Cycling is a great way to get around in beautiful New Port Richey, but sometimes, it can be dangerous. When a bicycle collides with a larger vehicle, the cyclist can suffer serious injuries. Many times, these accidents could have been prevented if the at-fault motorists had only exercised proper care.
If you suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation to offset some of the effects of the accident. To learn more about your options, it is wise to contact an experienced New Port Richey bicycle accident lawyer. A dedicated personal injury attorney could evaluate your case and help you fight to obtain a fair recovery.
Recoverable Damages After a Cycling Accident
Those injured by the negligence or deliberate wrongdoing of another may be able to receive compensation to make up for a number of different consequences. These include doctor and hospital bills, future medical needs, wages lost due to time missed from work, and anticipated loss of earning capacity in the future.
In addition, an injured bicyclist may be eligible to receive compensation for intangible harm suffered. Amounts may be provided to make up for pain, emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment of activities, and inconvenience. In cases where someone suffers due to egregious wrongdoing, a court may also award punitive damages to deter similar conduct.
Based on their knowledge of similar cases in the local courts, a New Port Richey bike accident attorney could help ascertain the value of a particular case. A lawyer could then evaluate settlement offers in pursuit of fair compensation.
The Statute of Limitations
State law limits the amount of time an injured bicyclist has to file a claim for compensation after an accident. In most cases, the claim must be filed within four years of the accident under Fla. Stat. §95.11(3). Failure to abide by this deadline can prevent any chance of recovery.
Even if the statutory time limit seems far in the future, it is still advisable to begin working with a New Port Richey bike accident lawyer sooner rather than later. First, an attorney could serve as an advocate, answering questions from insurance companies, investigators, and other attorneys. This enables the accident victim to focus on healing and prevents the victim from inadvertently saying something that could jeopardize recovery.
Second, an attorney could begin right away to collect and preserve valuable evidence to prove liability. The availability and reliability of evidence decreases as time passes, so prompt action can make a tremendous difference in a case.
Comparative Fault Rule
Many times, a combination of several factors causes an accident. If the bicyclist’s own conduct contributes to the collision, the bicyclist may still be able to recover damages. However, the amount recovered may be reduced by their amount of fault.
Fla. Stat. §768.81 specifies that contributory fault of the person filing the claim will not prevent recovery but will reduce it by a proportionate amount. For example, if a bicyclist was found to be 20 percent responsible for the accident, the amount received as compensation would be decreased by 20 percent.
Work with a Dedicated New Port Richey Bicycle Accident Attorney
Working with a New Port Richey bicycle accident lawyer could enable you to set aside your legal and financial concerns. Your attorney could answer questions on your behalf so that you can put your energy toward healing and moving forward. For a free consultation to learn how a bike crash attorney could help in your situation, call now.