Whether you ride a bicycle for fun, for exercise, or as a means of transportation, the unfortunate reality is that you face risks every time you ride. While drivers are supposed to share the road and leave plenty of buffer, many drivers make careless and reckless mistakes that put cyclists in harm’s way. If you have been injured in an accident involving a car, truck, or SUV, you have clear legal rights, and you should discuss your rights with an experienced Birmingham bicycle accident attorney promptly.
What are your rights after a bicycle accident in Alabama? Here’s what you need to know:
You Have the Right to Hold the At-Fault Driver Accountable
If you got hit by a car, truck, or SUV while riding your bicycle and the driver was at fault in the accident, you have the right to hold the driver accountable. Speeding, following too closely, passing too closely, running red lights and stop signs, and driving while distracted are all leading causes of bicycle accidents in Alabama.
These are also all forms of negligence. Under Alabama law, drivers can be held fully liable for their negligence behind the wheel. Employers, delivery companies, and rideshare companies can be held liable for their drivers’ negligence in many cases as well—and, if you have a claim against one of these companies, seeking to hold the company responsible could be important for maximizing your financial recovery.
You Have the Right to File an Insurance Claim
In the vast majority of cases, seeking a financial recovery after a bicycle accident involves filing an insurance claim. Auto insurance, commercial liability insurance, and umbrella insurance policies all cover bicycle accidents resulting from driver negligence.
But, while you may have the right to file an insurance claim, filing a successful insurance claim can be challenging. Not only do you need to prove that the driver was at fault, but you also need to prove how much you deserve to recover. These are both extremely important reasons to put an experienced Birmingham bicycle accident attorney on your side.
You Have the Right to Seek Compensation for Your Present and Future Costs
If you have a bicycle accident claim in Alabama, you have the right to seek compensation for your present and future costs resulting from the accident. While every rider’s circumstances are unique, common accident-related costs include:
- Medical bills
- Medical supplies and other out-of-pocket costs
- Loss of income
The costs associated with serious accident-related injuries can be substantial, and in many cases, injured riders can continue to incur accident-related costs for years (if not decades). Whether you are facing tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in financial losses, you owe it to yourself to make sure you are seeking the full compensation you deserve.
You Have the Right to Seek Compensation for Your Non-Financial Losses
Seeking the full compensation you deserve means seeking financial compensation for your non-financial losses as well. Traumatic injuries from severe bicycle accidents can leave riders facing non-financial losses, including:
- Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of companionship, consortium, and enjoyment of life
Here, too, you are entitled to compensation for your present and future losses if you have a bicycle accident claim under Alabama law. If you hire an experienced attorney to represent you, your attorney will rely on his or her experience to determine what constitutes “just” compensation based on your individual circumstances.
You Have the Right to Be Treated Fairly By the Insurance Companies
If you have an insurance claim, you have the right to be treated fairly by the insurance companies. This isn’t simply a matter of fairness—it is a requirement under Alabama law. In Alabama, the insurance companies are prohibited from engaging in bad-faith claims handling practices—and, if they engage in bad faith, they can (and should) be held accountable.
But it is important to understand exactly what this means. While the insurance companies are required to treat you fairly, this does not mean that they have to explain your legal rights or calculate your losses for you. It is up to you to make sure you assert your legal rights effectively, and, practically speaking, this requires experienced legal representation.
You Have the Right to Go to Court if Necessary
Seeking just compensation after a bicycle accident usually involves filing an insurance claim, and most successful insurance claims are resolved via settlement. But if you can’t obtain a fair settlement for your bicycle accident, you have the right to take your claim to court.
While you might not want to go to court, it is important to show the insurance companies that you are prepared to do what it takes to recover the financial compensation you deserve. If you hire an attorney to represent you, your attorney will be able to negotiate for a favorable settlement on your behalf, and the insurance companies will know that you are serious about holding them accountable.
You Have the Right to Hire an Attorney to Represent You
This brings us to our last point: When you have a claim for a bicycle accident in Alabama, you have the right to hire an attorney to represent you. Your attorney can investigate the cause of your bicycle accident, document your financial and non-financial losses, and fight to recover just compensation on your behalf.
In this scenario, you can hire an attorney at no out-of-pocket cost. Your attorney will represent you on a contingency-fee basis, which means that your legal fees (if any) will be deducted from your settlement or verdict if your bicycle accident case is successful. Hiring an experienced attorney is one of the most important steps you can take to help maximize your chances of success, and you don’t have to pay anything to start the process.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Birmingham Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
If you need to know more about your legal rights after a bicycle accident in Alabama, we are here to help. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Birmingham bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible, call 205-855-2745 or tell us how we can reach you online today.