries impact a bicycle accident claim?
Severe injuries significantly impact a bicycle accident claim by increasing the potential compensation due to higher medical costs, potential long-term care needs, and greater impact on the victim's quality of life. Your attorney will work to prove the extent of these injuries in court.
What are the challenges in proving fault in bicycle accident cases?
Proving fault in bicycle accident cases involves showing that another party acted negligently or recklessly. Challenges include gathering sufficient evidence, such as eyewitness accounts and traffic camera footage, which a skilled bicycle accident attorney can assist with.