It’s a beautiful day, and you decide to take a mid-morning ride on your bicycle while you enjoy the mild fall weather. Suddenly, a car door opens on your path, and you collide. You feel a sharp, excruciating pain in your leg, and moving becomes a challenge. If you’ve experienced a bicycle accident injury, you can hold the other party responsible for their part in the accident.
However, you must take the right steps to file a claim and know the compensation available in such situations. This article will inform you on what to do and how to file a claim with the help of a New Jersey bicycle accident attorney. But first, what are the common causes of bicycle accidents that likely lead to compensation?
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Understandably, bike accidents happen, but they’re sometimes caused by human negligence that could have been avoided. Let’s explore a few examples:
- Drivers become careless by being distracted, speeding, driving aggressively, and failing to yield.
- Failure of a passenger or driver to check the path for an approaching cyclist before opening a car door.
- Poor road conditions due to local governments and municipalities failing to maintain the roadways.
- A driver fails to see a cyclist when making a left turn.
- A driver or cyclist fails to obey the traffic or road rules.
If your accident involved any of these situations, a New Jersey personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident in New Jersey
Immediately after the accident, you must urgently seek medical attention to ensure you get the correct treatment and have medical records to support the claim. You or someone at the scene should report the accident to law enforcement and other relevant authorities.
Upon inquiry, give the police accurate information and request a copy of the report. Make sure you also collect evidence at the scene by taking photos of the following:
- Accident scene
- Skid marks
- Poor road condition
- Damaged property
- Visible personal injuries
Next, notify the insurance company about the accident, but don’t give too much information until you talk to a New Jersey bicycle accident lawyer. As you continue with treatment, keep track of all the expenses, including doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, prescriptions, and radiology requests. These bills and receipts will help your personal injury attorney in River Edge calculate the damages you are entitled to recoup from the responsible party.
Filing a Bicycle Accident Claim in New Jersey
New Jersey laws typically give you two years to file a personal injury claim from the time the accident occurred. However, there are exceptions that shorten the time you have to file so contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. The first step is usually to negotiate with the responsible party or their insurance company. If negotiations don’t result in fair compensation, a New Jersey personal injury lawyer will file a complaint in the court where you live or where the accident occurred.
Consult a bicycle accident attorney in New Jersey for a free consultation to increase your chances of receiving the maximum compensation available.