Because of its mild weather, minimal traffic, and rolling hills, Walterboro is perfect for riding a bicycle. Despite this, local cyclists get seriously injured in accidents involving motor vehicles. Tragically, some collisions are fatal. However, if another driver is responsible for causing a wreck, a local attorney could help you hold them accountable.
Contact a Walterboro bicycle accident lawyer at Whetstone Perkins & Fuld if you or your loved one sustained an injury in a bike crash. Our dedicated injury representatives could help you collect compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and the impact on your quality of life.
Common Injuries in Bicycle Crashes
Collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles often result in severe harm. In the least severe cases, you will likely sustain road rash from forcefully hitting the pavement. Likewise, even minor cycling crashes cause soft-tissue injuries to the neck, shoulders, wrists, and ankles.
However, more significant injuries could occur if you flip over the handlebars, get dragged along the pavement, or are crushed by a vehicle. This harm includes skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. Although wearing a helmet could significantly reduce the chance of sustaining skull and facial injuries, the law does not require this safety gear. A knowledgeable bike crash lawyer in Walterboro recommends always wearing a helmet to reduce the possibility of life-altering head injuries.
Recoverable Compensation in Cycling Accident Cases
The law holds at-fault parties responsible for the harm they cause others. This responsibility includes paying for any losses, or damages, an injured person experienced in a crash.
Compensatory damages pay for losses with a fixed value, such as lost income, medical costs, property damage, and the price of hiring someone to do the household tasks the injured person could not do while recovering. In addition, damages will cover those costs if an injury requires ongoing medical treatment or prevents cyclists from returning to work. These damages also pay for the injury’s impact on the biker’s quality of life, providing payments for their pain, emotional suffering, disability, disfigurement, and diminished quality of life.
Calculating damages can be tricky, and an injured cyclist who lacks legal representation could fail to claim everything they are entitled to recover. But a tenacious lawyer could help a cyclist document their expenses and the changes in their lifestyle since the accident, ensuring they claim the maximum allowable compensation.
Establishing Negligence in a Bike Collision Case
In most cases, a motorist is at-fault for a bicycle accident. For example, motorists in Walterboro might pass too close to cyclists, fail to yield the right-of-way, or swerve into bike lanes. Likewise, drivers might speed, text, or drive while intoxicated, causing horrific injuries and losses to bikers.
A manufacturer might be liable for a biker’s damages in other cases. For instance, a manufacturer could be legally responsible if a bike malfunctioned or a mechanical failure caused a crash. Similarly, if poor road conditions cause an accident, a local government might bear responsibility for a cyclist’s losses.
Unfortunately, bikers do not always follow the rules, making some collisions a rider’s fault. Pursuant to South Carolina Code §15-38-10, negligent cyclists can claim damages if they were not primarily at fault for a wreck. However, a court will discount a careless cyclist’s recovery by their percentage of fault. A knowledgeable attorney could work to collect evidence that proves a cyclist did not contribute to a collision.
Pursue Damages After a Cycling Accident with a Walterboro Attorney
Bicycling is a fantastic pastime that can help you stay in great shape. However, if you sustain severe injuries in a crash, it could be months before you can get back on your bike. In some cases, you might never be able to ride again.
Fortunately, you could hold the negligent parties who caused your injuries accountable with the help of a Walterboro bicycle accident lawyer. Call us today to schedule a case review with our diligent attorneys.
