Many Dallas residents enjoy bicycling on Dallas area nature trails and bicycle routes. Throughout the state, approximately 4 million Texans regularly ride bicycles every year. Unfortunately, Texas ranks low among bicycle-friendly states, as thousands of people are injured in bicycle accidents yearly.
If you have been seriously injured in a Dallas bicycle accident, we are prepared to thoroughly investigate the accident that caused your injuries and pursue the full compensation you deserve. We will handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on your recovery.
Types of Bicycle Accident Claims We Handle
Rochelle McCullough, LLP is a full-service law firm with a team of trial-ready litigators. We know how to negotiate successfully with insurance companies and defendants. Our bicycle injury attorneys handle a wide range of bicycle accident cases, including the following:
- Drunk driving bicycle accidents
- Bicycle collisions involving motor vehicles
- Right turn accidents
- Left turn accidents
- Blind spot accidents
- Improper lane changes
- Speed-related collisions
- Dooring accidents
- Rear-end collisions
Most Bicycle Accidents Are Caused By Negligence
Unfortunately, many bicycle accidents could have been prevented and are caused by negligent drivers. Many drivers ignore the fact that they are legally required to share the road with bicyclists, leading to bicyclists being hit by cars, severely injured, or even killed. Drivers may be distracted and fail to look for bicyclists.
A driver may make a left-hand turn directly into a bicyclist or cause the bicyclist to collide with his or her vehicle. In other cases, a driver may not check his or her blind spot and merge into a bicyclist lane, side-swiping the bicyclist. In dooring accidents, a driver opens his or her door directly into the bicyclist’s path. Other common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:
- Distracted drivers
- Fatigued drivers
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Failure to follow traffic rules and laws
- Intoxication due to alcohol or drugs
- Speeding
- Road rage
- Failure to check blind spots
- Dangerous turns
Bicycle Accidents Can Cause Severe Injuries
Bicycle safety equipment, especially helmets, provides bicyclists with important protection from injury. However, even when bicyclists wear all of the recommended safety equipment, they can still become seriously injured when a vehicle collides with them. Bicyclists don’t have airbags, seat belts, or the protection of the vehicle’s frame.
Consequently, when a motor vehicle strikes a bicyclist, it may crush, pin, or throw the bicyclist from his or her bike. Many bicyclists suffer traumatic injuries due to the force of the collision, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Facial injuries
- Dental injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries
- Road rash
- Bone fractures
- Neck and back injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
Determining Liability After a Bicycle Accident in Dallas
Recovering compensation requires victims of personal injury accidents to prove liability. A person or company is liable for the injuries caused by their negligence, recklessness, or intentional behavior. If you were involved in a collision with a motor vehicle driver, you may be able to pursue compensation by filing a claim with that driver’s auto insurance provider.
However, you will need to prove that the driver’s negligence caused the accident. A driver engages in negligence when he or she feels to use reasonable care under the circumstances to prevent injuries to others. When drivers break local or state traffic laws designed to keep people safe, they can be held liable for the accidents caused by their negligence.
Suppose a driver is speeding or texting while driving and collides with you. In that case, their negligent behavior caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. As a result, they are liable, or financially responsible, for your damages. Depending on the facts in your case, more than one party could be at fault for your injuries. For example, if the municipality through which you were driving failed to keep their roads safe and you became injured after driving over a pothole, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation from the municipality.
What If I Contributed to Causing the Bicycle Accident?
Texas uses a modified comparative negligence law called the “51 percent rule.” Under this rule, if you were less than 51 percent at fault for the bicycle accident, you still have a right to pursue compensation for the accident-related expenses and losses you’ve incurred. When you work with Rochelle McCullough, LLP, we will investigate your case and determine who is at fault. If you have questions about whether you’re entitled to recover compensation, speaking to an attorney is an important next step.
We Pursue the Full Compensation Victims Deserve
Due to the lack of protection available for bicyclists, they often suffer some of the most severe injuries when involved in auto accidents. Catastrophic injuries such as crush injuries and traumatic brain injuries can require extensive medical treatment, potentially for the rest of the victim’s life. Rochelle McCullough, LLP understands the importance of valuing our client’s damages carefully.
When bicycle accident victims have become severely injured, they may become disabled and unable to work. We regularly work with financial and medical experts to carefully determine all of our client’s damages so we can pursue a favorable settlement on their behalf. Victims of bicycle accidents can pursue the following types of damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity due to disability
- Physical limitation
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
Discuss Your Case with a Bicycle Accident Attorney in Dallas
At the law firm of Rochelle McCullough, LLP, we believe bicyclists have the right to be safe on the road. Victims of bicycle accidents may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, property damage, lost income, loss of earning capacity, and emotional distress. If you’ve been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, don’t hesitate to contact Rochelle McCullough, LLP to schedule a complimentary case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights and options.
We extend our personal injury legal services to help clients throughout Texas, including Dallas, & Fort Worth, as well as in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Committed to advocating for your rights and securing the compensation you deserve.