Traveling by bicycle should be no more dangerous than walking, taking public transportation, or driving a car. However, each day, hundreds of bicyclists in our state and across the country sustain serious injuries in accidents caused by reckless or careless drivers.
At the Law Offices of David W. Holub, we understand the devastating impact of a bicycle collision on you and your loved ones. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys have years of experience achieving strong results in similar cases. If you were injured while cycling due to someone else’s negligence, consulting a skilled Valparaiso bicycle accident lawyer is a crucial step toward securing the compensation you deserve.
What Damages Are Recoverable After a Bicycle Wreck?
A key aspect of personal injury litigation is to compensate injured people for specific economic and non-economic losses directly resulting from another party’s negligence, including but not limited to:
- Medical bills
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and trauma
- Lost work income and/or working ability
- Personal property damage, including costs of repairing/replacing a damaged bicycle
- Lost enjoyment of life, and other intangible effects of long-term disability/disfigurement
Technically, a court can also impose additional punitive damages against the defendant in a Valparaiso bicycle crash claim. However, as an experienced attorney can further explain, this is a fairly rare occurrence reserved for situations involving extreme negligence or intentionally malicious misconduct.
How Comparative Fault Could Impact Civil Recovery
Another critical aspect of bicycle accident litigation is comparative fault, which determines the degree of responsibility an injured bicyclist may bear for the accident. If a court assigns a percentage of fault to a bicyclist—for instance, due to a minor traffic violation or not wearing a helmet—Indiana Code §34-51-2-5 allows for a corresponding reduction in the compensation awarded.
If a court determines that an injured person bears more than 50 percent of the fault for an accident, I.C. §34-51-2-6 would bar them from receiving any civil compensation whatsoever for that incident, even if someone else was also partly at fault. Support from a knowledgeable bicycle injury lawyer in Valparaiso could be all but essential to effectively fighting back against allegations along these lines made by civil defendants and maximizing available recovery.
Work With a Valparaiso Bicycle Accident Injury Attorney
Even with proper safety gear and responsible riding, another person’s negligence can still cause serious harm. However, state law allows you to seek compensation from those responsible—provided you understand and can effectively assert your legal rights.
The support of a Valparaiso bicycle accident lawyer from the Law Offices of David W. Holub could help tip the odds of a positive case result in your favor. Call today to discuss your options.