New Haven Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicyclists are at risk any time they ride with or near motor vehicle traffic, and bicycle accidents tend to result in severe injuries. If you or a family member recently experienced such an incident, a New Haven bicycle accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options for recovering your damages. If another party is to blame for your injuries, your attorney can help you hold them accountable and recover compensation for you.

Representing Bicycle Accident Victims in New Haven, CT

Dolan Injury Lawyers, PLLC, offers compassionate legal representation for a wide range of personal injury cases in New Haven, including bicycle accident cases. We know the various legal issues you might encounter in your efforts to prove fault for this type of accident and hold the at-fault driver accountable for the harm they have done. With our assistance, you can approach the case with confidence and have a much greater chance of success.

Our goal for your case is to secure maximum compensation for your damages as efficiently as possible. Trust our team to help you uncover every avenue of recovery available to you, accurately assess the full value of your claimable damages, and guide you through your legal proceedings, ready to answer your questions and address your concerns as they arise. You have a limited time in which to file your case so it’s important to contact a lawyer right away.

Proving Fault for a Bicycle Accident in New Haven

Connecticut uses a fault-based system to resolve all vehicle accident cases, including bicycle accidents. This means you must prove fault for your accident before you can recover any compensation for your damages, and the at-fault party who caused the accident is liable for those damages. Proving fault for a bicycle accident is likely to require similar steps as to what you could expect following most other types of vehicle accidents.

Your New Haven bicycle accident lawyer can help you obtain witness statements, traffic camera footage, vehicle computer data, and other evidence to prove liability for the accident. Many bicycle accidents in New Haven happen because of driver negligence, such as distracted driving, speeding, and moving violations, but they can also occur when drivers break the law, such as by driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

It’s important to remember that the state follows a modified comparative negligence statute. This means that when multiple parties share fault for causing a personal injury, each liable party has a fault percentage assigned, representing the share of the total damages for which they are responsible. It’s possible for a plaintiff to face partial liability if they contributed to causing their accident, and this will diminish their recovery by their percentage of fault.

Recovering Compensation for a Bicycle Accident

Once you have established fault for your bicycle accident, you can claim compensation for any damages the at-fault party caused. This process may begin with an auto insurance claim, as every driver in the state is required to have auto insurance, and this insurance can cover damages resulting from a bicycle accident as well as other vehicle accidents. The at-fault driver’s insurance policy may cover some of your losses.

However, dealing with insurance companies is often challenging as they will do everything they can to avoid paying out maximum settlements and will try to deny claims whenever they can. When you have an experienced attorney helping you file your claim, it’s more likely that your claim will be handled in good faith and that you will receive a timely and reasonable settlement offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier.

Maximizing Your Recovery With a Personal Injury Suit

When insurance cannot fully compensate you for your losses, or when an at-fault driver does not have insurance, a personal injury suit is likely to be your most viable recovery option. Success with a personal injury claim in New Haven requires proving the defendant directly caused your damages and proving the full extent of those damages. State law allows an injured plaintiff to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are direct financial losses a defendant caused, such as medical expenses, property damage, and lost income. The victim may face long-term medical treatment costs for serious injuries and may not be able to return to work if they have been permanently disabled. In these situations, at-fault drivers are responsible for victims’ future medical treatment costs and their lost future earning capacity.

Non-economic damages include physical pain, emotional suffering, and psychological distress resulting from a defendant’s actions. State law does not cap or limit this form of compensation in most personal injury cases. Your attorney can help you determine a suitable amount to seek from the defendant that reflects the severity of the harm you suffered. Generally, the more serious your injury, the more compensation you can receive for pain and suffering.

What to Expect From Your New Haven Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Navigating the legal aftermath of any personal injury can be incredibly difficult, but you have a much greater chance of success with your legal efforts when you have a New Haven bicycle accident lawyer you trust to handle your case. Your attorney can help you gather the evidence needed to build the foundation of your claim and meet all court filing requirements while you rest and recover with peace of mind.

It may be possible to settle your claim outside of court, but you may also be compelled to take the case to trial. There are potential benefits and drawbacks to either route that your attorney can help you understand in clearer detail. Dolan Injury Lawyers, PLLC, has years of professional experience handling all types of complex accident claims, and we are ready to put this experience to work for you in your bicycle accident case.

You have a limited time to pursue your recovery, and the first steps you take after your accident are crucial. Contact Dolan Injury Lawyers, PLLC, today to schedule a free consultation with a New Haven bicycle accident lawyer and learn more about the legal services we offer that can help you recover.