Let A High Point Bicycle Accident Attorney Work With Insurance Companies on Your Behalf
North Carolina is a great place for bicycle riding nearly year-round. Whether you bicycle for sport, for fun, or as an alternative commute, you understand why so many people love riding a bicycle.
In 2018, 859 bicyclists were killed in the US in an accident involving a car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that it was the highest number of bicycle-related deaths since 1990.
Urbanization and expansion of suburbs all around North Carolina cities has turned some once-pleasant riding areas into a competition with motor vehicles. Now, bicyclists must exercise more caution every time they decide to ride around High Point.
If you’re not familiar with the laws for bicycling, here is an overview:
Although helmets aren’t required for riders over 16, we always recommend them for the protection they can offer against serious head injuries.
Cyclists who come in hard contact with a car or small truck have little or no protection from injuries, even wearing a helmet and other protective gear. Biking accidents can lead to injuries such as:
Some of these injuries can leave you permanently disabled. If you are in an accident while riding, one of the most important things you can do is to contact a High Point Bicycle Accident Law Firm when you return home from the hospital.
When a car hits a bicyclist, it’s a frightening experience that can leave a cyclist with serious and possibly mortal injuries. But it’s what you do after the crash that is important to your case.
When it’s time for your appointment, bring as much of the evidence as you can, and pictures of what you can’t (such as your bicycle.)
Insurance companies are usually unfriendly and unsympathetic towards bicycle accident claims. One tactic is to place the responsibility for the crash on the cyclist to deny your claim outright.
North Carolina’s “contributory negligence” statute means that if you are responsible or contribute in any way to your accident, you won’t be able to collect damages in any amount. Insurance companies use contributory negligence as often as they can to keep from paying out settlements. It’s one reason why it’s so important to enlist the help of a High Point Bicycle Accident Attorney as quickly as possible after the accident.
We must emphasize one of the most important parts of dealing with insurers:
DO NOT give a recorded statement to anyone or accept any settlement offers without speaking to a High Point NC Bicycle Accident Lawyer.
If you have to report your accident to your own insurer within a specific time frame, do so. But it’s better to speak to us before you do so.
You’re not required to speak to the other party’s insurer, and they can take anything you say and use it to deny your claim. Don’t accept any settlement offer or give a statement to the other party’s insurer (recorded or not) without talking to us first.
If you’ve been injured as a result of a negligent driver, a defective or improperly assembled bicycle, or an unsafe road condition, Clauson Law is ready to help you pick up the pieces after your bicycle accident.
North Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases, so it’s important to act quickly. If you wait, you could lose your right to recover compensation.
We are a High Point Bicycle Accident Law Firm that is committed the rights of bicyclists in High Point, NC and the surrounding area. Fortunately, we’ve handled many of these kinds of cases, and are ready to help you with yours. We can offer you a free consultation to discuss your case and give you our suggestions. Call The Clauson Law Firm today at 877-338-8515, or use our online contact form to get in touch.
