Alvin Bicycle Accident Lawyer Fights for Maximum Compensation
Bicyclists in the Houston area share the roads with cars, trucks, and other vehicles that are much larger and heavier, so in a collision, someone riding a bike is likely to be seriously hurt while the driver of the other vehicle gets off without a scratch. It’s simply not fair.
When another person’s actions are to blame for causing a bicycle accident, the injured bicyclist should be entitled to compensation, but insurance companies make it very hard to receive amounts to cover even basic needs like medical care, let alone amounts to offset the pain, suffering, and other losses.
But a skilled Alvin bicycle accident lawyer at DeKeyzer Law can help. We are dedicated to securing the future for ordinary people whose lives have been turned upside down by circumstances outside their control. We know how to stand up to insurance companies to fight effectively to get full and fair compensation for your losses after a bicycle accident.
Investigating the Cause of Your Bicycle Accident
Even when it seems obvious that a negligent driver caused your bicycle accident, it is still vitally important to investigate as soon as possible to gather evidence to demonstrate what happened and who is responsible. In many cases, more than one person is at fault.
At DeKeyzer Law, attorneys Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer can help you gather and preserve crucial evidence such as:
- Footage from traffic cameras and security cameras
- Testimony from pedestrians and motorists who witnessed the crash or events leading up to it
- Photographs of the accident scene and features that could have contributed to causation
- Experts in accident reconstruction
In addition, we know how to analyze police reports and medical records to discern the critical details that can make all the difference in your case. Regardless of whether you will end up receiving compensation through a settlement or as the result of litigation in court, it is necessary to build a solid case to demonstrate why others are responsible for causing the bicycle accident and your resulting injuries. Holland and Meagan excel in digging out the details and presenting them persuasively to demonstrate liability in a way that is impossible to ignore.
Determining What Your Bicycle Accident Case is Worth
Once your Alvin bicycle accident lawyer can prove that one or more other people are responsible for causing your bicycle accident, your attorney can seek compensation to cover the full array of your losses, which includes both tangible and intangible effects. Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer work to obtain compensation for past, present, and future economic losses such as medical bills, wages lost due to time off work, and amounts to cover medical needs and potential income loss in the future.
In addition, we fight for maximum recovery from the intangible effects of your injuries—the factors that affect every aspect of your life but don’t have a direct economic equivalent. This includes effects such as pain, suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment of your favorite activities. No amount of money can take away your pain or restore the times in your life lost due to the accident, but when we help you recover compensation to offset your losses and provide for your future needs, that provides a sense of justice and reduces future worries.
Injuries Resulting from Bicycle Accidents
The injuries in bicycle accidents are often so catastrophic that they lead to wrongful death or a situation where the victim needs a lifetime of care. Cyclists knocked from their bicycles often suffer from:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis
- Back injuries
- Joint damage
- Neck injuries
- Nerve damage
- Burns and road rash that lead to scarring
- Damage to internal organs
While some injuries may be immediately obvious, others, including brain damage, do not show symptoms until some time after the accident. It is essential to get a thorough medical exam after an accident and to return to the doctor any time symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop.
How Bicycle Laws Play a Role in Accident Cases
The Texas Transportation Code (and sometimes local ordinances) establishes rules regarding the operation of bicycles and the obligations of those driving other vehicles on the roads near bicycles. If a driver or bicyclist violates a rule, they could be subject to sanctions, but more importantly, a violation can help prove that someone was negligent and, therefore, should be held liable for harm resulting from a bicycle accident.
Drivers are required to yield in many situations under the rules and yet often fail to do so. They also violate rules prohibiting driving while distracted by a handheld device or while impaired by alcohol or drugs. While a driver has violated the law, it provides another piece of evidence to show why they should be held responsible for an accident.
Of course, bicyclists have legal obligations, too. For instance, Section 551.103 of the Texas Transportation Code requires bicyclists operating on the roads to ride as close as possible to the right edge of the road unless it is not safe to do so, or they are planning to make a left turn. If you do something that contributes to the cause of your accident, your Alvin bicycle accident lawyer can still work to obtain compensation for your losses as long as you are not considered to bear the majority of the blame. Your damage award would be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you, but you would not be entirely prevented from recovering.
Your attorney might be able to use statutes and ordinances to argue in your favor. For instance, Alvin lawmakers repealed a rule prohibiting the operation of bicycles on sidewalks. So if a motorist struck your bicycle while turning into a commercial driveway—which happens all the time—and they argue that you shouldn’t have been riding on the sidewalk, your lawyer might argue that the repeal of the sidewalk law shows that lawmakers believe it is appropriate for you to be on the sidewalk and that therefore the driver has a duty to be watching for cyclists when turning.
Don’t Let Insurance Companies Trick You Out of Your Recovery—Contact DeKeyzer Law After Your Bicycle Accident
Insurance companies are notorious for pressuring bicycle accident victims and their families to accept a quick settlement before they have time to consult an Alvin bicycle accident lawyer who can help them understand the full extent of their future needs and the value of their claims. Insurance companies also try to trick victims into saying or doing something that makes it harder for them to recover.
When you work with Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer, we can handle questions from the insurance company on your behalf so that you can relax and focus on recovery. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin collecting evidence to build your case and the more assistance we can provide in helping you find the resources you need to rebuild your life.
You only pay if we win, so you have nothing to lose. For a free personal injury consultation with Holland or Meagan DeKeyzer, just call us at 713-904-4004 or reach out through our website.