Bicycle Accidents
Enduring a devastating bike wreck can have a profound impact on your life. Between ongoing medical treatment, excessive medical bills, other costs related to the accident, and the severe emotional stress that comes with a catastrophic injury, moving forward seems impossible. Fortunately, you do not have to navigate the aftermath alone.
With the support of our reputable bicycle accident lawyers from Mitchell Rogers Injury Law in Las Vegas, NV, you can demand the fair compensation you deserve more easily. This is your opportunity to focus on healing and rebuilding your life. While you spend some much-needed time recuperating, our team can tirelessly investigate and build a powerful legal claim against the at-fault party. Learn more about various types of damages that could be awarded, what to expect from your personal injury lawsuit, and how long it might be before your case is resolved when you contact a dedicated personal injury attorney from our firm for a free consultation.
The Risks Las Vegas Bikers Face Every Day
Bicycling has become one of our favorite pastimes in Las Vegas. With the roads becoming more and more bike-friendly every day, the prevalence of bike wrecks is also increasing. In fact, in 2022, there were 225 bicycle accidents in Las Vegas and 352 bike wreck injuries across the state, according to the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety. With numbers this high, demanding justice with help from a dedicated Las Vegas bicycle accident lawyer may be a powerful way for you to do your part in reducing the number of bike accident injuries and fatalities.
Understanding the Bicycle Accident Claims Process
Our bicycle accident attorneys understand how overwhelmed you must be feeling during this challenging time in your life. Once you have a better understanding of how these cases unfold, you may feel more confident moving forward. To that end, here is a general overview of how bicycle accident claims work in Las Vegas:
- You hire a bicycle accident attorney to act as your legal advocate.
- We begin by investigating the cause of the accident.
- We hire accident reconstructionists and other experts to gather additional supporting evidence.
- Our team reviews your damages to ensure we have accounted for every way you have been impacted and may continue to be affected by your injuries and the accident.
- We initiate your claim and negotiate with the insurance company once we uncover the identities of the at-fault parties.
- We recover your settlement from the insurance company and prepare your personal injury lawsuit if the insurance settlement is inadequate.
- Your attorney with Mitchell Rogers Injury Law files a personal injury lawsuit to fight for the compensation that is rightfully yours and advocates for your rights before the judge and jury.
Find Out How Much You Could Be Awarded
One of the most important elements of the claims process is calculating the value of your damages. Our bike accident lawyers will closely evaluate every way you have been affected by your injury and the collision to determine how much compensation you should be awarded. Under Chapter 41 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, you have the right to be made whole. Nothing can change what you have been through, but fair compensation can give you an opportunity to pick up the pieces of your life and avoid extreme financial distress.
With that in mind, there is a wide variety of potentially recoverable damages. It will be our goal to ensure we account for every loss as part of our investigation. With Mitchell Rodgers Injury Law prioritizing your financial journey, you could:
Get Your Medical Bills Covered
Bicycle accident injuries are often debilitating. This is, in part, because most bike wrecks are caused by motor vehicle accidents. When a car, truck, SUV, or any other type of vehicle crashes into a biker, the cyclist absorbs the full impact of the collision. In fact, there are approximately 800 bike accident fatalities across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Those who survive often find themselves with astronomical medical bills that can ruin them financially. Some of the various medical expenses the liable party could be ordered to compensate you for include:
- X-rays, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), and other diagnostic images
- Ongoing mental health counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and treatment for emotional injuries
- Making changes to your home to accommodate your injuries, such as installing wheelchair ramps, shower rails, or widening doorways
- The costs of prescription medications, co-pays, and over-the-counter drugs
- Medical devices and equipment, including prosthetic limbs or wheelchairs
You should also be reimbursed for any future medical care you require as it relates to your bike accident. For this reason, we strongly discourage our clients from accepting lump-sum settlement offers from the insurance company, which absolves them of additional financial responsibility.
Request Compensation for Pain and Suffering
Pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages are intangible. It can be much more difficult to quantify the value of pain and suffering than it is to determine how much you should be reimbursed for your loss of income. However, it is the non-economic and intangible losses that can be far more challenging to overcome.
After a bicycle accident, depending on the severity of your injuries, you may not be able to continue to participate in your favorite activities. Bike riding with your family was one of your favorite Sunday activities; being unable to do this can be emotionally devastating. Our team can help you fight for just compensation for your non-economic damages. Other types of potentially recoverable intangible losses include:
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Permanent disability
- Embarrassment
- Skin scarring
- Damage to your reputation
- Loss of consortium
- Apprehension
- Indignity
- Inconvenience
- Mental anguish
Discover the Value of Your Lost Wages
Getting compensated for your loss of income should be one of your top priorities. When you need to take any amount of time off work, it can have a significant impact on your family, especially if you are your family’s primary financial provider. Thankfully, requesting compensation for your lost income should be relatively simple once we have reviewed your paystubs, W-2s, or other relevant financial information.
It is also important to request reimbursement for your loss of employee benefits and reduced earning potential. As an employee, you may have paid time off, vacation pay, regular salary increases, and health insurance coverage provided by your employer. Your company may even contribute to your 401(k) with every paycheck. These types of losses can be included when we calculate the value of your claim.
Will Punitive Damages Apply in Your Case?
Punitive damages are always a possibility in a personal injury case. However, under NRS 42.010, they will not be awarded in every lawsuit. In fact, no matter how serious your bicycle accident was, unless the defendant was malicious or intended to cause the collision, punitive damages may not be warranted. These are strictly reserved for defendants who have earned further punishment due to their gross negligence or intentional conduct.
Las Vegas Bicycle Accident FAQ
Searching the Internet for answers after you have suffered a critical injury can be irritating at best and downright confusing at worst. We understand you need answers, and you need them now. Check out our quick FAQ below that discusses some of the top questions our former clients have mentioned after their bicycle accident. You can contact our law office to schedule a free consultation if you have more individualized questions or concerns that we do not cover on this page.
Does my claim need to be filed within a certain amount of time?
Yes. Bicycle accident and personal injury lawsuits in Las Vegas must be filed within a strict deadline. According to Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4), the statute of limitations for civil claims is two years from the date of the accident. If this deadline expires and your claim has not been filed, the court system will bar you from pursuing your case further.
However, your car accident attorney may be able to get the statute of limitations tolled if you meet the eligibility requirements. For instance, let’s say your 10-year-old was struck by a distracted driver. In this case, the statute of limitations could be paused until the child reaches the age of 18, at which point the countdown would resume, and the statute of limitations would expire two years later. You can find out how much longer you have to file your claim during your initial case evaluation.
What are Las Vegas’ bicycle helmet laws?
Las Vegas does not have a legal statute that requires bikers to wear helmets. However, since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that helmet use can reduce the risk of a traumatic brain injury by as much as 85%, the Nevada Department of Transportation strongly encourages bicyclists to wear helmets. Furthermore, wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce the defendant’s opportunity to argue that you are partially at fault for the injuries you sustained.
What is modified comparative negligence?
Modified comparative negligence is a statute Nevada uses to handle lawsuits where injury victims share partial blame for the accident they were involved in or the injuries they sustained. In some states, if you are partially at fault for the accident, you could be prohibited from recovering compensation. This is known as pure contributory negligence.
However, Nevada follows modified comparative negligence laws under Nevada Revised Statutes 41.141. Instead of prohibiting you from receiving recovery compensation, the court system reduces your settlement proportionately. For instance, if you were 25% culpable, you would only be issued 75% of what you were awarded. It is crucial to note that if you are more than 50% responsible for the accident, you will no longer be entitled to a settlement award.
Is it a good idea to accept a settlement from the insurance company?
It is rarely a good idea to accept a settlement from the insurance company without discussing the terms with your catastrophic injury attorney. Insurance companies prioritize their financial interests. They do not put their policyholders or claimants first. When you receive a settlement, it will likely be worth far less than your damages.
Do not get tricked into accepting less than you deserve because you can access money a little more quickly. With the help of a dedicated personal injury lawyer, you can show the insurance company how seriously you are taking your claim. If the insurer refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, our team will be ready to stand up for your rights during negotiations.
How do contingency agreements for bicycle accident claims work?
It is not uncommon to hire a bike accident lawyer on contingency. Most reputable personal injury law firms offer injury victims their services on contingency, meaning you do not have to pay hourly attorney’s fees or cover our costs unless we win your case. By not having to pay anything upfront, you can truly focus on your healing journey while we handle the legalities.
If we are successful, a percentage of your settlement will cover our fees per NRS 228.1113. The exact amount that you will pay will be based on a variety of factors, including the availability of evidence, whether you are filing a claim with the insurance company, and the complexity of your case. In the event we do not recover compensation in your case, you will never be expected to pay even one penny in legal fees.
Consult our Top-Rated Bike Accident Attorneys in Las Vegas for Help Today
The trauma of your experience may permanently alter the course of your life. Whether you have considerable financial losses or a permanent disability, your bicycle accident injuries may have turned your world upside down. If someone else is to blame, you should not be forced to cover the costs. With the legal support of a dedicated bike accident attorney from Mitchell Rogers Injury Law, you could make the liable party pay. Access the financial compensation you need to cover your expenses with money left over to rebuild your life.
When you are ready to explore your opportunities for financial relief further but are not sure how to begin, look no further than Mitchell Rogers Injury Law in Las Vegas, NV. Our firm is currently offering 100% free consultations to bicycle victims throughout Las Vegas and nearby communities. Claim yours by calling our office or completing our secured contact form today.