Lakewood Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Bicycles are popular throughout Colorado. When the weather permits, cycling is a healthy and enjoyable activity, and some people in the Lakewood area use their bicycles for everyday local transportation. However, whatever your reasons for cycling, it’s vital to recognize the risks you face every time you ride near motor vehicles. While most drivers yield the right of way to cyclists when necessary and respect the bicyclists they encounter on the roads, others do not, and their negligence can cause devastating accidents.
Legal Counsel for Victims of Bicycle Accidents in Lakewood, CO
Bicycle accidents can easily cause life-changing injuries, resulting in extensive economic damage. Victims and their families may struggle to manage the aftermath of a serious bicycle accident, and it can be very difficult for anyone in this situation to accurately assess the total impact of the incident. An experienced Lakewood bicycle accident attorney is the ideal resource in this situation. A good lawyer can help their client determine whether any other party bears liability for their damages and then help their client hold that party accountable.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal has cultivated a strong reputation as a leading choice for personal injury representation in Lakewood, CO. Our team focuses on each client’s needs and concerns, developing individualized legal strategies for all the cases we accept. If you or a loved one is struggling with painful injuries someone else caused in a bicycle accident, we can help you hold them accountable for your damages.
Benefits of Legal Counsel for Your Bicycle Accident Case
It’s understandable to be hesitant about the potential cost of hiring a lawyer for any personal injury claim, but it’s crucial to understand the value the right attorney can offer for your case. Filing any civil claim in Colorado requires meeting very strict court filing deadlines. All your case paperwork must be complete, accurate, and filed through the appropriate court channels. Any civil claim can take several possible directions, and a Lakewood bicycle accident attorney will help their client understand the unique variables at play in their case.
When it comes to the cost of legal counsel, the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal offers clients contingency fee billing in their personal injury cases. Instead of charging by the hour, the attorney takes a predetermined percentage of the final case award as their fee, but only if they win the case. Under a contingency fee agreement, the client pays nothing if the attorney fails to secure a settlement or case award on their behalf.
Ultimately, hiring the right attorney significantly increases your chances of success with your claim and is likely to yield far more compensation than you could have obtained on your own. Experienced injury attorneys in Lakewood, CO, can identify all compensation channels available to their clients. Many personal injury plaintiffs are unaware they can claim anticipated future damages like ongoing medical treatment costs and lost earning potential in their claims. When you have reliable legal counsel advising you throughout your case, you will most likely reach a favorable outcome as efficiently as possible.
What to Expect From a Lakewood Bicycle Accident Attorney
When you have an experienced Lakewood bicycle accident lawyer handling your case, they can manage case proceedings on your behalf and provide updates while you rest and recover. In addition, your legal team can answer any questions or address any concerns during your case and help you make more informed decisions about specific details.
Your attorney will ensure your claim meets all court filing deadlines and that all materials submitted to the court pertinent to your case are complete and accurate. A bicycle accident claim is a form of personal injury claim, and the vast majority of personal injury cases filed in Colorado end in settlement negotiations. Your legal team will guide you through the settlement negotiation process, but if you cannot settle your case for any reason, the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal can represent you in court.
As far as compensation is concerned, an experienced attorney can help you determine the full range of economic damages you can include in your claim. You also have the right to seek compensation for your pain and suffering. Colorado state law dictates how much a plaintiff may seek in non-economic damages, but a compelling case may yield room for exceptions. A Lakewood bicycle accident lawyer will help their client determine a fair amount of non-economic damages to seek based on the severity of their experience and the long-term complications they face. The sooner you connect with an experienced Lakewood bicycle accident attorney, the more likely it is that you will succeed with your case.
Common Causes of a Bicycle Accident Claim in Lakewood, CO
Bicyclists have many of the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers in Colorado. This means that most cyclists have the legal right to occupy space in moving traffic and take a lane as needed. In addition, while bicyclists should use bike lanes wherever they are available, they are permitted to use most roads and streets, and drivers must use reasonable care around cyclists and yield the right of way when necessary.
While bicycle accidents can happen for a large number of unpredictable reasons, a few commonly cited causes tend to generate personal injury claims:
- Distracted driving can easily result in a devastating bicycle accident. However, an experienced Lakewood bicycle accident lawyer can assist their client in proving an at-fault driver was distracted behind the wheel.
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is dangerous and illegal. Any driver who hits a bicyclist while under the influence will likely cause tremendous injury to the victim and will face criminal prosecution for violating Colorado’s DUI laws.
- Speeding is dangerous for any driver, but it is especially precarious in residential, suburban, and metropolitan areas where bicyclists are most likely to ride. Accidents at high speeds often result in catastrophic injuries, especially when victims are riding bicycles that offer no physical protection from crashes.
- Reckless driving around cyclists can easily result in serious accidents. In addition, drivers can face criminal charges for reckless driving depending on the nature and severity of their actions that led to the accident.
No matter how your bicycle accident occurred, an experienced Lakewood bicycle accident lawyer can help you gather evidence to prove fault and establish the full scope of the damages you suffered.
Damages and Compensation for Victims of Bicycle Accident Injuries
Colorado’s personal injury laws allow plaintiffs to seek full recovery from all economic damages sustained due to the actions of the defendants named in their civil suits. The economic damages most commonly sought in bicycle accident claims include the victim’s medical treatment costs, property damage, and lost income if they cannot work due to their injuries. Plaintiffs can not only claim compensation for the damages suffered immediately after their bicycle accidents but also for the anticipated future losses likely from their accidents. For example, a plaintiff can seek compensation for immediate medical treatment costs for healing their injury and ongoing treatment costs to manage their symptoms in recovery.
When it comes to non-economic damages for pain and suffering, Colorado typically limits the amount the plaintiff can seek to $250,000 unless there is clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s fault, in which case the cap increases to $500,000. However, judges overseeing catastrophic injury claims resulting from bicycle accidents have the discretion to award more substantial compensation as they deem appropriate.
FAQs
Q: Can a Bicyclist Face Liability for a Bicycle Accident in Lakewood?
A: If a bicyclist contributes to causing their accident, Colorado’s modified comparative negligence law comes into play. The bicyclist would receive a fault percentage based on their level of contribution to causing the incident in question, and they would lose this percentage of their case award to reflect their shared liability.
Q: What Happens If a Driver Fails to Report a Bicycle Accident They Caused?
A: A hit-and-run driver faces serious criminal penalties if they cause a bicycle accident and flee the scene. The penalties for hit-and-run increase significantly if the driver injures someone else. Accidents involving vehicles hitting bicycles almost always result in severe injuries to bicyclists. The police can help the victim of a hit-and-run bicycle accident locate the at-fault driver.
Q: What Is the Most Common Injury From a Bicycle Accident?
A: Traumatic brain injuries are the most commonly reported injuries from bicycle accidents throughout the United States. Broken bones, spinal injuries, internal organ damage, facial injuries, and soft tissue ruptures are also common in bicycle accidents. Even the highest-quality safety equipment can only reduce the impact of injuries, not prevent them entirely.
Q: Is It Worth Hiring a Lakewood Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
A: The right attorney can tremendously impact the quality of your experience with your bicycle accident claim. They can manage your case proceedings while you recover, guide you through the settlement negotiation process, and defend you in court if necessary. They can also maximize your case award by revealing avenues of compensation you would have overlooked on your own.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal can answer your most pressing legal questions and assist you in obtaining the compensation you need to recover from your bicycle accident. To speak with a Lakewood bicycle accident lawyer about your case, contact us today and schedule a case review with our team.