Hammond, IN Bicycle Accident Lawyer

While many accidents on the road involve cars, other forms of transportation might be involved too. Bicycles are popular methods of transportation and typically ride alongside cars and trucks. Bikes and cars must be careful to avoid each other to prevent serious accidents.

It can be terrifyingly easy to get into a bike accident. Many roads have separate bike lanes that run next to normal traffic lanes. However, some roads, particularly side roads, do not have these lanes, and bikes often must ride in normal traffic. Bike riders may sustain serious injuries and incur expensive medical bills when accidents happen.

If you were riding your bike when a car or truck hit you, our Hammond, IN bicycle accident lawyers can help you get justice. Call Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166 for a free case review to get started.

Does Insurance Cover Bicycle Accidents in Hammond, IN?

Many injured bike riders involved in bicycle accidents are unsure how insurance might apply to their case. The answer to this question depends on your circumstances and how your accident happened. Typically, bicycle accidents involving a vehicle may be covered by auto insurance.

Indiana is an at-fault insurance state, and injured accident victims can file insurance claims against the other person’s insurance company. If you were riding your bike when you were hit by a car, you can file your claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance. You will have to prove to the insurance company that the driver is responsible for the accident before paying you anything. Our Hammond, IN bicycle accident attorneys can help you file your claim and prove the other driver caused your accident.

Suppose the driver in your case was uninsured or underinsured and cannot cover your damages. In that case, you can file a claim with your own insurance if you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage.

Insurance companies often refuse to act fairly and pay what is owed, however. Our team of Hammond, IN bicycle accident attorneys can help you look into other legal options when this happens, potentially filing a lawsuit to claim the compensation you need to cover your damages.

Can I Sue for a Bicycle Accident in Hammond, IN

You can file a personal injury lawsuit for a bicycle accident. Many bike accident victims decide to sue when insurance will not fairly compensate them. Our Hammond, IN bicycle accident lawyers, can help you get your lawsuit started.

Most accident cases are based on negligence. To be successful, you must prove four crucial elements of negligence. First, you must show the defendant owed you a legal duty of care. Second, you must establish that the defendant breached or violated this duty. Third, you need to show that the defendant’s breach of their duty is the direct cause of your injuries. Finally, you have to show you suffered real injuries or harm.

How you prove these elements depends on how your accident happened. For example, a driver that runs a red light breaches their duty to follow traffic laws. Proving causation may involve proving your injuries are consistent with a bicycle accident. Your damages may include your medical bills and pain and suffering from the accident. A skilled lawyer can work to prove the elements required in a potential lawsuit and recover the money you’re owed.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Hammond, IN

Bicycle accidents can happen in several ways. Bike accidents often involve collisions with cars or trucks since bikes and vehicles tend to occupy the same spaces. Call our Hammond, IN bicycle accident lawyers for help if you were in a bike accident.

Driver Inattention

Inattentive drivers are a common source of bike accidents in Hammond, IN. Bicycles are much smaller than cars, and drivers may forget they are even there. When making turns, changing lanes, or simply driving along, drivers sometimes ignore bike riders.

In other cases, driver inattention stems from distracted driving. If the driver is looking at their phone, adjusting the radio, or simply not paying attention, they might hit bike riders. These accidents are often very dangerous for bike riders but less so for drivers.

Dooring Accidents

A dooring accident involves a collision between a bicycle and a parked car. In many dooring accidents, a bike rider rides along in the bike lane when someone in a parked car suddenly opens their door. The bike rider might have no time to avoid the door and crash into it, causing serious injuries.

In other dooring accidents, the bike rider can avoid the door but ends up swerving into traffic where they are hit by another vehicle. These accidents can be avoided if drivers check for bike riders before exiting their vehicles.

Passing Too Closely

Cars and bicycles often share lanes of traffic. Even when there is a bike lane, it often runs right alongside normal traffic lanes. Some bike accidents are caused by drivers passing too closely to bikes. The bike rider ends up getting sideswiped.

When a bike rider is sideswiped by a vehicle, their injuries may be severe. Cars are extremely heavy and might be moving very fast. Being sideswiped could throw a bike rider off their bike and onto the hard pavement. It could even throw them into traffic when other vehicles hit them again.

Stoplights and Stop Signs

Intersections with stop signs and stoplights are common accident zones. Cars and bikes must follow the same rules when passing through intersections. When a bike rider goes through an intersection, cars must yield and wait their turn. Unfortunately, many drivers do not see bike riders as their highway equals and charge through the intersection without waiting.

Damages from Bicycle Accidents in Hammond, IN

Damages from bike accidents may include a number of losses and expenses. Many accident victims have very high medical bills after a bike accident, and they need compensation to cover these damages. Common injuries in bike accidents may include head injuries, brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, lacerations, bruising, and more.

The cost to repair or replace the bike can also be included in your damages calculations, along with any other lost property. Bikes and everyday carry items like cell phones can be expensive, and the cost of damaged property should not be overlooked. These losses are recoverable although they might be a small part of your claim if you’re seriously injured.

Less tangible damages include your pain and suffering, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life that may result from the accident. Injuries are painful, and they often leave physical and emotional scars. The fact that you have had to endure such pain is a substantial part of your damages and should be compensated with monetary payment. Having a skilled attorney to document and prove these losses in a way that is compelling to insurance adjusters and a jury can be critical to your ability to recover what is owed to you. Our Hammond, IN bicycle accident attorneys are very experienced in proving these damages. In serious cases, we often bring in a professional documentary crew to interview family and friends while producing a television level documentary to help demonstrate the impact on your life.

Call Our Hammond, IN Bicycle Accident Lawyers for Assistance

If you were recently in a bike accident, talk to our Hammond, IN bicycle accident attorneys about how to get compensation for your injuries. Call our team at Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166 for a free initial case evaluation.