South Bend
Bicycle Accident
ATTORNEY

DELVENTHAL LAW

Bicycles are a common sight in South Bend, as they are in other college towns. Cyclists enjoy riding as a hobby, but many also use bicycles to get to work or school on a regular basis. Bicycling offers many benefits, including regular exercise, and is an inexpensive method of transportation.

Unfortunately, bicyclists are vulnerable when they get into a collision. Contact an experienced South Bend bicycle accident lawyer at Delventhal Law Office to discuss any collision while riding a bike. We are happy to hear you explain what happened and go over the process for requesting compensation.

Bicycle Accident Injuries

Any cyclist can suffer an injury when they crash, with some of the most serious including:

• Neck injuries
• Back pain
• Spinal column injuries
• Concussions
• Herniated discs
• Shoulder injuries
• Broken bones
• Nerve damage
• Road rash

Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of a serious head injury but never eliminate it.

Who is Liable for Your Bicycle Accident?

The key legal question in a bicycle accident is liability. Who is responsible for the collision which sent you to the hospital?

Often, a negligent driver is responsible for:

• Failing to yield and crashing into a bicycle;
• Passing too closely and clipping the cyclist;
• Speeding and being unable to stop in time to avoid a crash;
• Driving while distracted and not paying attention;
• Driving while chemically impaired and unable to avoid a collision.

These are common examples of negligence which will make a driver liable for a wreck. Reach out to our bicycle accident lawyer in South Bend to review if you can submit a claim on the driver’s liability policy.

In other cases, a road defect could lead to a crash. A bicyclist could flip over when they strike a huge pothole or debris left from a construction zone. The defendant will be the entity responsible for the road, usually the government.

How to Start a Legal Claim for Compensation

Your bicycle accident claim starts the moment you are injured. Here are the most important steps:

• Call the police to report your crash. The police should have an officer come to the scene to create a crash report. The officer can also talk to witnesses.
• Swap information with the driver. If you were struck by a motorist, ask for their name, license, registration, and insurance details. You can share your own personal information with the driver.
• Photograph the scene. Get pictures of the vehicle that struck you, as well as any road defects which flipped your bicycle.
• Talk with witnesses and ask them for a phone number or email. They might speak to your lawyer later to share their perspective on the accident.
• Go to the hospital when you are finished at the scene. Prompt diagnosis aids in recovery while also fully documenting your injuries.

We also recommend meeting with an established law firm to review your legal rights. Typically, you can request financial compensation for economic and non-economic damages. A lawyer can provide more tips for what documents or evidence to preserve in the coming months for your legal claim.

How We Negotiate on Behalf of Our Clients

Delventhal Law Office has decades of experience negotiating settlements for many types of personal injury cases. Our firm helps our clients by developing individualized case strategies to guide negotiations:

1.       Evidence collection. We want to understand the accident inside and out. Our attention to detail gives us an edge when arguing with insurance companies about who is responsible for an accident.

2.       Damages analysis. We lean on decades of experience when calculating the value of your claim. We usually seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain.

3.       Negotiation. We can open negotiations with the defendant or their insurer to obtain a fair settlement. This process requires full command of the facts and Indiana personal injury law.

4.       Mediation. We might also participate in mediation to help resolve the dispute.

5.       Litigation and trial. Delventhal Law Office will file a lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations, which is two years. (Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4.) And we can litigate your case to trial when a defendant or their insurer refuses to settle for a fair amount.

We have enjoyed an unparalleled level of success in personal injury cases. To learn more, contact our office. We can explain more about the process, as well as timelines involved in bicycle accident cases.

Call to Speak with a Bicycle Accident Lawyer at Our Office

Not every lawyer is prepared to handle personal injury cases. Contact us today to schedule an individual consultation with our team. We have decades of experience reconstructing accidents and negotiating with Indiana’s largest insurers. We offer consultations free of charge.