Riding a bicycle can be a relaxing experience that lets you get some exercise while also helping the environment, but it makes you more vulnerable on the road. When cycling, you don’t have much more protection than a helmet, which makes it more likely that you’ll experience serious injuries if you’re involved in a collision of any kind. If you’ve been in an accident and suffered losses, the best way to get compensation is to hire Trenton bicycle accident attorneys to represent you.
A collision while riding a bicycle can leave you with physical and emotional trauma, as well as medical bills you might be struggling to pay. If someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct caused the accident, you could be entitled to compensation, but the process of filing a claim is complex. At Wapner Newman, we can fight on your behalf.
Contact our team of bicycle accident attorneys at (215) 569-0900 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Us
Relying on Experienced Attorneys
Our Trenton bicycle accident lawyers at Wapner Newman offer the chance to get compensation after suffering injuries in a collision. We have decades of experience representing people throughout New Jersey, and because we offer our guidance on a contingency-fee basis, there are no additional upfront bills you have to worry about. We’ll aggressively negotiate with insurers to get you a fair settlement, and, if necessary, we can take your claim to court. Our representation has helped clients recover millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards.
Because we know just how much stress you’re under, we offer the continuous support you need as well as the compassion and respect you deserve. You’ll never be just another client to us. If you’ve suffered injuries in a bicycle accident someone else’s negligent conduct caused, it’s vital that you contact our team of bicycle crash lawyers.
If you’re unable to come to our offices, the lawyers at Wapner Newman will come to you.
Understanding Your Rights After a Trenton Bicycle Accident
Rates of bicycle and pedestrian accidents are much higher in New Jersey than the national average. After being in one of these accidents, you have a chance to file a personal injury claim and get compensation. Doing so requires proving the other party was negligent, however, beginning with showing that they owed you a duty of care and breached that responsibility.
Anyone driving a vehicle owes others sharing that road a duty of care to operate the vehicle safely and obey all traffic laws. If they were doing anything that’s not legal, like driving under the influence or texting while driving, they have breached that duty. The next step in proving that the party is liable involves demonstrating that the breach of duty led you to suffer injuries. Finally, you also need to show that you can be compensated for those injuries. If you only sustained a scratch that didn’t require medical attention, you can’t file a personal injury claim.
Often, people worry that being partly responsible for the accident can keep them from recovering damages. New Jersey follows comparative negligence laws, so you are still able to get compensation if you were partly at fault, as long as the other party holds the majority of the blame.
In New Jersey, you have a time frame in which you must file a claim. Typically, you have up to two years from the date the accident occurred. In some instances, however, especially when the defendant is a government entity, you have significantly less time to file a claim. There may be exceptions that allow you more time, but they’re rare. That’s why it’s vital to contact a Trenton bicycle accident lawyer as soon as the accident occurs.
Most Common Causes of New Jersey Bicycle Accidents
The majority of the time, driver errors cause bicycle accidents, but there may be third-party conduct that can lead to them, too. Learn more below about the most common causes of these crashes.
Distracted Driving
Throughout the country, distracted driving is a serious issue that leads to thousands of accidents each year. The driver of a vehicle who’s doing anything else besides driving may be distracted. That includes:
- Speaking with passengers
- Texting
- Scrolling social media
- Changing radio stations
- Checking GPS
- Performing personal hygiene
- Eating and drinking.
Someone who’s not paying attention to the road will be more likely to miss spotting a bicycle, leading to a serious collision.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving refers to a number of behaviors that put others on the road at risk. The driver understands that these are unsafe actions, yet still does them. Running red lights, rapid lane changes, speeding, and failing to yield are all common reckless driving behaviors that can lead to bicycle accidents.
Intoxicated Driving
Although the blood alcohol concentration limit is generally 0.08% throughout the country, having just one drink makes a driver more distracted and dangerous. Alcohol and drugs impact coordination and reflexes, making a driver less able to react appropriately to hazards on the road.
Fatigued Driving
A driver who’s struggling to stay awake while operating a vehicle can be just as dangerous as someone who is intoxicated. They will struggle to focus on driving and might even fall asleep at the wheel.
Road Conditions
Road conditions can be bad enough that a driver, or even the cyclist, can lose control of their vehicle and crash into one another or other objects. If your accident occurred because of uneven pavement, severe potholes, lack of cycling lanes, and other road condition issues, it’s possible to hold liable the government entities in charge of maintaining the roads.
Defective Bicycle Parts
If your bicycle has design or manufacturing errors, it can lead you to have an accident while riding it. The tires can burst or chains can slip out of place and cause you to swerve into another lane or fall onto the pavement. When faulty parts are the cause of your injuries, you can hold the manufacturer liable.
How a Trenton Bicycle Crash Attorney Can Help
Filing a personal injury claim isn’t simple, especially when you’re dealing with the physical and emotional trauma an accident can cause. You may not know what evidence can help you prove the other party is liable or even how to start the claim process.
Our Trenton bicycle collision lawyers can handle all of this for you. We will assess your claim and begin gathering medical records, police reports, and expert witness testimonies to demonstrate that you deserve compensation.
One of the most challenging aspects of filing a claim is negotiating with insurance companies. They will do everything possible to keep from paying you, including bullying you into accepting a low settlement. With our team helping you, it’s possible to maximize your compensation.
Bicycle Accident FAQs
Being in a bicycle accident can leave you unsure of what your options are. Here are answers to common questions about filing a bicycle accident claim.
What damages can I claim after a bicycle accident?
You can claim both economic and non-economic damages after a bicycle accident. Economic damages compensate you for financial losses, including medical expenses and lost wages. If you’re not able to return to work because of the severity of your injuries, you can also claim loss of earning potential. Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that don’t come with a price tag. These include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium if a loved one died as a result of the accident.
Am I required to hire a bicycle accident lawyer to represent me?
You’re not required to hire a lawyer to file a claim for you, but it’s the best option. A lawyer will know just how to present the claim and will have experience negotiating with insurance companies. In instances when negotiations aren’t going as well as expected, lawyers can also take your claim to court and litigate on your behalf in front of a judge.
Can I still get compensation if I was partly to blame for the accident?
Yes, you can. Because New Jersey follows modified comparative negligence laws, you can still get compensation for a bicycle accident, even if you were partly responsible for it. Keep in mind that you can’t receive compensation if you bear more than 50% of the fault.
How long do I have to file a claim after a Trenton bicycle accident?
The statute of limitations is two years from the moment the accident occurs. In some cases, however, you have less time to file. To make certain you don’t miss your chance to get compensation, speak with a lawyer as soon as you can.
If you have questions about the process of filing a claim, our team of experienced bicycle accident lawyers can help.
Hire Experienced Lawyers to Represent You
Choose the Team at Wapner Newman
After suffering injuries because of someone’s negligent or wrongful conduct, you have the right to file a personal injury claim to recover losses. At Wapner Newman, our team of bicycle accident lawyers in Trenton can provide the guidance you need.
Call our team at (215) 569-0900 to speak with a lawyer about filing a claim.