Bicycle Accident Attorney in Birmingham

bicycle accident

Bicycles are a fun, healthy, and convenient way to get around Alabama without using a car, particularly in urban areas like Birmingham. Unfortunately, drivers don’t always give cyclists proper consideration, which can lead to severe accidents. Bike accidents in Birmingham can have catastrophic consequences, including major physical injuries, deep emotional scars, and significant financial losses.

Attorney April H. Collins and the team at Collins Law, LLC, can help if you sustained injuries in a bike crash that someone else caused. We can handle all the legal work in your case, from documenting your injuries to filing insurance forms and negotiating a fair settlement. Doing so allows you to rest, heal, and rebuild your life in peace.

Collins Law is proud of its proven track record of keeping clients’ medical bills down once their cases are resolved — something that’s all-too-rare in the legal profession. In addition, Collins Law never takes home more money than its accident victim clients when reaching a settlement or getting a court victory.

With a proven track record for full and fair compensation in bicycle accident cases, Attorney Collins and her team will use every tool in their arsenal to protect your rights. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Birmingham, AL Bicycle Accident Attorney?

Hiring a bicycle injury attorney gives you several advantages in your battle for fair compensation, including the following:

  • A More Accurate Assessment of Your Losses – One common reason insurance companies don’t offer fair settlements after Birmingham bicycle accidents is that injured cyclists don’t know how much their claims are worth. It’s crucial to account for your current and future needs after a bicycle crash when you demand payment from the at-fault party. A bicycle accident law firm like Collins Law can help you document all your losses from the collision, making sure you’re pursuing every bit of compensation you’re owed.
  • Protection from Self-Inflicted Errors – The insurance companies will go over every aspect of the crash and your injuries. They’re looking for any reason to deny your bicycle accident claim or reduce your compensation. By letting Attorney Collins handle all the paperwork and other legal work in your case, she can help you avoid common errors unrepresented people make that could derail your claim.
  • Having an Ally to Keep Your Case Moving – Document requests, missed deadlines, stubborn insurance companies, and other factors can all delay a bicycle accident claim and keep you from recovering the money you need. When you hire a bicycle accident lawyer, they can anticipate potential issues and take proactive steps to help you avoid potential delays, meaning you’ll get the money you need faster.
  • Experienced Representation at Every Step of Your Case – Bicycle accident claims in Birmingham involve complicated rules and procedures. A misstep at any stage could derail your case or keep you from recovering fair compensation. An experienced personal injury lawyer understands every step of the process, can explain everything that’s happening, and can guide you through your case so you always know what’s going on.

What Should You Do After a Bike Accident?

You have an uphill battle to recover fair compensation after sustaining a bicycle accident injury, so you must do everything you can to protect your rights. Once you’ve called 911 and seen a doctor, here’s what you should do after a Birmingham bicycle accident:

  • Save Any Evidence You Have from the Accident Scene – Eyewitness contact information, photos of your injuries and the cars involved in the accident, and even your clothing can all be important pieces of evidence. Save whatever evidence you have from the accident in a safe place until you hire a bicycle accident lawyer in Birmingham and can give it to them.
  • Make Copies of Your Medical Records and Receipts – Your medical records provide detailed information on how your injuries occurred, how long they might last, and what long-term effects they might have. That makes them essential evidence for your personal injury claim, so make copies of your records and preserve them in a secure place. Similarly, your receipts help demonstrate the accident’s financial effects, so it’s also important to save them.
  • Do Not Discuss the Accident – Anything you say about the accident to anyone (other than your lawyer) could hurt your case. Therefore, it’s best not to say anything publicly about what happened. Don’t post about the accident on social media, as insurance companies can find your posts and try to use them against you to deny your claim or reduce your compensation.
  • Follow Your Doctor’s Orders – Sticking to your prescribed treatment plan and attending all your follow-up appointments is crucial for protecting your health after an accident. This step also shows the insurance companies that your injuries are severe and that you’re taking prompt action to treat them, which is crucial for maximizing your bicycle accident compensation.
  • Hire a Bicycle Accident Attorney – Your job after a bicycle accident is to heal and rebuild your life. However, it’s also crucial to enforce your rights and start your personal injury claim as soon as possible. An attorney can investigate the accident and file a claim against the liable parties while you treat your injuries.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Bicycle Accident?

With help from an experienced Birmingham bicycle accident attorney, your compensation could include money for the following:

  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Damaged personal property

Alabama law allows you two years from the collision date to file a bicycle accident lawsuit. Missing this deadline means you will likely lose your chance to recover compensation for your injuries, so don’t delay. Talk to a lawyer about your legal options right away.

Some important Alabama laws that apply to cyclists and bicycle accident claims include the following:

  • While adult cyclists do not have to wear helmets, anyone riding a bike under 16 must use a helmet. That said, insurance companies sometimes try to blame cyclists for their injuries when they don’t use a helmet even when a driver’s actions are the accident’s root cause.
  • State law says bicyclists have most of the same rights and responsibilities as anyone else on the roads, including the right to use a full traffic lane. However, because bicycles are usually considered “vehicles” under Alabama law, they are typically not allowed on sidewalks.
  • Cyclists must use designated bike paths and stay out of the main roadway when a designated bike path is available.
  • Bicycle riders should ride as far to the right of the roadway as possible when they don’t have a designated bike path.
  • Cyclists must completely stop at all stop signs and traffic lights when indicated.
  • State law prohibits drivers from reading, writing, or sending a text message unless the driver has a hands-free system, making it easier to hold drivers accountable for distracted driving accidents.
  • Bicyclists are bound by the same law.
  • Bicyclists must make themselves visible when they are riding at night. The bike must be equipped with a white light that reaches 500 feet. There should be a red reflector on the back of the bike that can be seen up to 600 feet away.
    Bicyclists cannot drink and ride, as a bicycle is considered a vehicle in Alabama.

Some common causes of bicycle accidents in Birmingham, AL include:

  • Impaired Driving – Drivers who drink or use drugs before getting behind the wheel will have a harder time seeing and recognizing nearby cyclists. Furthermore, an impaired driver might misjudge the distance between them and a cyclist and make an unsafe maneuver that causes a collision.
  • Distracted Driving – There’s a reason Alabama recently implemented a hands-free law. Drivers who are snacking, adjusting the music, talking on the phone, texting, or distracted in some other way can’t see and react to hazards around them, including cyclists.
  • Speeding – Speeding drivers are doubly dangerous for Birmingham cyclists. First, a car takes more time to slow down and stop the faster it’s going. Second, cars hit harder the faster they’re moving when a crash happens, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic injuries among vulnerable cyclists.
  • Poor Visibility – Rain, snow, sleet, darkness, and other hazards can make cyclists harder to see on the roads, making crashes more likely if drivers don’t take proper precautions.
  • Unsafe Turns, Passing Maneuvers, and Lane Changes – Because bicycles are much smaller than cars, it can be difficult for drivers to see them. Drivers who don’t check their blind spots and oncoming traffic before turning, passing, or changing lanes might not see a nearby cyclist and run into them, leading to severe injuries.
  • Dooring Accidents – Drivers or passengers who carelessly open their doors into traffic can cause a crash if a cyclist doesn’t have enough room to stop or maneuver around the door.

Common injuries from bicycle accidents in Birmingham include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Internal organ injuries
  • Soft-tissue injuries (sprains, strains, etc.)
  • Severe cuts and bruises
  • Road rash

Contact a Birmingham, AL Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

At Collins Law, LLC, we believe in empowering our clients to find justice after a severe accident. Our team has the drive, experience, and resources to help you recover maximum compensation for your injuries. Call us today or complete our contact form for a complimentary case evaluation and discover the difference a Birmingham bicycle accident lawyer can make in your recovery.