In the United States in 2008, more than 700 cyclists were killed in collisions with motor vehicles based on NHTSA statistics. Statistics for 2008 also show that there were more than 52,000 emergency room visits by bicyclists. Some involved serious brain or spinal cord injury.
What these numbers make clear is that bicyclists are just as vulnerable and maybe even more invisible to other drivers as motorcyclists are. The fact that fewer bicyclists die or are seriously injured is probably due to the low speeds involved in many such accidents.
As Phoenix bike accident lawyers, we've been protecting the rights of bicycle accident victims for decades. We never forget that we work for real people. Every one of our attorneys has been Board Certified in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. Working together, we can help you and your family obtain the justice you deserve.
Defective bike helmets are responsible for some of the most serious bicycle accident injuries. If someone you love was wearing a helmet when they were hit by a car but suffered a serious brain injury anyway — rely on our experience and resources to find out whether their bicycle helmet may have been defective. To do that, just call or contact our Phoenix bike accident law office and ask for a free consultation. If we can help, we will.
Bike Accident Lawyer in Phoenix
In Arizona, bicyclists travelling on the roads must obey the laws of traffic. That said, the sidewalk and crosswalk rules for bicyclists can be very different from one city to the next and can have a big impact on the outcome of a case.
With decades of experience to draw from, our Phoenix bike accident lawyers know to check the local traffic rule for bicycles. This can be the key to success in many cases — even in those cases where the police may have blamed the bicyclist for the accident.
Filing a Claim for Benefits Under Your Own Auto Insurance Policy
If the at-fault car is uninsured (UM) or underinsured (UIM), the bike-rider's own auto policy may stand-in for the car driver's insurance. (And "own policy" includes any car policy owned by a relative who lives with the bicyclist.) Whether the car that hits a bicyclist has insurance or not, it may be possible to file a claim for medical benefits under the bicyclist's own automobile insurance policy. In Arizona UM, UIM and "medpay" are optional coverages included in many car insurance policies. If you need help after a wreck, we can help and may even be able to recover additional compensation in an insurance bad faith claim.
A driver has the right to use the roads, but he must use reasonable care and caution for the safety of others. The driver must keep his motor vehicle always under control to avoid a collision with others using the highway and he has no right to assume that the road is clear. Drivers must under all circumstances and at all times be vigilant and must anticipate and expect the presence of others. And if a driver fails to use reasonable care and caution and thereby injures another, such failure constitutes negligence and the driver is liable in damages for the injuries
Pedestrians have a right to travel anywhere upon a public highway and an automobile driver is required to drive carefully to prevent danger to others using the highway. The driver has no right to assume that the road is clear, but under all circumstances and at all times must be vigilant and must anticipate the presence of others and keep his machine under such control as will enable him to avoid collision with other persons using proper care and caution. Brooks v. De la Cruz, 12 Ariz. App. 591, 473 P.2d 793 (App. 1970).
Pedestrians are also protected by any applicable UM, UIM or medpay insurance.
Contact a Phoenix Bike Accident Lawyer
To learn more about your legal rights and options following a bike accident, call 866.476.3054 or 602.748.4391 or contact Plattner Verderame, P.C., in Phoenix, Arizona, today for a free consultation.
We handle bike accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won't owe us anything unless we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf. If you're an honest person with honest injuries, we're a law firm that wants to help you.
