Austin Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Have you or a loved one been injured in a cycling accident in Austin? If this has happened to you, the personal injury team at Gibson Hill Personal Injury can help you get the full and fair compensation the responsible party owes you. Cycling accidents can have severe consequences, especially when riders are struck by cars and trucks. Drivers are responsible for navigating with caution, but they often fail to prioritize safety.
When drivers are negligent in their duty to drive safely or otherwise ignore the rules of the road, they can be held liable for the accidents and injuries they cause. This is especially important in accidents where cyclists are victimized because they are incredibly vulnerable and rely on the caution of others.
At Gibson Hill Personal Injury, we are committed to holding negligent drivers responsible for their actions. Distracted driving and other bad habits behind the wheel are reaching epidemic levels. We want to help keep our roads in Texas as safe as possible. Our team can help you recover financial compensation if you have been injured by a negligent driver while cycling. To schedule a free consultation with a Texas bicycle accident attorney, call (737) 249-6300 or reach out to use online.
Do I Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
When a bicyclist is struck by a car or truck, the result can be catastrophic. Cyclists are inherently vulnerable since they have minimal safety equipment that can prepare a rider for a collision with a vehicle other than a helmet. These accidents can be incredibly dangerous and sometimes deadly. They can also be frustrating because the accidents are often caused by driver negligence. With the increase in cell-phone use and other distractions behind the wheel, cycling accidents involving vehicles are on the rise. Retaining a personal injury attorney can ensure that your rights are protected, and the irresponsible driver who caused your injuries is held responsible.
If you have been injured in an accident with a vehicle while riding your bike, you may be dealing with severe injuries. On top of that, accidents of this kind can be emotionally traumatic and financially draining. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you should never have to worry about paying your medical bills or otherwise make ends meet. The likelihood of recovering a fair resolution of your claim is much better when you have a qualified legal professional representing your interests.
An experienced bike accident lawyer can gather evidence, handle negotiations with insurance companies and defense attorneys, and take care of any other legal logistics, including a court trial, if necessary. Partnering with an experienced lawyer can enable you to recover your health in peace while they build a strong case on your behalf.
Why Choose Gibson Hill Personal Injury to Handle My Case?
At Gibson Hill Personal Injury, we are committed to protecting the rights of the Houston-area community. We realize that bikes are a vital form of transportation, recreation, and fitness in many people’s lives here in Austin. We want to help make sure that everyone is safe when they set out on their bike ride in our state. This means that negligent or reckless drivers must be held responsible when they cause accidents. Our team can uphold your rights with compassion and care.
At Gibson Hill Personal Injury, our priority is forcefully advocating for our clients, whatever that takes. We will thoroughly prepare a solid case and will take it to trial in to secure the full and fair compensation you deserve if an appropriate settlement isn’t reachable. With that in mind, we won’t take the first settlement offer that comes our way. We are here to do justice for you and your loved ones. The motorist who caused your injuries won’t be facing the legal battle alone, so neither should you.
Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle
Accidents happen and are sometimes simply the result of bad luck. However, the majority of accidents involving cyclists and vehicles are the result of negligent or reckless driving. Drivers often do not show cyclists the respect they deserve and are unwilling to share the road or navigate safely. When drivers act this way, they can cause devastating accidents and injuries. Some of the most common causes of accidents between cyclists and vehicles that we have handled include:
- Speeding
- Drivers following too closely to cyclists
- Refusal to provide enough space between vehicles and cyclists
- Dooring accidents (when a driver opens a car door into a bike lane and strikes a cyclist)
- Sideswipe accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Distracted driving
- Intoxicated driving
- Unsafe turning
Road hazards can also be the cause of bicycle accidents. Private property owners, governmental agencies, and other entities responsible for the upkeep of roads must either warn drivers and cyclists of road defects or act quickly to resolve these issues.
What Compensation Could I Recover?
If you have been injured while cycling, you may be entitled to compensation. Unsafe drivers can cause enormous physical, mental, and emotional damage. Their actions can also cause financial stress if you have received expensive medical care after your accident. Worrying about how to pay your bills, medical or otherwise, should never be a concern when you are an innocent victim in a bicycle accident. Potential money damages in a personal injury claim include the following:
- Medical bills (current or future)
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Bike repairs or replacement
- Rehabilitation costs
- Mental anguish
Wrongful Death and Bike Accidents in Austin
Unfortunately, many accidents involving cyclists and vehicles can lead to fatalities. This is due to the virtually unprotected exposure of cyclists in a collision with a vehicle. If you are put in the tragic position of considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a deceased loved one, an attorney can help you understand your rights and file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost earning capacity of the deceased
- Lost value of household services
- Loss of comfort and love
- Loss of companionship
- Mental and emotional pain experienced by surviving loved ones
- Lost inheritance
Punitive Damages
In Texas, under certain circumstances, you may be able to pursue punitive damages in a bicycle accident in addition to compensatory damages.
Punitive damages awarded in court are intended to punish drivers who have been grossly negligent or acted with malice. They also serve as a warning to others not to repeat the same wrongdoing. These damages are subject to a strict statutory regime in Texas, however.
Gibson Hill Personal Injury can advise you as to whether your case potentially meets the stringent legal requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bike Accidents in Austin
The aftermath of a cycling accident can be chaotic and disorienting. While you are focusing on recovering from your injuries, you and your loved ones may have questions concerning your claim for personal injury damages. We realize that you have concerns when you’re looking for legal counsel, which is why we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions. Feel free to contact us at (737) 249-6300 to discuss your case in more detail.
In Texas, you can file a personal injury lawsuit any time within two years of your injury date. Exceptions include when the victim is a minor or if they are in an unsound mental state. An additional exception applies when the driver who is allegedly liable for your injuries leaves the state. The period of their absence from Texas does not count towards the two- year time limit. Time passes quickly, so waiting until the last minute to retain legal counsel is inadvisable. Reaching out to a lawyer as soon as possible will jump-start in the accident investigation process while evidence is still fresh.
If you are tasked with the difficult decision to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, you have two years from the passing of your loved one to file your case. This can be an incredibly traumatic period for your family. Retaining an attorney can ensure that all deadlines for your case are properly met and, again, will allow your lawyer to gather the necessary evidence, which can be quite extensive and highly technical.
To prove that a driver is liable for your injuries, your lawyer must show that they were negligent. In order to win a case based on negligence, four elements must be proven: duty, breach, causation, and injury.
This essentially means that your lawyer must prove that the driver who caused your injury should have abided by reasonable safety standards, failed to do so, caused an accident, and your injuries were a result of that accident. Proving all four of these elements can be challenging; that is why it is crucial to consult an attorney as soon as possible after a bicycle accident.
Contact an Austin Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been injured while cycling, you are not alone. Bicycle accidents can create many challenges for victims; financial hardship should not be one of them. Our team at Gibson Hill Personal Injury can build a sound case on your behalf and seek to recover the compensation to which you and your loved ones are entitled. To retain the services of an Austin bicycle accident attorney, call us today at (737) 249-6300 or reach out to use online to schedule a free consultation with us right away.