Houston Bicycle Accident Attorneys

If someone else was responsible for the accident you were in while you were riding your bike, do not hesitate to contact Lowenberg Law Firm. You might be entitled to compensation for the injuries and losses you suffered in the crash.

Bicyclists are susceptible to debilitating injuries and death in collisions with motor vehicles. Without safety devices, such as airbags, riders have no way of protecting themselves from the violent force of the impact during an accident. In 2019, 843 bicyclists died in accidents involving motor vehicles. July was the month with the most fatalities, and statistics also show that bicyclist deaths occurred most frequently between 6 and 9 p.m.

At Lowenberg Law Firm, our Houston bicycle accident attorneys understand the financial, emotional, and physical struggles you face. Someone else caused your injuries, but you’re being forced to suffer the consequences of their actions. You should not be responsible for your medical bills and other expenses if a negligent driver were entirely at fault for the crash. We can help you hold them liable and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.

Call the Houston personal injury lawyers of Lowenberg Law Firm today at (832) 241-6000 for a free consultation to learn about your legal options.

Common Reasons Bicycle Accidents Happen

Drivers must pay attention to what’s happening around them and remain focused on the task of driving. There are traffic signs, stop lights, and laws to follow. They pass by other vehicles, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians during their commute. A moment of inattention, distraction, or the wrong decision can lead to an accident.

Unfortunately, bikes are much smaller than cars, meaning motorists often don’t see riders traveling next to them. A driver could swerve into the bicycle lane and sideswipe the bicyclist. Someone might try to make a right turn without realizing a rider already started to cross the street.

The most common causes of bicycle accidents are:

Speeding
Disobeying traffic signs and signals
Failing to yield the right of way
Driving under the influence
Passing too close to a bicyclist
Drowsy driving
Distracted driving
Opening car door without checking for oncoming riders
Swerving into the bike lane

Human error, lack of focus, and poor decision-making are examples of careless behavior that can lead to accidents. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, drivers make mistakes that cause injuries to those around them. If the bike accident you were in resulted from any of these or some other factor, do not hesitate to contact Lowenberg Law Firm to discuss your case.

Common Injuries Associated with Bicycle Accidents

There isn’t much bike riders can do to protect themselves when they’re on a collision course with a 3,000-pound vehicle. You are at the mercy of the car, flying debris, and environmental factors. You don’t have a seatbelt to keep you strapped on your bicycle, increasing the likelihood of being ejected and landing hard on the pavement.

Severe and traumatic injuries typically result from bike accidents, especially ones involving motor vehicles. The most commonly include:

Traumatic brain injury
Broken bones
Loss of limb
Road rash, cuts, and bruises
Paralysis
Spinal cord damage
Internal bleeding
Psychological trauma
Back and neck injuries
Facial and dental trauma

When another person injures you in an accident, they should be liable for your resulting hospitalization, physical therapy, and other forms of treatment. You shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for these costs if your actions didn’t contribute to the collision. It’s your right to hold the negligent driver accountable for their misconduct and seek the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

Texas Laws Regarding Bicycle Accidents

Many people don’t realize that they can file a car insurance claim to compensate for their losses, even if they were on a bike at the time of the accident. State law requires drivers to buy and maintain liability coverage with minimum limits to cover another person’s injuries and property damage.

Since Texas is a fault car accident state, the person that caused the crash becomes financially responsible for the injured party’s losses. Depending on the coverage listed on the negligent driver’s policy, you could potentially recover the compensation you need to recoup your losses. These losses might include:

Past and future medical bills
Loss of household services
Pain and suffering
Physical impairment or disfigurement
Mental anguish
Lost wages
Lost earning capacity
Property damage

Our Houston bicycle accident attorneys know how to maximize the value of a client’s claim. The insurance company isn’t on your side and will likely try to avoid a large settlement. We aggressively negotiate with insurance companies for the maximum possible compensation available, so you’re not left with any bills to pay for yourself.

When we’re reviewing your losses, we might consider a range of contributing factors to calculate the monetary value of your case. These factors might include:

Amount of time missed from work
Length of the recovery period
Relevant evidence showing who was at fault for the accident
Type of injury and how severe it is
Total medical bills and other costs due to the crash
The estimated cost of future medical treatment, household assistance, and other necessary expenses
Emotional or mental trauma endured
Permanent impairment, disfigurement, or disability from the injury
Amount of insurance coverage from the at-fault driver’s liability policy

Texas law also requires minimum limits for UM insurance (uninsured/underinsured motorist). If you purchased this type of insurance, you could file a UM claim with your own insurance policy if the at-fault driver doesn’t have liability coverage or high enough limits to compensate for your losses. The available losses might include:

Past and future medical bills
Property damage
Lost wages
Lost earning capacity
Pain and suffering

Insurance policies can vary depending on the insurance carrier you have. If you discover that the motorist doesn’t have liability insurance or the coverage you need to pay for your medical bills and other expenses, you could supplement your remaining losses with your UM coverage. It’s crucial that you review your policy to determine your limits and whether they’re high enough.

Filing a Lawsuit Against the At-Fault Driver

You could sue the negligent driver if the insurance company denies your claim or there isn’t liability coverage. You must abide by the statute of limitations. This is a specific timeframe for initiating a lawsuit against another person. If you don’t file by the deadline, you could end up walking away without the money you need to heal your injuries. Texas has a two-year statute of limitations. That means you have to file your lawsuit within two years of the bike accident if you want to hold the driver liable.

You should refrain from speaking to anyone other than your attorney during your ongoing case. If you say or do the wrong thing, it could negatively impact the amount of compensation you receive. Proportionate responsibility is a Texas statute that reduces a plaintiff’s losses by the percentage of fault they share for an accident. If the jury determines you were partially to blame, they can diminish your compensation. For example, if you were 20 percent at fault for your injuries and suffered $100,000 in losses, you could only receive up to $80,000 in the lawsuit.

The Houston bicycle accident attorneys of Lowenberg Law Firm will fight hard for you. We will be your advocate throughout the entire legal process. You can depend on our legal team to go to battle for you against the negligent driver and their insurance company. You deserve the opportunity to secure a fair financial award so you can recover and put this traumatic ordeal behind you.

Why Hire Lowenberg Law Firm?

At Lowenberg Law Firm, we have the experience and resources to deal with the complicated procedures of a bicycle accident case. When you’re in physical pain and experiencing emotional distress, the last thing you want to do is file a claim and gather evidence. It’s stressful and overwhelming to take on that responsibility.

We know the pressure you’re under and the challenging road ahead. You won’t have to face this alone. We will relieve your burden and handle every step from start to finish so you can focus on what matters most – healing and getting back to your regular routine.

When you hire us, we will investigate the accident and obtain all the evidence we need to prove the driver was at fault and should be held liable for your injury. The evidence we collect will depend on the circumstances of your case but could include:

Police report
Accident scene photos
Witness statements
Traffic camera footage of the collision
Repair estimates for the damage to the vehicle
Medical records and medical bills
All available insurance policies
Lost wage reports

Many people think insurance claims aren’t that difficult to handle. However, they’re not as straightforward as you might believe. You could encounter various challenges that you don’t know how to deal with and end up with a denied claim. We’re familiar with the tactics used by insurance companies and how to counter them to recover the money owed to accident victims.

Contact Us

Lowenberg Law Firm has been representing clients like you since 1998. We know what it takes to get the job done and meet your needs. We believe in holding people accountable for their misconduct and giving accident victims a chance to stand up for their rights and recover the maximum compensation they deserve.

If you sustained injuries in a bike accident due to someone else’s negligent actions, call us for a free consultation at (832) 241-6000. One of our Houston bicycle accident attorneys will be happy to discuss your case and determine how we can help.