When a cyclist is involved in a road accident, the resulting injuries are often severe. This is because, at best, most cyclists have no protection in the event of a crash beyond a helmet. The resulting medical bills from a bicycle accident can be substantial. Recovering compensation from the liable party can be essential to cover your costs.
At Pacific West Injury Law, we have the experience necessary to give our clients the best chance at recovering fair compensation after a crash. Our team of Sunrise Manor bicycle accident attorneys has a long track record of getting significant payouts for our clients. During our initial free case review, we can answer any questions you may have.
Evaluating Fault After a Bicycle Accident
The first action that must be taken before you can recover compensation for your damages is to determine who is at fault for the crash. If you are lucky, fault will be easy to determine. However, in many cases evaluating who is liable for a bicycle accident can prove quite complicated. Fortunately, an experienced bicycle accident attorney should be able to sort things out.
What Are the Steps of a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit?
There are many steps you must go through before you can recover compensation after a bicycle accident. After hiring a Sunrise Manor bicycle accident lawyer, they will immediately get to work on your case to make the process as quick as possible.
One of the first actions they will take will be to investigate your crash to determine liability and gather evidence to support your claim.
After completing their investigation, your attorney will review all the damages you suffered and evaluate how much your claim is worth. They will then draw up all the required paperwork and file your lawsuit with the court. After the other party is notified of your legal action against them, the pretrial process will begin. Steps in the pretrial process include:
- Discovery
- Depositions
- Mediation
Discovery
During discovery, the two sides gather all the evidence they have collected on the case and share it for the other party to review. Discovery is a critical step toward ensuring a fair trial. With the ability to review all the evidence that may be presented in court, lawyers from both sides can build the strongest cases on behalf of their clients.
Depositions
At the end of discovery, depositions are given. Depositions are testimonies from witnesses and experts outside the courtroom before a trial. Depositions are given in the presence of a court stenographer who will record the proceedings.
During a deposition, both parties will have the opportunity to question the deponent. Testimony recorded during a deposition may be used at trial.
Mediation
Mediation is the final step in the pretrial process. During mediation, the two parties will meet to make a final attempt at resolving their dispute without a trial. This meeting will take place at a neutral site, and the negotiations will be presided over by an impartial third party. If mediation is successful, the two sides will reach a settlement deal and avoid a courtroom battle.
Mediation is not the first attempt that will be made to settle your case. From the time you hire an attorney, they will be in communication with opposing counsel, attempting to reach a fair settlement agreement and avoid a trial. If a deal can not be reached by the end of mediation, your attorney will represent you in court, where they will fight to get you the money you deserve.
Bike Accident Lawyers Get Paid for Results
People are often wary of hiring a lawyer because they don’t think they will be able to afford their fees. This fear can be a valid one when it comes to many types of attorneys who charge high hourly rates. However, this concern doesn’t apply to bicycle accident lawyers because you will never pay them a single cent out of your own pocket.
Our Sunrise Manor bicycle accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means that they only charge a fee if you recover compensation. If you do receive a payout, your lawyer will collect a single fee for their services, which will be paid directly from the money you receive at a fixed percentage. If you don’t get paid, neither does your attorney.
Damages You May Be Able to Claim After a Bicycle Accident
After suffering a serious injury in a bicycle accident, you will likely be able to recover a wide variety of damages. All recoverable damages fall into one of three categories.
Economic Damages
Any monetary losses you suffer are considered economic damages. Common economic damages include:
- Lost income
- Lost earning ability
- Property damage
- Modifications to your home or vehicle needed for accommodating a disability
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
Non-Economic Damages
Any other losses you face after a bicycle accident are considered non-economic damages. Common non-economic damages include:
- Diminished quality of life
- Permanent disability
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring and other disfigurements
Punitive Damages
The final category of damages is far different from the others. Unlike the compensatory damages listed above, punitive damages are not awarded as a means of replacing losses suffered by the accident victim.
Instead, punitive damages are awarded as a means of punishing the liable party. Punitive damages are only awarded in extreme cases where the actions of the at-fault party are deemed to have been criminally negligent.
File Your Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Before Time Runs Out
Under Nevada law, bicycle accident victims have two years from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit against the liable party. If you fail to file before time runs out, you could find that your options for recovering compensation have disappeared.
However, you also need to realize that there are several exceptions to the statute of limitations for filing a bicycle accident lawsuit. If special circumstances apply to your case, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit even after the two years have passed. Alternatively, you could find yourself in a position where you have far less than two years to file.
The best way to ensure that you meet all deadlines and protect your right to recover compensation is by hiring a person a personal injury lawyer soon after your accident.
Speak With a Sunrise Manor Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
At Pacific West Injury Law, we believe that all accident victims should have access to experienced legal representation. Our team of bicycle accident lawyers in Sunrise Manor has helped countless accident victims recover the compensation they need after a crash. Give us a call or use our online contact form today to schedule a free case review.
