Dallas Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Cycling is one of Texans’ favorite pastimes, and it’s growing in popularity. Unfortunately, the number of bicycle accidents has also increased — as has the need for a skilled Dallas bicycle accident lawyer.

Negligence is the primary cause of many cycling accidents, which means they are most often preventable and unacceptable. If you or a loved one have been in a Dallas bicycle accident and are dealing with the consequences of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial recourse through a personal injury claim.

Free Consultation with a Dallas Bicycle Accident Lawyer

The first step toward compensation for your injury is to set up a consultation with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer. At Crain Brogdon, LLP, we have represented numerous clients against negligent parties and have won significant settlements and verdicts.

Our dedication to your case is evident from the moment you call our office. We care about your injuries, and we take our mission seriously, which is to fight for the most comprehensive settlement or verdict possible for every client. Call us today to speak with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer at 214-522-9404.

Do I Have a Valid Bicycle Accident Claim?

A bicycle accident claim is a personal injury claim, often accompanied by a claim for property damages. If you’ve been injured in Texas because of someone else’s negligent or reckless act, you can file a personal injury claim against them for compensation.

When you speak with a Dallas bicycle accident attorney, they will immediately set out to understand the facts of your case and analyze them according to the law. If certain conditions are met, then your claim can go forward.

First, the facts of your case will have to demonstrate that the other party breached their duty of care toward you. Everyone owes a general duty of care toward every other member of society, which requires refraining from any activity that creates an unreasonably dangerous situation. For example, if a drunk driver gets on the highway, they have violated their duty to the population. Even if no accident occurs, the violation is there.

Next, your circumstances will need to demonstrate that the defendant’s breach of duty caused the accident. If a driver suddenly swerves and hits you in the bicycle lane, that driver may not be at fault if the purpose of the swerve was to avoid a drunk truck driver.

The evidence in your case must also show that you suffered an injury because the defendant breached their duty of care. It seems simple enough: A car hit you, and you shattered your leg or experienced an internal injury.

However, defendants’ bicycle accident lawyers and insurance companies often try to cast doubt on the source of the injury or its seriousness, sometimes arguing that it was later exacerbated or already existed. This makes it essential to have a skilled bicycle accident lawyer representing your interests at every stage.

Common Bike Accident Situations

Bike accidents due to negligence or recklessness can happen in countless ways. With that being said, bicycle accident lawyers in Dallas recognize the following as typical circumstances surrounding crashes.

Driving Too Close

The closer a driver gets to a bicyclist, the less room for error both have. Oftentimes, drivers will get too close to a bicyclist while attempting to pass them. In Texas, the law requires drivers who overtake a bicycle to do so only while maintaining a safe distance from the bicycle.

Bicyclists also may be guilty of cycling too close to a car or another bicycle. If this is the case and an accident occurs, the cyclist may be deemed negligent or reckless, which will impact any personal injury payout.

Car Door Hazards

Sometimes bicyclists cruising down the road suddenly find themselves face to face with a car door that has just been flung open, with no time to swerve out of the way. The impact of this avoidable accident can cause terrible injuries.

Drivers have a duty to open their doors safely. This requires them to look in multiple directions before stepping out. If they don’t, then they have committed a negligent act.

Disregarding Bike Lanes

Drivers frequently use bike lanes for their own convenience. Although rather common, doing so leads to bicycle accidents. Bicycles can be difficult to spot, which is why bike lanes exist.

Drivers simply need to stay out of these lanes to avoid hitting cyclists. It is also common for a bicyclist to disregard the bike lane, leading to an accident.

Cutting Bicyclists Off

This is yet another consequence of drivers’ failing to pay adequate attention to their surroundings. It is direct evidence of negligence.

Passing on the Right

Passing on the right is illegal in Texas except under strict circumstances. Unfortunately, as many bicycle accident lawyers in Dallas have seen, many drivers in a hurry like to execute this move, and bicyclists should always be aware of potential violators.

Bicycling in a Vehicle’s Blind Spot

Drivers don’t have a 360-degree view of the road. They’ve got blind spots all cyclists should steer clear of. Additionally, bicyclists may find themselves in numerous blind spots with multiple drivers on the road.

Failure to Yield

Failure to yield is a leading cause of accidents between motor vehicles and bicycles. Both motorists and cyclists are frequently guilty of not checking traffic before entering a roadway.

Driving While Intoxicated

Intoxicated drivers lack the full control they need over their senses and reflexes. Their reaction time is diminished to the point that makes it, in some instances, impossible to react to potential accidents in time.

As with drivers, a cyclist’s reaction time slows down due to intoxication, making them more likely to experience an accident. Whatever the circumstances of your accident, a bicycle accident attorney will know where to find negligence if it exists.

Injuries Typically Seen in Bike Accident Cases

Even though bicyclists wear helmets and other protective gear, they are at a heightened risk of catastrophic injury or death if an accident happens. Sometimes injuries sustained by bicyclists are mild, but they can also be very serious, and even deadly.

Head Injuries

Head trauma is perhaps the most serious type of injury that cyclists can suffer. Even with a helmet, the trauma from a crash can cause severe injuries and even death. In some cases, the extent of the injury may not be apparent, and the victim may choose to forgo medical treatment, which is never a good idea.

If you suffer a head injury from a bicycle accident, you should always seek immediate medical attention. Start by calling first responders, including the police. The medical personnel who arrive will perform a preliminary examination and stabilize you.

Afterward, you will know whether you need further medical treatment. You will also have an important, official record of your injuries for a potential personal injury claim.

Common head injuries from bicycle accidents include:

• Concussions
• Contusions
• Cuts and abrasions
• Brain injury
• Death.

This class of injury often leads to prolonged medical care and physical therapy. The impact on a victim’s life is long-lasting.

Facial Injuries

Bicyclists may experience severe facial injuries that require extensive medical care, and they often undergo multiple cosmetic procedures to repair the damage.

Common facial injuries include:

• Nose breaks and abrasions
• Broken or dislocated jaw
• Broken, chipped, or missing teeth
• Facial bone fractures
• Lip and mouth trauma.

Although not frequently fatal, facial injuries may have long-lasting effects on your life. Victims of mouth and jaw trauma may experience months and years fighting to regain normal eating ability.

Skin Injuries

Bicyclists are prone to suffering skin injuries, including scrapes, punctures, and burns. Modern-day medical science can repair many types of extensive skin damage through skin grafts and other advanced techniques. However, the procedures are long, costly, and often painful.

Musculoskeletal Injuries

The sheer force of many bicycle accidents leaves victims with broken bones and twisted muscles. Hands, arms, and legs are particularly vulnerable, but all bones are at risk of being broken in an accident.

Recovery will be a long road if the neck or back is broken. Victims in this situation face a seemingly endless stream of medical expenses and other drains on their resources.

Internal Injuries

Blunt force trauma can wreak serious havoc on internal organs and cause substantial bleeding. As with brain injuries, the extent of internal injuries may not be readily apparent. Victims who’ve received body trauma should get checked out, even if they initially feel fine.

Cyclists who experience blunt force trauma to the body often experience:

• Ruptured spleen
• Hernia
• Pancreas damage
• Bowel damage.

Cyclists may also experience internal bleeding, which is life-threatening and requires swift medical attention.

Whatever the injury, if another person’s negligence caused it, you have the right to speak with a bicycle accident attorney to seek compensation for your damages. At Crain Brogdon, we have won significant settlements for our clients and will fight to get you the same.

Call our office at 214-522-9404 for a free consultation with an experienced Dallas bicycle accident attorney.

Compensation for Bicycle Accident Cases

One of the most important parts of any claim is damages. Damages refer to the losses you’ve suffered and will suffer and the pain and emotional distress you feel because of an injury. Throughout the claim process, both sides will be negotiating the dollar value of all of the damages combined.

As you can guess, the defense and insurance adjusters work hard to offer a number far lower than what victims deserve. In many cases, they can be persuasive, and the instant money they offer can be tempting. However, seasoned bicycle accident lawyers in Dallas can spot a low-ball offer and reject it.

Bicycle accidents are devastating and can generate significant financial and emotional losses. Your injuries deserve maximum compensation, so you can heal correctly and put your life back together.

Property Damage

Property damage invariably accompanies bicycle injuries. Although a damaged bicycle or broken personal items may not be at the top of your list of priorities if you’re injured, you should be aware that a negligent party may owe you compensation for these items as well as for your injuries.

Medical Expenses

From initial treatment through physical therapy, a bicycle injury has the potential of generating a plethora of medical bills. Prescription and OTC drugs, bandages and dressings, home and vehicle modifications, and specialist care are all expenses that bicycle accident victims are likely to face.

A person who negligently caused your bicycle accident should be held responsible for these bills. They exist due to no fault of your own, and the courts allow you to recoup your medical outlays.

Lost Wages

Bicycle accident lawyers in Dallas know that a bicycle injury can take you out of the workforce and cause serious financial strain. As with your medical expenses, these lost wages from time off work are no fault of your own, and you can demand that the defendant reimburse you for them.

Impacted Earning Potential

You may also calculate your impacted earning potential into the figure for damages. For example, suppose that a negligent driver clips a bicycle messenger and causes them paralysis. In that case, this messenger can no longer work in their trade and potentially has a case for loss of future earnings.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering are real. Psychological trauma and emotional damage have visible impacts on people’s day-to-day lives and cause significant disruptions. However, they are not like economic losses that have documentable dollar amounts. Nonetheless, they are still part of the damages formula.

You need a skilled Dallas bicycle accident lawyer to handle this difficult calculation. The other side’s bicycle accident attorney will seek to lessen impact of the pain and suffering you feel and thus lower the payout. Our legal team works diligently to ensure the dollar amount reflects your true emotional distress.

Loss of Consortium

Loss of consortium means losing the relationship with a close family member who has either become incapacitated or died. In Texas, only spouses, parents, and children may claim loss of consortium. Your bicycle accident attorney will make sure this loss is documented and part of the settlement.

Exemplary Damages

A judge will allow a bicycle accident victim to sue for exemplary or punitive damages in rare cases. This monetary award principally punishes a defendant for particularly offensive or malicious behavior.

Bicycle Accident Frequently Asked Questions

Questions our Dallas Bicycle Accident Lawyers Often Receive

Like many of our clients, you might be unclear about some things regarding your bicycle injury case. We consider answering our clients’ questions as one of our top priorities and respond to all inquiries they may have.

Below are some of the more common questions clients send us.

Whether you’re a current client or are in the process of looking for a Dallas bicycle accident attorney, we’re here to help you. Feel free to give us a call with any questions you might have.

Why Choose Us for Your Bicycle Claim?

We Get the Results Our Clients Need

At Crain Brogdon, we know how stressful it is to deal with injuries and lost resources. Our primary goal is to quickly get you the financial resources you deserve to help alleviate the overwhelming pressure you feel.

Our experience and track record demonstrate our commitment to our clients’ needs. We have won over $350 million in much-needed compensation relief for numerous injury victims.

Call 214-522-9404 today to speak with an experienced Dallas bicycle accident lawyer. We’ll review your case and discuss your options during your free consultation.

Attorney Quentin Brogdon

Quentin Brogdon has over thirty years of experience and expertise in the field of personal injury trial law. He is board certified in both personal injury trial law and civil trial advocacy. Quentin has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. This rating reflects an attorney’s ethics and abilities according to reviews from fellow attorneys. [ Attorney Bio ]