Roanoke has some of the most beautiful bike routes including greenways and road climbs, to the difficult ones. Regrettably, even the most cautious cyclist may be caught by a negligent driver. Bike accidents may lead to serious injuries and medical costs as well as creating major effects on your life. When a bicycle accident has left you injured and in pain, a Roanoke bicycle accident lawyer can be of assistance to you in terms of getting justice and reasonable compensation.

The most vulnerable road users include cyclists. There is no car frame to protect against even a minor collision, and the result may cause severe injuries. Insurance companies can seek to shortchange you on a payout or even point fingers at you as a cause of the accident after an accident. A bicycle accident attorney is able to:

• Inquire about the accident – Obtain police reports, witness statements, pictures of the scene of the accident, and surveillance.
• Consult the experts– Hire an accident reconstructionists or a medical expert who will aid you to prove your point.
• Compute damages — medical expenses, earned income, the cost of future care, pain and suffering, and other harms.
• Bargain with providers– Do not allow insurers to get your way to accept a lower payment than you ought to get.
• Go to court-The possibilities of having negotiations go wrong but in such a case, your attorney can take your case to court, before a judge or jury.

Worst Common Reasons of Bicycle Accidents in Roanoke

The accidents occurring on bicycles may occur due to all sorts of reasons, yet the one that is usually touted as the driving power behind them is the lack of care on the part of the people who happen to be operating vehicles on the road. The most common reasons to include:

• Disobedience to yield to cyclists at the crosswalks or intersections
• Distracted driving, e.g. control tweaking or texting
• Speaking in the residential or urban setting
• Going through red lights or stop signs
• Lane or overtaking hazardously
• During alcoholic or narcotic disordersDriving while intoxicated
• It can also be related to bad roads, debris or lack of bike lanes.

What is the Virginia Contributory Negligence Rule?

Virginia is a pure contributory negligence state, this form of negligence is the strictest in the country. This implies that should even 1 percent of fault be ruled against you in contributing to the accident, you do not qualify to be compensated. Owing to this, it is important to have solid witnesses who can attest to the fact that the driver was totally to blame.

The statute of limitations in the majority of the personal injury claims within Virginia is two years after the date of an accident. Failure to meet this deadline may deprive you of the right to compensation. When the government property or vehicles are involved, the required notifications may be reduced, thus one should start as soon as possible.

What are the Covered by Compensations?

A viable bicycle accident claim can compensate on:

• Health costs – comprising emergency, hospital costs, surgery and rehabilitation
• Lost wages – Meaning that you could not work, due to your injuries
• Loss of future earning power– in the event that you are unable to resume your old job
• Suffering and pain – physical pain and emotion distress
• Property damage – the ability to fix or replace your bike and equipment
• Wrongful death damages –  if your loved one passed away as a result of the accident, and you are bringing the case on his / her behalf

What to Do When You Have Been in a Bicycle Accident

In case of bicycle crash in Roanoke:

• Seek medical care as soon as possible – just because you do not feel injured some of the injuries might not be noticeable.
• Call the authorities – make sure an official report is taken.
• Capture evidence – Make photographs and videos of the place of accident, your injuries, bike, and the area.
• Take contact details –  Make sure you have the number of the driver and any witnesses.
• Don’t Talk – Do never make recorded statements to insurance adjusters as you have not talked to an attorney.

A bicycle accident attorney should be called immediately in order to guard your rights.

Conclusion 

The bicycle accident may make you confront a heavy medical bill, loss of work, and pain. Cases that have to be filed in Roanoke are all subjected to the contributory negligence law which makes it all the more necessary to have a good case with full delivery of the blame on the driver. A seasoned bicycle accident attorney is able to make sure that you pass the legal process, collect the evidence required, and earn the requisite compensation.