When you are injured in an accident on your bike, calling our trusted trial attorneys for help could ensure your case’s success. Our experienced Sarasota bicycle accident lawyers will help you build a comprehensive case to ensure you get the compensation you deserve while holding the at-fault party accountable.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle crash, trust a Sarasota law firm with decades of proven results and deep roots in the community. Contact Dannheisser Injury Law today or call us at 941-365-7600 for a free consultation and honest opinion about your bicycle accident case.
Many bicycle accidents result from another party’s failure to follow traffic laws and act reasonably around cyclists. This could be the actions of a driver in a motor vehicle, another cyclist, or pedestrians. Examples of negligent actions could include the following:
Injuries resulting from a bicycle accident are often much worse for cyclists than drivers because they lack the physical protection that motor vehicles offer. Often, cyclists experience direct contact with the motor vehicle and the road, meaning they can suffer from severe scrapes, broken bones, brain or spine trauma, and internal organ damage.
These injuries can be permanent and, in some cases, life-threatening. After an injury of this nature, legal action against at-fault drivers or other parties could be necessary to provide the injured person with financial relief. Documenting the evidence of both the at fault drivers fault and the extent of your injuries is important in order to prove to your jury the full value of your damages. Our Dannheisser Injury Law Sarasota attorneys and investigators will help find and document your evidence so that your jury will understand the full value of your losses and damages.
Florida generally caps punitive damages at of three times the compensatory damages, or $500,000; however, the amount could be greater in some instances, such as those involving an intoxicated driver. A skilled lawyer in Sarasota could identify the injured person’s damages resulting from a bike wreck, ensuring every loss is accounted for.
Florida has a short, two-year statute of limitations under Statute 95.11(4)(a) for a person injured in a Sarasota bicycle accident to file a civil action for negligence. The period generally begins on the date of the accident. A two-year filing deadline also applies to bicycle accidents that result in wrongful death under Statute 95.11(4)(e).
A potential concern for injured bicyclists is the consequence of Florida’s comparative negligence rule 768.81, which applies in cases where the plaintiff is partially responsible for their own injuries. This rule says that if the plaintiff is partially responsible for their injuries, the court could reduce their financial award by their percentage of fault.
A hardworking Sarasota bike accident attorney at Dannheisser Injury Law is ready to prove that you are not more than 50% at fault for your bicycle collision.
A Sarasota bicycle accident lawyer could help you or an injured family member by reviewing the details of your case for potential claims against liable parties. They could also help your case by defending against comparative negligence claims, identifying all compensable damages, and following necessary procedures like Florida’s statute of limitations.
Our experienced bicycle accident lawyers serve to support your case from start to finish with a commitment to 24/7 availability. Call us today to speak with our committed legal team members.
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Dannheisser Injury Law has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury claims throughout Sarasota, Bradenton, and the surrounding counties. We use this experience of investigating, handling insurance companies and defense counsel, and litigating lawsuits to build your case so that you can focus on recovering physically and emotionally.
You can still make a claim against the at-fault parties for compensation even if you weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of your bicycle accident. However, the other side’s insurance adjuster and defense counsel are likely to argue that your injuries are exacerbated due to not wearing a helmet. Although this isn’t guaranteed to reduce your potential recovery, it provides a talking point for insurance and defense counsel.
Just because a lawsuit was filed for your bicycle accident does not mean that it’s guaranteed to go to trial. An overwhelming majority of lawsuits, including lawsuits for bicycle accidents, settle outside of court.
Every bicycle accident case is different. First, the value of your case depends on the injuries that you suffered. Serious, permanent injuries with resulting high amounts of medical bills and future life care needs have a greater case value than minor injuries that are temporary in nature. Next, liability plays an important role in your bicycle accident case’s worth. If you were partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by the percentage at fault you are deemed to be under Florida’s modified comparative negligence statute. Finally, your recovery typically is greater if the at-fault party has higher levels of insurance coverage.
Lawyers gather substantial amounts of evidence to prove liability for bicycle accidents, including but not limited to, police reports, surveillance footage, dash cams, traffic camera footage, witness testimony, medical records, and accident reconstruction videos and testimony.
Yes, bicyclists and motorists such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, all have the same right to share the road as “vulnerable road users” according to the Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.
Florida law allows for two years from the date of your bicycle accident to file a lawsuit. Although two years seems like a long time, it’s important to start the process early as evidence, such as footage from traffic cameras, dashboards, and surveillance cameras, are most readily available immediately following the accident.
Depending on the type of bicycle accident and the specific case facts, the following could be held liable for your accident and injuries: (1) Negligent drivers; (2) Other bicyclists; (3) Pedestrians; (4) Government entities responsible for maintaining roadways, street signage, and other unsafe road conditions; and (5) The bicycle manufacturer in the event of a product defect.
While you don’t “need” a police report for your Sarasota bicycle accident, we strongly recommend you contact police and get have a police report filed as it provides substantial evidence of the bicycle accident and how it occurred. The police report will include possible witnesses and witness statements, time and location of the bicycle accident, and most likely will have initial fault assessments.
Seek medical care even if your injuries seem minor. Call law enforcement to file a report, gather evidence such as accident scene photos, videos, and witness contact information. Also, watch what you say to law enforcement, medical professionals, and others at the scene of the accident to avoid admitting fault. Finally, contact an experienced Sarasota bicycle accident lawyer to protect your rights and begin the claims process.
