Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Mobile, AL

Bicycle accidents in Alabama have been known to produce catastrophic injuries. It is not unusual for people who are struck by vehicles to suffer life-threatening and fatal injuries. If this happens to you, you might be feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.

Fortunately, when you have a compassionate Alabama bicycle accident attorney at Burns, Cunningham & Mackey on your side, you can recuperate while we work on getting you the compensation you deserve. Schedule your free consultation to get started on your case when you contact our office at (800) 574-4332.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Alabama

One of the most devastating things about bicycle accidents are the injuries that occur. It’s not unusual for victims of bicycle accidents in Alabama to suffer life-threatening and even fatal injuries when they’ve been struck by a vehicle. Bicyclists have zero surrounding protection, and because of this, they are far more likely to succumb to fatal injuries. Some of the more common types of bicycle accident injuries we’ve seen include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain damage
• Lacerations
• Sepsis
• Organ failure
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Internal bleeding
• Bone breaks and fractures
• Amputation

These are just a few of the types of injuries we have seen most often in Alabama bicycle accident cases. If you have suffered from another type of injury as a result of a bicycle accident, you may still have the right to financial compensation. Contact our office to find out what legal options may be available to you.

Proving Fault for Alabama Bicycle Accidents

In order for you to be awarded maximum compensation in your Alabama bicycle accident case, you will need to be able to show that someone else is responsible for causing your injuries. In many cases, bicycle accident victims assume that the driver who hit them is at fault for the accident. This is often the case. Negligent driving is one of the most common causes of bicycle accidents across Alabama. Some of the more common cat kinds of negligent driving that cause bicycle accidents include:

• Speeding
• Following too closely – When driving next to or behind a bicycle, they may drive too closely. This means that if the bicyclist slows down or swerves at all, the car is likely to hit them.
• Failure to stop
• Failure to use a turn signal – Drivers who change lanes without checking their blind spots make the road more dangerous for everyone.
• Failure to yield – Both bicyclists and drivers can cause accidents this way, but again, drivers are capable of doing far more damage than bicyclists are.
• Distracted driving – Both bicyclists and drivers are guilty of this, although distracted drivers are generally capable of causing much more damage than distracted bike riders.
• Drowsy driving – It’s dangerous for anyone, driver or bicyclist, to be on the road without sufficient sleep.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

But negligent drivers are not the only party who could share fault for causing your bicycle accident injuries. In fact, there are several other parties who may be responsible for your injuries. Some of these parties might include:

• Government agencies
• Vehicle technicians
• Auto parts designers
• Vehicle parts producers and distributors
• Safety inspectors
• Other third parties

Your attorney will likely need to open up an investigation into the cause of your accident in order to ensure that all at fault parties are held accountable for their portion of fault in your accident. This will help to ensure that you are awarded maximum compensation for your suffering.

How Contributory Fault Could Affect Your Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Alabama

One of the most common defenses the liable party uses in Alabama bicycle accident lawsuits is contributory fault. Under Alabama law, when an injury victim shares fault for causing their injuries, they are prohibited from being awarded compensation in an insurance claim or civil lawsuit. This is a system known as pure contributory negligence.

For example, in your bicycle accident case, you should not be surprised if the defense attempts to make it seem as though you were failing to use a crosswalk or adhere to traffic laws when you were struck by the vehicle. By placing blame on you for the accident, they can avoid being ordered to cover your damages, without regard to whether they are primarily responsible for causing your injuries.

For this reason, it is essential that you get a dedicated Alabama bicycle accident attorney on your side. We will ensure that fault is fairly and accurately assessed in your case, so you are not taken advantage of during your greatest time of need.

Alabama Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

If you are thinking about filing a personal injury claim for your bicycle accident injuries, it is important that you take action now. The statute of limitations for bicycle accidents and other personal injury claims in Alabama is only two years. This means that you only have two years to get your claim filed in the civil court system.

Failure to get your lawsuit filed and time will mean that your case will be barred. To make matters worse, there may be concerns regarding when the statute of limitations began in your case. For example, did it begin on the day of the accident in question? Or did the statute of limitations actually begin several days later after you were officially diagnosed with an injury relating to the bicycle accident?

In order to ensure that the statute of limitations does not adversely impact your injury settlement, make sure you have an experienced attorney representing you in your bicycle accident claim.

Damages You Could Recover in Your Alabama Bicycle Accident Claim

One of the main reasons why victims of bicycle accidents in Alabama hesitate before they pursue compensation is because they want to be sure that their efforts are going to pay off. After everything you have been through, it is normal to want to be sure that any extra effort you are putting in is going to be worth your while.

With that being said, when someone else is responsible for causing your bicycle accident, they should also be ordered to repay you for every single way that your life has been negatively affected by your injuries and the accident itself. Some of the various economic and non-economic damages that you could be awarded in your bicycle accident claim include:

• Emotional distress
• Loss of household services
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of companionship and love
• Loss of society and support
• Lost income and earning capacity
• Medical expenses and equipment costs
• Property damages
• Inconvenience
• Damage to your reputation

Meet With an Alabama Bicycle Accident Attorney Today

Are you ready to take back control of your life and make the liable party pay for their misconduct or negligence? Get the legal help you need when you need it most. Contact an experienced Alabama bicycle accident lawyer at Burns, Cunningham & Mackey today.

Our firm is proud to offer free, no-obligation case evaluations to bicycle accident victims across Alabama. Claim yours when you fill out our online contact form or call our office at (800) 574-4332.