Norfolk, VA Bicycle Accident Lawyer

With all the traffic on our roads, bicyclists run the constant risk of suffering serious injuries in an accident. The city of Norfolk, VA has added more bike lanes in recent years, like on College Ave and Llewellyn Ave. Sharing the road between autos and bicycles is still tough. When an unprotected bicyclist is hit by a heavy car, truck, or bus, the resulting injuries to the bicyclist are often quite serious.

While your first priority after a bike accident should focus on caring for your injuries, it is also important to prepare for the possibility of a bodily injury claim by calling a Norfolk bicycle accident lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation to cover the consequences of the bicycle wreck. But to obtain compensation, you will need to have evidence of both your injuries and the factors that caused the accident.

The best time to collect this evidence is right after the bicycle crash. A diligent personal injury lawyer from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers could collect this evidence and handle all the legal details to give your case the best chance of success.

Bicycle Laws

Bicycles share the roads with motorized vehicles but travel at lower speeds and are less visible to car drivers. State and local lawmakers have passed numerous laws designed specifically to help keep bicyclists safe on roads like Norview Ave and E Princess Anne Rd. Some of these laws impose obligations on bicyclists while others apply to those driving automobiles.

For instance, Va. Code Ann. §46.2-808 allows the Commonwealth Transportation Board to prohibit bicyclists from riding on controlled access highways. On the other hand, Va. Code Ann. §46.2-839 requires drivers to provide at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicycle on the road.

Sometimes whether a given law applies is unclear. For example, while state law allows bicycles of operate on sidewalks under Va. Code Ann. §46.2-903, the City of Norfolk prohibits riding bicycles on sidewalks in many areas under Norfolk, Virginia, Municipal Code §25-398. An attorney in Norfolk can help you navigate these complexities in the law following a bicycle accident.

When You May Recover Compensation Following a Bicycle Accident

While all injuries suffered in bicycle accidents are regrettable, it is not always possible to recover compensation for these injuries. Compensation is generally available when an bike accident was caused by the negligence of another person and you are free from fault.

Generally, negligence arises when one person owes a duty of care, they breach that duty, and someone to whom the duty was owed suffers harm as a result. Drivers owe a duty of care to drive carefully and follow the rules of the road. So, if a driver violates the law by passing a bicycle on E. Virginia Beach Blvd with only a few inches of clearance rather than the required three feet, and this causes you to run off the road and suffer injuries, you may be able to hold them liable.

When you hold a driver liable you can claim economic and noneconomic damages from their insurance carrier. Economic damages are compensation for financial losses like medical bills and lost wages. Noneconomic damages cover losses like scars, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. A Norfolk bike accident lawyer can help make sure you get all the compensation you are entitled to.

Let a Norfolk Bicycle Accident Attorney Help You

If your lawyer can prove that another person is liable for the harm suffered in a bike crash, you can recover compensation to offset the costs of your injuries. No amount of money ever makes the harm right, but it can take some of the financial burden off you. A Norfolk bicycle accident lawyer can help you get compensation by collecting and preserving evidence and advocating on your behalf throughout the claims process. To learn what may be possible in your case, call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers now to set up a free consultation.