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Richmond, Virginia Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Our Experienced Richmond, Virginia Bike Accident Lawyers Can Help

Bicycle accidents are among the most severe types of personal injury accidents. Bicycles are more exposed than other vehicles on the road and bicycle accidents often cause severe injuries, serious pain and suffering, and even lifetime disability. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Richmond, Virginia, and are considering a lawsuit, our team of Richmond, VA personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long can help you with your case. Our firm has significant experience representing injured cyclists and will diligently fight for the compensation you deserve. Hiring an experienced Richmond, VA bicycle accident attorney will ease the burden and stress of trying to navigate the legal system on your own.

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What Can a Richmond, Virginia Bike Accident Lawyer Do for My Case?

Our team of lawyers will build your case and gather the evidence needed to win the compensation you are entitled to. If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle accident in Richmond, Virginia, or the surrounding area, our experienced team of professionals can help coach you through the legal process.

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How Common Are Bicycle Accidents?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that nearly 1,000 bicyclists are killed and more than 130,000 cyclists are injured in bicycle accidents nationwide every year. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) estimates that bicycle commutes make up only 1 percent of all commutes in the United States, yet bicycle accidents make up more than 2 percent of roadway fatalities. The CDC also estimates that the cost of bicycle injuries and deaths from accidents is over $23 billion in the United States every year, which includes spending on healthcare and lost work productivity, as well as estimated costs for lost quality of life and loss of life.

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What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents?

Bicycle accidents and automobile accidents share many of the same causes, but there are certain causes of accidents unique to bicycles. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

  • Opening car doors. One of the most common causes of bicycle accidents is when car doors are left open or open suddenly in front of a bicyclist.
  • Failure to yield. Both cyclists and motor vehicles can cause accidents by failing to yield. Many drivers don’t realize that cyclists must obey the same traffic laws as motor vehicles. Bicycles are required to follow all traffic lights and road signs, yet many drivers consider cyclists to be pedestrians and fail to yield to bicycles when using roundabouts or making turns.
  • Distracted driving. Just like with motor vehicles, one of the most common causes of vehicle-bicycle accidents is inattentive driving. Some common distractions are texting or other forms of looking away from the road, changing the radio or adjusting air or heat settings, eating, and drinking. These distractions make it more likely that a driver not only will not see a cyclist but also more likely for a driver to swerve unexpectedly and possibly hit or side-swipe a cyclist.
  • Hit and runs. Hit-and-run accidents happen often to bicyclists.
  • Aggressive driving. Some motor vehicle drivers are aggressive when driving around cyclists and do not want to share the road. Angry drivers may drive too close to bikes and even intentionally run them off the road. Angry drivers may also yell at cyclists, causing them to run off the road or to be distracted and hit something.
  • Dangerous road conditions. Dangerous road conditions are especially risky for bicycles. Depending on what the condition is and whether it was a government agency’s responsibility to make the road condition safe, a bicyclist might have a claim against the government agency. Some common dangerous conditions are poor visibility, inadequate lighting, broken traffic signals, potholes, uneven pavement, debris in the roadway, and broken guardrails.
  • Bicycle defects. Sometimes a bike accident can be caused by a defect in the bicycle. If the bike itself had a defect in the design or manufacturing process, the injured cyclist could have a claim against the bicycle manufacturer. Some common manufacturing defects are defective brakes, bad tires, problems with design or materials, and faulty chains.
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What Should You Do if Someone Hits Your Bike in Richmond, VA?

It is important to know that if you are a cyclist and were involved in a hit and run, call 911 immediately. The faster you call the police, the better the chances of the at-fault driver being found.

If you have been injured, you should stay calm and assess your condition. Even if you believe you are fine, you should seek medical treatment. If you are in stable condition and are able, you should try to get the contact information of the other party, and take pictures of the scene, your bicycle, and your injuries. Finally, and most importantly, do not admit fault or apologize. Though this may be a natural reaction, this can severely limit your future lawsuit and can have disastrous effects on your compensation.

Please also consider speaking with an attorney after your accident. An experienced Richmond, VA bicycle accident attorney can help you through the process, ensure that you do not miss deadlines, and alleviate the burden of proving your case alone.

How to Minimize the Risks of Bicycle Accidents

Bicycles should be cautious and proactive when riding their bicycles and should always practice basic bicycle safety. Cyclists should stay visible by choosing bright and reflective clothing, staying alert and aware of their surroundings, and maintaining their bicycle and keeping it in good condition.

A helmet is the most important safety equipment a cyclist can wear because a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head and brain injuries in the event of a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that wearing a helmet reduced the likelihood of serious head injuries by 60 percent. NHTSA also found that in cases where it was known whether the rider was wearing a helmet, 79 percent of those riders who were killed were not wearing helmets. Bicyclists can protect themselves and significantly reduce their risk of head and brain injuries, and even death, by wearing a bicycle helmet every time they ride their bike.

Cyclists should always wear a helmet, but some cyclists will inevitably be injured while biking without a helmet. Many states have helmet laws to protect cyclists, and Virginia’s helmet laws may affect your lawsuit based on your fault for the injuries you sustained. Many jurisdictions in Virginia require bicyclists to wear a helmet.

If you want to know whether your failure to wear a helmet will hinder your bicycle accident claim, an attorney can speak with you at a free consultation to discuss your options.

What Are the Most Common Biking Accident Injuries?

Bicycle accidents are especially dangerous because the bicycle itself offers the rider no physical protection. Oftentimes, bike accidents result in only minor injuries like scrapes or bruising, but some common severe bicycle accident injuries are:

  • Head and traumatic brain injuries
  • Neurological damage
  • Facial injuries
  • Dislocations
  • Sprains and lacerations
  • Fractures
  • Road rash
  • Broken bones
  • Back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Paralysis
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bike Accidents in Richmond

Q:How long Do I have to file a bike accident claim in Virginia?

Virginia has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which includes bicycle accidents. You have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. If you have any more questions about when to file, please contact us for a consultation.

Q: What factors affect the value of my case?

When bicycle accident victims come in for a consultation, they want to know how much your lawsuit is worth. Without an evaluation of the specific details of the claim, this will be hard to determine, but after sitting down with a lawyer and discussing your claim, you will have a more specific approximate amount of damages that your lawyer believes you are entitled to. Some factors that affect the value of a bicycle accident claim are:

Q: What traffic rules are cyclists obligated to follow?

Bicyclists have similar responsibilities to motor vehicles on the roadway: “Every person riding a bicycle on a highway shall be subject to the provisions of the Code of Virginia section on motor vehicles and shall have the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle unless a provision clearly indicates otherwise.”

Cyclists in Virginia must pass safely, use caution when turning, use the correct hand signals when turning, observe speed limits and traffic devices, yield to pedestrians, and use lights and reflectors when riding at night.

Cyclists in Virginia also have a right to ride with the flow of traffic on the right side of the road, use the full lane if the road is too narrow, pass on either the right or left, and ride two to a lane if it does not interfere with the flow of traffic.

Q: What types of damages can I recover?

Bike accidents, especially when injuries are severe or will continue for a lifetime, may affect every part of a person’s life. At Regan Zambri Long, our attorneys seek to obtain bicycle accident settlements and awards that include damages for:

Q: What evidence helps prove a bicycle accident claim?

The more evidence you can gather, the higher the likelihood of success on your claim. the better your lawyer can anticipate what your compensation may be and the timeline for your case. Some of the most important evidence for you to gather is:

Why choose Regan Zambri Long as your Richmond bike accident attorney?

Hiring an attorney will take the burden of investigating your accident, determining liability, negotiating with insurance companies, and even going to trial off of your shoulders. Because bicycle accidents are different from standard vehicle accidents, it is important to hire a firm with bicycle-accident-specific experience. Our Richmond personal injury lawyers know the intricacies of Virginia biking and personal injury law. Regan Zambri Long is a nationally recognized law firm and has won more than $650 million in compensation for its clients over the last several decades.

At Regan Zambri Long, we pride ourselves in providing client-centered advocacy, assistance with medical treatment for bicycle accident injuries, and the financial resources needed to hire the best experts and most qualified team of litigators. At Regan Zambri Long, our clients are our top priority.

Contact Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a free consultation. You do not pay a fee until we win your case.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

Call 202-960-4596

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