The Lathrop personal injury lawyers at Maison Law are ready to represent bicyclists injured in an accident while riding in the Lathrop community. If you or a loved one has recently suffered harm because of an incident involving a vehicle, motor vehicle, road hazard, or other safety issue, reach out to the Lathrop bicycle accident lawyers at Maison Law for a free consultation and case evaluation to understand your rights as the victim of a bike accident caused by another person’s negligence.
Do I Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
It is vital for all personal injury victims, including those involved in a Lathrop bicycle accident, to understand that you are not legally required to hire legal representation when you choose to pursue legal action, such as a bike accident lawsuit. You have the right to handle the matter on your own. However, you are required to follow the same detailed and stringent process to prepare and file the case with the court. If your injuries are minor, you may even consider approaching the insurance company representing the liable party and settling the matter before it reaches a point that involves the court.
However, if you have sustained serious injuries in a Lathrop bicycle accident, you could quickly learn that your time is best invested focusing on your therapy, healing, or rehabilitation to ensure you make a full and fast recovery. In that case, know that the legal team at Maison Law is ready to handle your case, and it will be in the hands of an experienced Lathrop bicycle accident lawyer to resolve as swiftly as possible. In addition, it should make you very happy to learn that bike accident cases in Lathrop handled by a lawyer are more likely to be resolved with a larger settlement or compensation award than similar cases litigated by the injury victim. Contact Maison Law today so you can focus on healing and regaining your normal daily routine and life. At the same time, our staff secures the compensation owed to you for the harm you suffered in the Lathrop bicycle accident.
Request Your Free Consultation
At Maison Law, we want to ensure that all Lathrop bicycle accident victims understand how the legal system was created to help protect them when they suffer harm because of someone else’s negligence. Our goal is to provide you and all victims with that valuable information at a free consultation with a Lathrop bicycle accident lawyer who will provide a complete case evaluation and answer all your questions. You also should know that this meeting creates no obligation or requirement for you to hire Maison Law if you want to file a lawsuit. Our only purpose is to help you understand your options so you can make the best choice to meet your needs today and in the future.
Calculating Lathrop Bicycle Accident Case Values
After your Lathrop bike accident, you could easily be feeling overwhelmed or, at the very least, a bit stressed by the number of bills that you are receiving related to your medical care and other expenses created by this unfortunate incident. Those concerns, paired with the challenges of missing work while you heal, can create significant anxiety about your financial health as well as how well you will recover from your physical injuries.
When you are working with the legal team at Maison Law, your Lathrop bicycle accident lawyer will work closely with you to compile all the vital information needed to estimate the value of your case. The primary items that are used to determine case value are the economic and non-economic damages created by the incident. Making a list of the economic damages is relatively simple, as each item has a specific dollar value. Some of the more common economic damages related to a bike accident lawsuit include:
- All current medical bills related to the Lathrop bicycle accident
- Any projected expenses for future medical care related to those injuries, such as additional surgery, treatment, or rehabilitation care
- Compensation for your lost income if the injuries prevent you from working at your regular job during the healing process
- Compensation for decreased earning potential if severe injuries leave you with permanent disabilities or limitations that will impact your career path or earning capabilities in the future
- Repair or replacement of your bicycle and other personal items or gear that was damaged or destroyed in the bike accident in Lathrop
- Therapy or counseling to address the trauma and emotional issues created by the accident
- Transportation costs to and from your medical appointments if necessary
The other items that are included in the valuation process for your Lathrop bicycle accident lawsuit are called non-economic damages. These are losses you face because of the incident that do not have a specific dollar value and must be evaluated to determine a fair value for their loss. Some items in this category include:
- Your pain and suffering
- The hardships of emotional trauma like depression, PTSD, severe anxiety, or a lack of ability to sleep
- Loss of enjoyment of basic activities such as taking part in family events, taking part in sports or physical fitness activities, and the ability to contribute and participate in the lives of family members
- Loss of consortium
Who is Liable for a Lathrop Bicycle Accident
It can be a shock to some bike accident victims to learn that a Lathrop bicycle accident can be complex to evaluate and understand as any motor vehicle accident. Working backward is often the best way to determine the cause of the accident and liability for the losses and expenses incurred by the victims of these often very upsetting accidents. The list of responsible parties in a bike accident in Lathrop can include:
- The driver of any other motor vehicle
- Another cyclist
- Contractors working in the area if they left debris or safety hazards in or near the roadway
- Property owners along the accident site if they failed to maintain the space properly and created a safety concern
- The repair shop that recently worked on your bicycle if they failed to correct an issue, damaged the bike, or failed to return the bike to you in a safe working order
- Pedestrians in the area
- Pet owners in the area
- The manufacturer of your bike if it was defective and that failure caused your accident and injuries
Common Bike Accidents in Lathrop
Sharing the road with cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and other vehicles in Lathrop is an act of trust and respect for those operating much larger vehicles than your bike. But what is vital to keep in mind is that cyclists have as much right to use the roadways as any other vehicle. Riding for exercise, enjoyment, or as your primary form of transportation is the same as driving a car or riding a motorcycle on city streets. But sadly, not everyone using the roads is as careful and respectful of cyclists as they should be. As a result, there are many kinds of bike accidents occurring in the community each year, including:
- Right hook accidents
- Left cross accidents
- T-bone crashed
- Vehicles pulling or backing out of driveways or parking lots
- Open door accidents
- Sideswipes of cyclists
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Accidents caused by hazards in the road
- Impact from low-hanging obstacles near the road
- Accidents due to road surface damage like potholes
- Cyclist versus pedestrian and animal accidents
The Statute of Limitations for Lathrop Bicycle Accident Lawsuits
California gives the victims of a bike accident two years from the date of the incident to file their lawsuit with the court. If the case is not filed within that time limit, the victim loses the right to pursue legal action related to that specific incident, in most cases. It is also crucial to note that this time limit is strictly enforced, and there are very few exceptions that would provide additional time to pursue legal action once the Statute of Limitations has expired.
The most common exception to this two-year time limit is when the liable party is a government entity or agency. In these cases, the victim is given only six months from the accident date to have the case prepared and filed with the court. The reduced time limit could be important to your case if you were hurt because of a pothole in the roadway or if you were struck by a vehicle that was owned by the State of California, such as a CALTRANS bus.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to a Bike Accident
How can I speed up the processing of my Lathrop bicycle accident case?
As with any accident involving injuries and other damages, documentation is essential for a fast resolution. If you can get photos of the scene of the accident, damage to your bike, and your injuries immediately after the accident, it is a wise choice. The images can help piece together the cause of the accident and assign liability quickly.
Seek a complete medical evaluation of your injuries to have them documented by a medical professional, have a bike shop provide an estimate for repair or replacement of your bicycle, and determine the cost to replace any other damaged property. Finally, reach out to Maison Law to discuss your case with a Lathrop bicycle accident lawyer. Hiring a legal professional to handle the case lets everyone know you are ready for a swift resolution.
If I shared the blame for the bicycle accident in Lathrop, can I still file a lawsuit?
In California, liability for an accident can be shared among two or more people. Even if you are one of those found liable for the incident, you can still take legal action against the other responsible parties. You have the right to pursue a lawsuit to seek compensation for any part of your damages above the percentage of your liability for the incident. If you are 25% responsible for the accident, you can seek compensation for the remaining 75% of your damages via legal action.
If my bicycle accident was on private property in Lathrop, can I file a lawsuit?
Yes, in many instances in California, you can pursue legal action for a bike accident on private property when the incident was the result of someone else’s negligence.
Contact a Lathrop Bicycle Accident Lawyer
After sustaining injuries because of a bicycle accident in Lathrop, get in touch with Maison Law to explore your rights and options with a seasoned Lathrop bicycle accident lawyer. They will evaluate your case, explain its legal merit, and answer any questions you have about the process to seek compensation for your losses and expenses.
Should you want to hire Maison Law, our team will take on any bike accident lawsuit with legal merit and never ask for any upfront payments from our client. We work on a contingency basis, so the fees for our services are added to the compensation sought in the case. We only get paid after the claim is resolved via negotiation or we win your lawsuit.
