CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH NEW MEXICO BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS FOR FREE
Bicycling is a great form of exercise and an alternative means of transportation, especially in crowded urban settings. However, bicyclists are especially vulnerable in accidents due to their lack of protection and the size and speed of the other vehicle.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike accident in New Mexico, you should call the experienced New Mexico biking accident lawyers at Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation. If we can’t win your case, you will not owe us anything.
COMMON INJURIES SUFFERED IN BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
Bicyclists are often much more vulnerable than drivers or passengers inside a vehicle, and often suffer far more severe injuries as a result. Some of the most common injuries sustained by victims of a bicycle accident include:
- Severe head trauma, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Fractured bones
- Injury to the neck
- Injury to the back
- Spinal cord damage
- Bulging disc or ruptured disc
- Burns or road rash
- Psychological and/or emotional suffering
- Paralysis including paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Death
WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A BIKE CRASH IN NEW MEXICO?
If you are involved in a bicycle accident, you should take the following steps:
Immediately Seek Medical Attention
If you have been in a bicycle accident, you should seek immediate medical attention, even if you do not immediately believe you have been injured. Many injuries may not be readily apparent until after the adrenaline has worn off. Other injuries may even harder to detect, such as internal bleeding.
File a Police Report
When filing a police report, be sure to identify the other vehicle or responsible party involved as specifically as possible, especially if the vehicle fled the scene. The police officer may generally gather the other party’s contact and insurance information as well.
Document the Accident
You should identify any witnesses who may be able to provide statements for your New Mexico bike accident lawyer to use in support of your claim. Be sure to collect important information for your case including:
- The make, model, color, and license plate numbers of the other vehicle(s) involved
- Names, addresses, and insurance information of both the driver(s) and vehicle owner(s)
- Name of the attending officer who was at the scene
This information may be helpful to your lawyer when they investigate the accident. Gathering visible or tangible evidence is also very important. Use your phone or a camera to take pictures of the scene of the accident before your bicycle and the other vehicle(s) are moved. Take as detailed photos as possible and take note of any property damage. Be sure to obtain your own copies of all documentation, including police reports and ambulance reports. You should also remain in contact with the police and request that they regularly provide you with any updates regarding your case.
Contact an Attorney
If you have been involved in an accident while riding a bicycle in New Mexico, you should contact an experienced bike accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney may help you understand your legal options and calculate the compensation you may be entitled to.
It is often especially important to hire an attorney before speaking with the insurance company, as they may attempt to gather statements from you that could be used to dispute your claim or allow the insurer to dispute the other party’s liability for your injuries. It is generally in your best interest to refer the insurance company to your lawyer rather than attempting to provide them with information on your own.
Learn More: Why Hiring a Lawyer Will Help Your Case
HOW MUCH MAY MY BIKE ACCIDENT CASE BE WORTH?
Each case is unique, so the amount of compensation typically varies. The amount of compensation that your specific case is worth is determined by several factors, including:
- The specifics of how your bicycle accident was caused
- How many parties may be liable for your damages
- The severity of your injuries
- The availability of compensation from insurance policies.
The amount of damages you suffered in the bicycle accident may generally include:
- Any medical expenses, such as hospital bills, physical therapy cost, medication, medical devices, or the cost of any future treatment that may be required to continue treating your injuries
- Any income lost while you were unable to work after the accident
- Pain and suffering damages for the physical or emotional pain suffered as a result of your injuries, such as the back pain caused by a spinal injury or migraines caused by a traumatic brain injury
PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN BICYCLE ACCIDENT CASES
Other significant factors impacting your compensation may include the cause of the accident and whether the party at fault was driving recklessly or willfully struck your bicycle. In some cases, punitive damages may be available if the other party caused the accident in such a manner as to rise above simple negligence. In these cases, the court or jury may impose punitive damages to punish the other party for this behavior or to warn others in society to avoid this egregious behavior.
While the state of New Mexico does not place a limit on punitive damages, it must be evident that the party at fault caused the accident by exhibiting gross negligence or intentionally showing reckless disregard for your safety and wellbeing.
OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR CLAIM
To avoid diminishing the value of your claim during your claims process, you should refrain from commenting on your bicycle accident on social media. It is generally in your best interest to use social media as little as possible during your claims process. Engaging in social media may make you appear to be physically and emotionally healthy, and an insurance company may use that as evidence to claim that you are not experiencing pain and suffering, and therefore offer a lower settlement offer. You should also keep any receipts for expenses related to your injury including medical expenses, damages, and necessary repairs. You should provide these receipts as evidence of costs that you incurred as a result of the accident.
HOW LONG WILL MY CASE TAKE?
Each case is unique, and therefore, each case will generally differ in the amount of time required to settle. The length of time required to settle your case is dependent upon several factors including:
- The severity of the injuries you sustained
- The amount of medical expenses incurred
- Whether or not liability is disputed
- The cooperation of the other party’s insurance company in settling
Settling a personal injury case may take several months or even a few years depending upon whether the other party’s liability is seriously contested or questionable. Cases with strong evidence indicating the liability of the other party tend to be less complex and require less time to settle. However, even in these cases, various other factors may affect the duration, such as determining the full extent of your injuries and identifying what future treatment you will need.
BICYCLE ACCIDENT CLAIM TIMELINE
Each personal injury case typically follows a general timeline:
Investigation
After you have hired an experienced New Mexico bike accident lawyer, your attorney may thoroughly investigate the accident and gather evidence proving the other person’s liability for your injuries. This investigation may include searching the scene of the accident, examining any photographs or videos, collecting witness statements, conducting depositions with the other party, or other investigative strategies intended to gain evidence to support your claim for any compensation that you may be entitled to.
Computing Damages
When filing a personal injury claim, your lawyer may generally compute the amount of damages, whether economic or non-economic, that you have suffered as a result of the accident. The cost of current and future medical expenses must generally be factored in, with this amount depending on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your required medical treatment. Other damages may include:
- Property damage from your crushed bicycle
- Lost income from missed work
- Your pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Punitive damages if the other party’s behavior was especially negligent or reckless
Negotiating with the Insurer
After factoring in medical costs, your attorney may collect your medical records, bills, and income statements and use them to compose a demand letter describing the nature of your injuries and the extent to which your injuries have adversely affected your quality of life. When the insurance company responds, settlement negotiations begin with both sides making counteroffers and disputing elements of the claim until the parties reach an acceptable settlement agreement to avoid the expenses of a trial.
Trial
The majority of personal injury cases are settled without proceeding to trial. However, if the opposing party’s insurance agency does not agree to a settlement, your attorney may have to take your case to trial to prove the other party’s liability for your injuries and pursue compensation from a New Mexico jury.
HOW ZINDA LAW GROUP MAY HELP YOU
A bicycle accident can cause severe physical injuries as well as mental and emotional distress. The experienced New Mexico bike accident attorneys at Zinda Law Group may help you seek the compensation you may be entitled to. Your attorney may conduct an investigation that gathers evidence proving the other party was responsible for the accident and is liable for your injuries, as well as evidence proving the extent of your injuries and need for future treatment, if any. Your attorney may help level the playing field with the insurance company by negotiating with their team of lawyers to reach a settlement agreement.
GET A CASE EVALUATION FROM ZINDA LAW GROUP
At Zinda Law Group, our experienced New Mexico accident lawyers may help you with your claim. We assist our clients in seeking the maximum compensation they may be entitled to after they or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident.
Call (800) 863-5312 today for a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers. You will not pay anything unless we can win your bike accident claim. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.
We Serve All of New Mexico
At Zinda Law Group, our nationwide personal injury attorneys have helped families in every area of New Mexico, including the following cities:
- Alamogordo Personal Injury Lawyers
- Albuquerque Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Carlsbad Personal Injury Lawyers
- Deming Personal Injury Lawyers
- Los Alamos Personal Injury Lawyers
- Rio Rancho Personal Injury Lawyers
- Roswell Personal Injury Lawyers
- Santa Fe Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Taos Personal Injury Lawyers
- Las Cruces Personal Injury Lawyers
