West Palm Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Helping Injured Bicyclists Obtain Maximum Financial Compensation

With the pleasant temperatures we enjoy in the South Florida area, many Palm Beach County citizens enjoy riding their bicycles for pleasure, sport, or as a means of transportation. However, bicyclists do not enjoy the same protections as those who travel in motor vehicles.

Drivers often do not see bicyclists in the roadway until it is too late to stop, and an accident occurs. Bicycle accidents pose a significant risk to cyclists as they are more susceptible to sustaining serious injuries, including road rash, spinal cord injuries, concussions, and wrongful death.

In addition, due to the severity of their injuries, many individuals who have been involved in bicycle accidents incur costly medical expenses from hospital stays and suffer long-lasting emotional distress.

If you or a family member have been injured in a West Palm Beach bicycle accident, contact GONZ.LAW GROUP to schedule a free consultation to discuss what legal options may suit your needs. A qualified legal team member will gladly sit down with you to assess your bicycle accident case and answer your questions.

Why Do Most Bicycle Accidents Occur?

Even though under Florida law, bicycle riders enjoy the same rights as other motorists sharing the roads, many cyclists are still injured in accidents every year.

Some of the most frequent factors cited in bicycle accident reports include:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Motorists driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Motor vehicles veering into the bicycle lane.
• Motor vehicles making dangerous right turns without being aware of the cyclist.
• A motor vehicle rear-ends a bicycle trying to steer around other vehicles parked in the bike lane.
• Failure of drivers or cyclists to obey traffic laws.
• A motor vehicle fails to yield to a bicyclist.
• The driver of a parked motor vehicle unexpectedly opens the door in the cyclist’s path.
• Poor road conditions or unexpected debris in the roadway.

Sadly, just as with motor vehicle accidents, one of the leading factors that put cyclists in danger is distracted driving. As the population of Palm Beach County increases, the risk to bicyclists also increases due to drivers paying more attention to their cell phones, GPS, and entertainment systems than the road. Sadly, in many cases, drivers do not realize they are coming upon cyclists until it is too late.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver, you need a lawyer who will fight for your rights.

Contact GONZ.LAW GROUP and ask to schedule a consultation with an experienced bicycle accident attorney today.

What are Common Bicycle Injuries in West Palm Beach?

Injuries in bicycle accident cases can often lead to severe injuries that leave victims unable to work and may take weeks or even months to heal properly. In other instances, injured victims suffer catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, that negatively impact them for the rest of their lives.

As previously mentioned, road rash is a commonly reported bicycle accident injury. Some frequently reported injuries include:

• Head, neck, and back injuries
• Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash.
• Internal injuries
• Broken bones
• Eye and facial injuries
• Dental fractures
• Cuts and abrasions
• Fractured or broken ribs
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

Even though all bicycle accident injuries should be taken seriously, a traumatic brain injury is considered a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries typically result in the accident victim needing long-term care, which can quickly become cost-prohibitive for families.

If you or a loved one has suffered bicycle accident injuries caused by another person’s negligence, you will need a skilled lawyer to handle your personal injury case. Contact our West Palm Beach, FL, law firm and ask to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained bicycle accident attorneys.

What Should I Do if I Have Been Injured in a Bicycle Crash?

If you have been injured in a bicycle crash, there are specific steps you must take to ensure your safety and well-being. Following these steps will help to safeguard your health and protect your ability to file a personal injury claim.

Steps to follow after a bicycle accident include:

• Remain calm and check yourself for visible injuries.
• Do not leave the scene of the accident.
• Call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical responders to assist you if possible.
• Collect information from the motor vehicle driver involved in the accident, including their contact and insurance information.
• Gather evidence by taking numerous photos and videos of the accident scene, the driver’s license plate, and damage to your bike and the car that hit you. Also, be sure to take photos that show the lighting conditions as well as road conditions.
• Make sure to obtain a copy of the police report for your records.
• Seek medical attention immediately. Often, in bicycle accident cases, victims suffer internal injuries that do not immediately manifest themselves. If left untreated, internal injuries maylead to serious health issues and even death.
• Do not post about the accident on social media or talk to the other party’s insurance company.
• Finally, be sure to obtain qualified legal representation to assist you with your claim.

If you have been injured in a West Palm Beach bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver, contact our law offices, and ask to schedule a free consultation to determine your legal options.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer to Help Me Deal With the Insurance Company?

It is always in your best interest to hire a bicycle accident lawyer to assist you with filing an insurance claim. Just as with a car accident, an insurance provider will often try to blame the bicycle accident victim to lessen their degree of liability.

For example, the insurer may try to allege that the bicyclist failed to obey a stop sign or was not heeding other traffic laws.

However, an experienced bicycle accident lawyer is familiar with the methods that insurers often try to use to delay or deny claims.

The insurance company often sends an adjuster to speak with the victim. The adjuster often tries to coax the injured victim into giving a recorded statement providing details of the accident.

In other circumstances, an insurance adjuster may try to offer an injury victim a quick settlement. Even though a quick settlement may be tempting, especially if the victim cannot work, they rarely account for a victim’s long-term needs or future medical expenses.

For these reasons, individuals injured in bicycle accidents should never speak to the other party’s insurance provider without consulting their lawyers.

GONZ.LAW GROUP is a Palm Beach law firm dedicated to helping bicycle accident victims recover full and fair compensation for their injuries. We will also review the driver’s insurance policy to determine if you may be entitled to other benefits not initially identified that would assist you with your recovery. Contact GONZ.LAW GROUP today to learn more about our legal services.

How Can I Recover Compensation for My Medical Bills After Being Injured in a Bicycle Accident?

Bicycle accidents often result in victims suffering severe injuries even if they are wearing a helmet and other protective gear. Florida law allows bicycle accident victims to pursue compensation through economic and non-economic damages. Injured cyclists may also be able to collect punitive damages depending on the facts involved in the bicycle accident.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are granted to injury victims to compensate them for financial losses or money they have had to pay out of pocket.

Some common economic damages include:

• Medical bills and other related expenses such as physical therapy or rehabilitation.
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential
• Property damage

Our personal injury attorneys will assess your case and, if necessary, fight to help you obtain a settlement offer that also includes compensation for future medical expenses.

Non Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are awarded to compensate the victim for their intangible losses due to injury. However, because every personal injury case differs, any settlement that may be recovered will vary.

Some frequently awarded non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disfigurement and scarring

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are only granted to accident victims if the court determines the negligent party’s actions were negligent or intentional. However, unlike other damages meant to compensate victims, punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer.

Florida law places caps on the amount of punitive damages that may be collected. Victims may be awarded up to three times the compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever amount is greater.

Contact GONZ.LAW GROUP to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable Palm Beach bicycle accident lawyer who will evaluate your case to determine if punitive damages are appropriate.

What Makes Your Palm Beach Bicycle Accident Attorneys the Right Choice to Handle My Personal Injury Claim?

GONZ.LAW GROUP is a law firm that understands what it takes to achieve favorable results for our clients. Our highly trained attorneys have in-depth knowledge of Florida personal injury law and consistently use their skills to obtain maximum compensation for clients.

One of the most significant advantages of hiring a bicycle accident attorney is they will act as your legal advocate with the insurance company. Our bicycle accident attorneys will deal with insurance adjusters to ensure that you are presented with a settlement that is in your best interest and not that of the insurer.

Our legal team can also collect necessary evidence to build and strengthen your case, including witness testimony and medical records that support your claim. Our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to holding negligent parties accountable for their actions or inactions and will fight for your rights.

Furthermore, if you have tragically lost a family member due to wrongful death that resulted from an accident, our West Palm Beach bicycle accident attorneys will work passionately to see that your family receives fair compensation for your loss.

GONZ.LAW GROUP has developed a reputation in Palm Beach County for helping clients receive fair treatment and the peace of mind they deserve after being injured due to negligence.

Suppose you want to know more about the results. In that case, we have been able to achieve for clients in their personal injury cases or simply need answers to legal questions, contact our West Palm Beach law office at 561-639-7858 and ask to schedule a free consultation so that we may answer your questions and determine your available legal options.

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