Elgin Bicycle Accident & Injury Attorneys
Bicyclists are often treated as less than second-class citizens when it comes to sharing the road. It sometimes seems like the majority of other drivers on the road turn on their blinders when it comes to bicyclists and prefer to pretend they are not even there – and, when they are acknowledged, it is typically as an inconvenience rather than an equal with whom the road must be shared. As you can imagine, this leads to a number of nasty accidents that could have been avoided. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you need to find an experienced Elgin area bicycle injury lawyer. At Bingham Law, for example, our experienced attorneys understand bicycle law and have the knowledge necessary to argue your case and fight for your rights.
At Bingham Law, we are committed to maximizing the recovery of our clients who have been injured in bicycle accidents. Our firm serves clients throughout Elgin and the surrounding area, including the counties of Cook, Kane, DuPage, McHenry, Lake and DeKalb.
Educating clients on Bicycle Accident Issues
According to the Bicyclists and Other Cyclists Traffic Safety Fact Sheet put out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were a total of around 49,000 bicyclists injuries and 726 fatalities in 2012. Of the injures, around 6,000 of them were incapacitating. That means that the bicyclist needed assistance to leave the crash scene due to things like chest, abdominal, or skull injuries, severe lacerations, broken limbs, or even unconsciousness. As an aside, you should always wear a helmet when biking anywhere. They can help significantly lower your chances of experiencing devastating and life-changing injuries.
Riding after dark can greatly increase your potential to get hit. It is important, therefore, that you take the time to do something to help draw attention to your bicycle or your person. Whether you decide to use reflective or fluorescent clothing or shoes, use bike headlights and/or taillights, or use reflectors, it is necessary to take action in order to ensure that you are distinguishable from the dark road around you. After all, cars have lights that come on after dark in order to avoid the same issues, and cars are much bigger than bicycles!
Finally, you should know that from July through September, during the summer months, more bicyclist fatalities occur than at any other time. You should be especially cautious during these months, then, and be aware of your surroundings. Most motorists will say that they did not see the bicycle they hit during an accident, which means that bicyclists, unfortunately, have the added responsibility of making themselves as attention grabbing as possible while also paying strict attention to the road. If drivers are not aware of their surroundings, then you must take the precautions listed above in order to attempt to compensate for their actions. It is your life and health on the line.
As you can see, bicycle accidents are not uncommon and the injuries can run from scrapes and bruises to catastrophic injuries or even death. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to find an Elgin area bicycle injury lawyer to help with your personal injury claim. If you are injured in a bicycle accident, you might be tempted to just settle for anything you can get, however this would be a mistake. A personal injury attorney can help you obtain the compensation to which you might be entitled.
Don’t Forget to Check with Your Insurance
With bicycle accidents, sometimes people forget to check with their own automobile medical payments insurance coverage, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, when they are injured. Sometimes individuals are actually covered under their own insurance, which means that they could be able to receive help for medical needs more quickly in order to focus more on recovering and returning to their normal daily schedule. Even if the accident was not your fault, it is possible that your insurance will cover you against accidents that occur while you are riding your bicycle, or even protect you from underinsured or uninsured drivers.
One of the first things to do is to check with your insurance provider after you have been in an accident, in other words. Even if you are covered, however, it is still a good idea to speak with a bicycle law attorney to ensure that you receive the highest level of compensation available. If you are not covered by your insurance, then seeking out a lawyer is even more important.
Trust Your Case to Our Experienced Trial Firm
At Bingham Law, we understand how to pursue your case and develop the best plan of action to help ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled. If you or a loved one have been injured in a bicycle accident, you deserve the best bicycle accident law attorney possible – one who is experienced with fighting passionately for their client’s rights. Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your case! You can reach us at 888-695-9822 or use our online contact form.