Were you recently injured in Texas Hill Country, Texas, in a bike accident? Do you think someone else is to blame? If so, Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help you demand the justice and accountability you deserve when you call (737) 252-8168.
Contact us today to arrange a free consultation with a caring and compassionate Texas Hill Country bicycle accident lawyer.
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Why Should I Choose Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers as My Bike Accident Law Firm?
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers has the experience and track record of success such that when we are retained for a case, insurance companies take notice. Here’s why you should trust our Texas Hill Country personal injury attorneys:
- We are Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyers, which demonstrates a commitment to a specific area of the law and is a distinction held by only a small percentage of lawyers in Texas.
- Our Texas legal team has over 45 years of combined experience.
- We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for our personal injury clients.
- We’ve been included in Expertise’s Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Houston in 2020.
- We’ve been included in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
- We are recipients of the 2021 Avvo Client’s Choice Award.
- Our firm has a 10.0 Avvo Rating.
- We are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you hire Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we can investigate the accident, identify the at-fault party, and determine which insurance policy will apply to cover your losses. Then, we relentlessly pursue maximum compensation that fairly acknowledges the full extent of your injuries.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team if you’ve been in a bicycle accident in Texas Hill Country, TX.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Texas?
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 2,604 traffic crashes involved bicyclists in Texas in 2023, resulting in 106 deaths and 384 serious injuries. Bicyclist fatalities in Texas have increased a shocking 58% since 2019.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
The first step in preparing a bicycle accident claim is identifying the cause of the accident. This can also help determine the parties that might be responsible for the accident. Some of the leading causes of bike accidents include:
- Driver distractions: Drivers might be texting, talking to passengers, engaged with their infotainment systems, or otherwise distracted. Even taking their eyes or attention off the road for a single second can lead to deadly consequences when motorists collide with a bicyclist.
- Failure to yield the right-of-way: Drivers may not see bicyclists or become impatient around them, leading them to fail to yield the right-of-way when they are supposed to. This commonly happens at intersections.
- Speeding: Drivers who are speeding are more likely to lose control of their vehicle, less likely to spot hazards, and need more time to come to a stop to avoid the hazard once they do recognize it.
- Unsafe passing: Motorists may pass bicyclists in a way that endangers them, such as by leaving too little room or driving too close to them during this risky maneuver. Motorists may get impatient and pass when they have a double line.
- Driver error: In addition to the above mistakes, motorists may also violate other traffic laws designed to protect cyclists.
- Road hazards: Bicyclists could be injured because of problems on the road, such as potholes, slippery road surfaces, or debris on the roadway. Roads may be designed in an unsafe manner that fails to account for their presence.
- Defective parts: The bicycle or car involved in the accident may have a faulty part that contributed to the accident.
- Dooring incidents: Vehicle occupants may fail to check their surroundings before opening their doors, which could cause serious dooring accidents.
If you might’ve been injured due to any of these factors, reach out for help from a personal injury lawyer.
Who Is Responsible for My Bike Accident?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your bike accident, one or more of the following parties could be legally liable for your injuries:
- Motorists
- Construction companies
- Road maintenance companies
- Governmental agencies
- Bike or auto part manufacturers
An experienced attorney can thoroughly review your case to determine who is at fault.
What Financial Compensation Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Claim?
Texas law allows bicycle accident victims to recover compensatory damages, which cover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover losses that can be quantified, such as:
- Medical expenses for emergency care, ambulance fees, hospital stays, surgeries, visits with medical specialists, follow-ups with the primary care physician, prescription medications, and medical devices
- Current and future costs for ongoing medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages for the time the accident victim had to take off work for medical treatments and recovery
- Future lost wages and loss of employment opportunities due to a long-term injury
- Loss or reduction in earning capacity
- Bike repairs or replacement
- Out-of-pocket expenses for travel, transportation, disability accommodations, modifications to homes or vehicles, and other costs the victim pays out of pocket
Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses without a direct monetary value, such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Psychological trauma
- Depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
An experienced lawyer from our firm can review your case and identify all the damages we can demand on your behalf.
How Is My Personal Injury Case Affected if I Contributed to the Accident?
Because Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, you can still file a claim to recover compensation for an accident you contributed to as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible for it. However, your personal injury damages are reduced by your degree of fault.
Imagine that a driver was speeding when they hit you. However, you forgot to use hand signals when you were turning. A jury might find you 20 percent at fault for the accident. If you suffered $100,000 in damages, your award would be reduced by 20 percent or $20,000 in this scenario because that is the portion of the accident that is attributed to you.
Insurance companies know these rules and try to exploit them to try to shift more blame onto the victim than is fair or to push the accident victim’s negligence beyond the 50-percent threshold. Our experienced attorneys can effectively counter these tactics and protect your right to receive full and fair compensation.
What Is My Bike Accident Case Worth?
Every bicycle accident case is different, so there’s no average settlement for a bike accident claim to expect. Factors that can affect your claim’s value include:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- The type, duration, and expense of your medical treatment
- Who is responsible for your injuries and their insurance coverage
- Whether you were able to return to work after the accident
- Whether you have suffered a permanent disability due to the accident
- How the injury has impacted your life and relationships with loved ones
- Whether you contributed to the accident
Our attorneys will work hard to emphasize the factors that increase the value of your claim.
What To Do After a Bike Accident
Here are the steps you should take if you were injured in a bike accident:
- Report the accident: If you’re conscious, call 911 to report the accident. This can help ensure that a law enforcement officer responds to the scene, helps you get the medical assistance you need, and prepares an official report you will need when making your insurance claim.
- Seek medical attention: Accept the emergency responder’s offer to take you to the hospital. If you were not immediately taken to the hospital after the accident, seek medical attention immediately.
- Ask for Information: Ask the at-fault driver for their name, contact information, and insurance information. Ask to see their driver’s license number and write down the information. Also, ask witnesses for their names and contact information.
- Document the scene: If possible, take pictures of the conditions that contributed to the accident, including road and weather conditions, nearby traffic signs or signals, and the location of the vehicle. Photograph your injuries and the damage to the vehicle.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you with the next steps, allowing you the space and time you need to heal.
What Is the Filing Deadline for a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This means that you generally have until your accident’s second anniversary to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you don’t file your case within this time and you have not settled it, you can lose your chance to recover compensation through the courts.
Protect your rights by contacting an experienced bike accident lawyer today.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer From Our Law Firm for Legal Assistance
If you were injured while riding your bicycle in Texas Hill Country, TX, Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Let our Texas Hill Country bicycle accident lawyers fight for you while you focus on your recovery. Call us today to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.
