Wheat Ridge Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Wheat Ridge Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bicycling is popular in Wheat Ridge and throughout Colorado, and most bicyclists are able to enjoy riding without issue. However, whenever a bicyclist moves alongside motor vehicle traffic or takes a lane where it is legal to do so, there is always a risk of a serious accident happening. If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, a Wheat Ridge bicycle accident lawyer can help you recover your damages.

Legal Representation for Injured Bicyclists in Wheat Ridge, CO

The attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard have extensive experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases in Wheat Ridge, including those pertaining to bicycle accidents. These accidents can be tremendously damaging, and the path toward recovery is not always clear. If you believe another party is responsible for causing your recent bicycle accident, recovery may require both an auto insurance claim and a personal injury suit.

You face time limits for these recovery efforts, and you may be overwhelmed when it comes to managing your legal affairs and your medical needs all at once. When you have an experienced bike injury attorney in CO handling your case, you are not only more likely to succeed with your recovery efforts but also more likely to maximize the total compensation you obtain for your damages.

Our goal in every case we represent is maximum client recovery in the most efficient manner possible. As soon as you hire our firm to represent you, we can begin gathering the evidence needed to support your case. Once we help you prove fault, we can guide you through the insurance claim filing process and build a personal injury suit against an at-fault driver if necessary to ensure your full recovery.

Proving Liability for Your Bicycle Accident in Wheat Ridge

Colorado enforces the fault standard for resolving all vehicle accident cases, meaning it is crucial that you prove fault for your recent accident before you will be able to recover any compensation for your damages. You must identify the party responsible for causing your bicycle accident, prove exactly how they caused it, and then show proof of the full extent of the resulting damages. You must be able to establish causation between your claimed losses and their actions as well.

Most of the bicycle accidents reported in the Wheat Ridge area happen because of negligence, or failure to use reasonable care in certain situations. For example, speeding and distracted driving can easily cause a bicycle accident, and both are violations of a driver’s duty of care to operate their vehicle responsibly and attentively. Your attorney can help gather whatever evidence you may need to prove liability for your accident.

If the at-fault driver caused your accident through some illegal misconduct, it could influence your recovery in various ways. For example, the court may award you punitive damages when a defendant’s actions have exceeded the scope of typical negligence, or you could receive restitution as an element of a defendant’s sentence in their criminal trial. Your bike injury attorney in CO can explain any implications a criminal case against the defendant has on your recovery.

Claiming Compensation for Your Bicycle Accident

Once you prove fault for your bicycle accident, you can proceed with claiming compensation from the at-fault party. This will likely begin with a claim against their auto insurance policy. This insurance applies after any vehicle accident, including a bicycle accident. However, the at-fault driver’s insurance may only cover a portion of your total losses, or they may not have insurance at all.

Your Wheat Ridge bicycle accident lawyer can assist you with the insurance claim filing process and resolve any disputes you encounter with the insurance company. Once you receive your settlement, any remaining damages not covered by insurance must be claimed with a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. State law allows a plaintiff to claim economic and non-economic damages from a defendant, with some limitations.

You can seek full repayment of any economic damages the defendant caused, such as property losses, medical expenses, and lost wages. You may also seek compensation for projected future losses, such as your lost earning capacity and future medical expenses you will incur for treating a severe injury. A bike injury attorney in Wheat Ridge, CO can help you accurately calculate the full extent of your claimable economic damages.

When it comes to non-economic damages, you can claim pain and suffering compensation up to the limit enforced by state law. Your attorney can help determine a fair amount that reflects the scope of your injuries and the severity of any long-term medical complications you are likely to experience because of them. Generally, the more severe your injuries, the more you can expect in pain and suffering compensation.

What to Expect From Your Wheat Ridge Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Ultimately, your recovery efforts following a bicycle accident could be more complicated than you initially anticipate, but you could be entitled to claim more than you expect at first. The right bike injury attorney in CO can be an invaluable asset for not only increasing your chances of winning your case but also for maximizing your total case award.

When you choose Cheney Galluzzi & Howard to represent your bicycle accident claim, our goal will be to streamline your legal proceedings as much as possible to reduce the time it takes for you to recover your damages. You can rely on us to represent you before an insurance carrier, and if a personal injury suit is required to ensure full recovery, we will do everything we can to settle the case swiftly for as much compensation as state law allows.

You have only a few days after your accident to file an auto insurance claim, and you face a two-year statute of limitations if you intend to file any personal injury case in the state. Do not assume this is more than enough time and delay in the filing of your case. The sooner you connect with reliable legal counsel, the more likely you are to succeed with your claim, and you can meet all the procedural deadlines with the court without worry.

FAQs About Wheat Ridge, CO Bicycle Accident Laws

Q: How Do I Prove Fault for a Bicycle Accident in Wheat Ridge?

A: You may need to secure several types of evidence to build your case against whoever caused your bicycle accident. Cell phone records, vehicle computer data, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, physical evidence from the scene of the crash, and even expert witness testimony could all come into play in your impending case. You must prove fault and the extent of your damages to recover as fully as possible from your accident.

Q: What Are the Most Common Injuries From Bicycle Accidents?

A: Any time a driver hits a bicyclist, the victim is likely to suffer severe injuries. A few of the most commonly reported injuries from bicycle accidents include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal organ damage, and facial and dental injuries. A victim may suffer multiple serious injuries along with many minor cuts, bruises, and scrapes, and victims often face long and difficult recoveries.

Q: Can I File an Auto Insurance Claim After a Bicycle Accident?

A: Yes. If the driver who hit you has auto insurance as required by law, you have the right to file a claim against their policy just as you would after a car accident. However, many bicycle accidents result in catastrophic injuries, and a minimum coverage policy may only cover a portion of your total losses. Filing an insurance claim is typically the first step in recovering from a bicycle accident, followed by filing a personal injury claim to secure repayment of remaining losses.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Bike Injury Attorney in CO?

A: While it is technically possible for you to pursue recovery from your recent bicycle accident on your own, and there is no law requiring that you hire legal counsel, the right attorney can not only significantly improve your chances of success with your case but also help maximize your total compensation. They will know all the various forms of compensation you can include in your case.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Wheat Ridge Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

A: Cheney Galluzzi & Howard can offer the legal counsel you need for your impending bicycle accident case on a contingency fee basis. This means you will only pay a percentage of your final case award as our fee, and only if we win your case. There is no fee if we are unable to obtain a case award for you, and there is no risk of paying more for representation than you win in compensation for your losses.

Bike Injury Attorney CO

You have a limited time in which to pursue compensation for the damages you suffered in your recent bicycle accident. The sooner you connect with legal counsel, the more likely you are to succeed with your legal efforts. Contact Cheney Galluzzi & Howard today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Wheat Ridge bicycle accident lawyer to learn more about the legal services we provide.