Even at relatively low speeds, bicycle accidents can have serious and life-threatening consequences. Though state law protects bicyclists to the same degree as others on the road, a moment of recklessness or impairment from a pedestrian, vehicle, or other cyclist can leave you at a tremendous—and dangerous—disadvantage.
If you are injured in a bicycle accident in which another party was at fault, there is potential for you to receive financial compensation for damages sustained in the incident through the assistance of an experienced injury attorney. A Chattanooga bicycle accident lawyer can help you get back on your feet and recover financially from your losses.
Cyclists are expected to follow the same rules of the road as automobile drivers. They must stay as close to the right side of the road as possible, and only move away while turning or for the sake of their own safety.
In the event of an accident, this equality on the road becomes relevant for insurance purposes. In addition to the other party’s motorist insurance company, the injured person’s own car insurance, homeowner’s insurance, or health insurance may be involved in legal proceedings as well and will be taken into account by a bike accident attorney in Chattanooga.
If the person injured decides to take their case to court, the other party’s negligence must be proven according to the legal definition of the term, which requires that four qualifying conditions be met:
In personal injury cases, state courts operate according to a modified comparative negligence system. In many situations, each party involved in an accident is somewhat at fault for it. Accordingly, a judge determines in the form of a percentage the degree of which each party is responsible, and may award damages based on that division of fault.
However, the modified nature of Tennessee’s comparative negligence law means that if an injured party is found to be 50 percent responsible or more for an accident, they may not receive any compensation at all–an important distinction that will be considered by a Chattanooga lawyer familiar with bike accident claims.
Often, it is best for individuals to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible after being injured in an accident, usually due to pressing financial concerns brought on by unexpected medical bills.
If the injured person chooses to delay for any reason, however, it is important they are aware of Tennessee’s statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits, which prohibits compensation for injuries if the suit is filed more than one year after the accident in question.
After a bad bicycle accident, legal recompense might be the last thing on your mind. Nonetheless, if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, then you may be able to receive some form of compensation in return.
Reach out to a Chattanooga bicycle accident lawyer today to find out if you have a case against the party that injured you.