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Drivers are told to share the road and keep a careful eye out for bicyclists, but it doesn’t always happen. If you were injured by a motorist while riding your bike, a leading Washington, DC bicycle accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long can help you get the compensation you deserve.
We help victims of bicycle accidents claim a wide range of damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Whether you’re ready to pursue legal action or you’re not sure if a legal claim is the best path for you, one of our top Washington, DC accident lawyers is ready to discuss your case.
Bike accidents are usually devastating to both the injury victim and their family. You should not have to pay the consequences for someone else’s mistakes. If you were injured in a bike accident, then the DC bicycle accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC can help you take legal action.
Our bicycle accident lawyers in Washington, DC can help you file a claim to recover the compensation you need to pay for injury-related costs, such as medical care and lost wages. Recently, our firm obtained a settlement of $3 million in a bike accident claim against WMATA. In that case, we worked on behalf of a bicyclist who suffered severe leg injuries when he was struck by a Metro bus.
Once you hire our DC bicycle accident lawyer, we will begin investigating your claim and gather the evidence needed to prove who is at fault for the bicycle crash. When we discover the full extent of your claim, we will start negotiations with the insurance company to make sure you get the appropriate amount of compensation for your bicycle accident. If negotiations break down, our experienced personal injury lawyers are prepared to head to trial to protect your rights.
Speaking with the insurance company on your own can be a time-consuming and difficult process. The insurance adjuster will try to settle your claim with the least amount of money possible. They may try to bully you until taking the first settlement offered. Don’t do it. Instead, contact a bicycle accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a free consultation.
Bicycle accidents can leave victims severely injured, even fatally. Bike riders that have been hit by a car may recover damages through a personal injury lawsuit, as they are protected by the laws and regulations in Washington, DC. Accident victims can first submit a claim with their car or health insurance. But many bicycle accidents result in catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment. Many times, your insurance will pay only the limits of your policy, then it will be up to you to pay out of pocket. That’s when you turn to the bicycle accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party to recover damages.
Under DC law, bicyclists have all the same duties and privileges as those driving motor vehicles. As with car accidents, bicycle accidents should be reported to the police. The police will come to the scene to investigate the accident, including interviewing the involved parties and witnesses and gathering evidence to decide the fault of the accident. A cyclist hit by a car should gather evidence, if they are able, including pictures or videos, and get basic contact information from the driver and witnesses.
To claim compensation for damages after a bike accident in Washington, DC, you must prove the negligence or wrongful act of the at-fault party. An injured biker should receive medical care immediately after the accident and document injuries, medical conditions, or treatments necessitated by the accident.
Insurance policies often cover bike accident damages, but oftentimes, insurance settlements outside of court won’t fully cover the full costs of the medical expenses, suffering, or death that was directly caused by the accident.
Like crashes involving pedestrians, since the bike rider has little to no protection from the force of the vehicle, serious injuries can occur. Some of the most common cyclist injuries include:
Traumatic brain injuries may have long-term symptoms and effects, including permanent impairment. Wearing a bike helmet can help decrease your risk of brain trauma; although if you are over 16, you are not legally required to wear a helmet. However, insurance companies may try to reduce your settlement if you were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
The force of impact with a vehicle or surrounding objects may cause neck and spinal cord injuries. Depending on the extent of the damage, permanent paralysis below the site of the injury may occur.
Broken bones and multiple fractures may require surgical intervention, extensive healing times, and serious permanent disability.
In some cases, a cyclist may suffer extensive and potentially disfiguring lacerations and degloving injuries. This may cause permanent impairment if nerves and muscles are damaged.
All too often, cycling injuries may be widespread and serious enough to cause wrongful death. This is especially true if the accident occurs at high speeds. In the case of a bicyclist losing their life, the family has the option to file a personal injury lawsuit on their behalf to collect damages, including funeral and burial costs.
A bicycle injury may require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. Additionally, you may be unable to return to cycling, work, or your previous quality of life. You may be entitled to substantial compensation in these situations, which should cover the cost of your medical bills, bike repair or replacement, and other damages.
However, insurance companies often try to dismiss bike accident claims or offer low settlements. They may try to find a reason to deny your claim, such as not paying attention before the accident. To obtain a full and fair offer, you need to consult with one of our bicycle accident lawyers in Washington, DC.
Bicycle accidents are much more common than you might realize. According to the Washington DC’s District Department of Transportation, over the past five years, an average of 334 crashes involving bicyclists occur each year in DC. In just a six-month period between March and August 2019, there were 409 bicyclist-related accidents. According to the latest data from Washington, DC’s Open Data portal, 5% of the 1,789 crashes in the district that reported an injury involved a bicyclist in 2022. According to DC’s Vision Zero, there have been 22 fatalities in the DC area in 2022, 3 of which involve bicyclists.
Yet, the number of bikers in DC continues to increase. Recent statistics have found the number of bicyclists rose almost 25% between 2006 and 2019, from approximately 40 million to nearly 49 million. This makes DC the second largest number of bicyclists on the streets.
Leading the increase of bikers on the streets is the popular Capital Bikeshare program. Introduced by Washington, DC in September 2010, the bike-sharing program allows bikers to rent a bike for a specific amount of time. Despite having an excellent safety record, getting into an accident with a bike-sharing vehicle is still a possibility.
Although the rise of bicyclists can benefit the city and the environment, this also means there will be an increase in bicycle accident cases and injured cyclists as well.
With more bicycles on the roads, it’s important to learn how to avoid accidents with a cyclist. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when navigating the DC streets:
A bike accident can occur in virtually any circumstance, especially if a negligent or distracted motorist fails to notice a bicyclist. While cyclists cannot always avoid crashes caused by negligent drivers, you may be able to lower your risk of serious personal injuries by being familiar with common types of bicycle accidents, such as:
A: Like any type of car accident, what you do following a Washington, DC bicycle accident is crucial to your accident claim. If you get into an accident, your first step is to get to safety and call 911. Wait for the police to arrive so you can file a police report.
While waiting for the police, make sure you get the contact information of everyone who is involved in the accident. It’s also a good time to get photos and videos of the accident scene, including damage to your bicycle and to the car involved and your injuries.
Once the emergency services arrive and you give your statement to the police officer, get checked by medical professionals, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Unfortunately, bicyclists may not feel the effects of the accident until hours later and what seemed like a minor bump on the head could easily become a brain injury.
Preserve any evidence you have for the accident. That means leaving your bike, clothing, and any other damaged property in the same state after the accident. Take photos of the equipment. You’ll also want to keep a record of any medical treatment or time away from work as a result of the accident.
Finally, speak to a bicycle accident lawyer in Washington, DC as soon as possible. Bicycling accidents are very complex and you’ll need legal advice on what your next steps should be, such as negotiating with the insurance company or whether your case will end up in the courtroom.
A: When bicycle accidents involve a serious injury, long-term suffering, life-altering conditions, or death, a bicycle accident lawyer in DC can help a victim or a decedent’s family pursue a legal claim. The purpose of the claim is to collect compensation for damages that have occurred as a result of the at-fault driver’s negligence or wrongful act.
Our firm has a deep history of success in helping claim the maximum amount of compensation for our clients who’ve been greatly affected by a bicycle crash. Common bicycle accident damages that we help recover for our clients include:
No matter the claim you’re considering, we’re here to help, and we can answer any questions you have about your case during your free case evaluation.
A: Washington, DC is one of five jurisdictions (including Virginia and Maryland), that follow the contributory negligence doctrine. What this law means is if someone is found even 1% at fault for an accident, they cannot recover damages for their injuries.
However, DC had recently passed a new code that makes an exception to this rule for “vulnerable users.” According to the law, a vulnerable user is defined as a person “using an all-terrain vehicle, bicycle, dirt bike, electric mobility device, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, motor-driven cycle, non-motorized scooter, personal mobility device, skateboard or other similar devices.”
Thanks to the change in the law, pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders now have the opportunity to sue for damages even if they share some fault in the accident.
The driver is not always the only one at fault for a bicycle accident. In some cases, multiple parties can be held responsible for your bicycle accident, such as:
To discover who is responsible for your injuries, it’s important to speak with a bicycle accident lawyer in Washington, Dc to start the investigation.
To prove who is responsible for your injuries, you will need to show the following:
A: If you want to pursue a legal claim to recover significant damages from a bicycle accident, refer to the Washington DC statute of limitations to see how quickly you need to file it.
In Washington, DC, personal injury and personal property claims generally need to be brought to the local court within three years. Wrongful death claims must be filed by the victim’s family within two years.
We do advise that you file a claim as soon as possible. Evidence can quickly disappear the longer you wait and memories fade. To protect your claims, contact a personal injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long today. With decades of experience in car accidents, we understand the complexities of the laws and will help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Contact our Washington, DC office today to schedule a free case evaluation. We handle bike accident cases throughout the DC Metro area, including Maryland and Virginia. You do not owe us a fee until your case is settled or a verdict is reached. Call today.
