Cycling is one of the great American activities, and with more than 90 miles of trails and bike-friendly pathways, Minnetonka offers some of the best cycling opportunities in the Midwest.
However, the unfortunate reality is that cyclists are also extremely vulnerable on the road. Whether it's a distracted driver, an unsafe lane change, or a road in disrepair, even a low-speed bicycle accident can require extensive medical treatment and time away from work.
Unlike more straightforward auto accidents, bicycle accident injuries are often underestimated by insurers. A cyclist may feel “ok” after an incident but discover more serious symptoms later. Determining liability can also be tricky.
At Fields Injury Law, our bicycle accident attorneys help clients evaluate their situation and pursue all available avenues of compensation for their injuries.
Common Injuries Suffered in Minnetonka Bicycle Accidents
With no vehicle frame to absorb the brunt of an impact, cyclists on Minnetonka streets face far more injury exposure than passengers in automobiles. In a contest between flesh and steel, flesh is rarely the winner.
Victims of bicycle accidents experience everything from minor scrapes and bruises, to broken bones, herniated discs, and traumatic brain injuries.
The impact of an accident can also throw a cyclist multiple feet from where the impact occurred, leading to road rash injuries that can possibly require skin grafts. There’s also the potential for long-term psychological trauma resulting from a cycling accident.
Even when a cyclist is impacted at relatively low speeds, the potential for injury still exists. A cyclist may be able to get up and walk away, but can experience chronic pain or neurological limitations that aren’t immediately apparent.
If you’ve been in a bicycle accident, no injury is too small to investigate. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer can connect you with local area specialists who can evaluate you for injuries both seen and unseen after an accident.
Why Proving Liability in Cycling Accidents is Difficult
Determining liability for a cycling accident is often more difficult than an auto accident. With an auto accident, there is usually a clear negligent driver.
Bicycle accidents can play out in a number of different ways. Sometimes it's a motor vehicle making an unsafe lane change or failing to yield that causes the accident. Other times, it's an open car door that causes an impact.
But drivers aren’t the only ones who can be liable.
Properties with overgrown vegetation blocking the sidewalk or street can cause the property owner to be liable.
If a cyclist is hit by a commercial vehicle, both the driver and their employer may hold liability. Accidents that happen on a business’s property may create liability as well.
Even the city of Minnetonka itself could be liable if dangerous conditions on the road or bike lane caused the accident. Construction zones and malfunctioning traffic signals may also create liability for the city if they directly caused the accident.
Because there are so many variables at play, working with a cycling accident lawyer is recommended to help victims explore all potential sources of liability for the accident.
Identifying Every Available Source of Compensation With the Help of a Minnetonka Bicycle Accident Lawyer
After a bicycle accident in Minnetonka, compensation may be available through multiple insurance policies, some of which an injured person may not even know exist.
Experienced cycling accident lawyers investigate every possible source of insurance coverage to ensure that no potential avenue of compensation is overlooked.
Minnesota is a no-fault state. Under some circumstances, a cyclist injured in a collision with an automobile may have access to personal injury protection (PIP) benefits through their auto insurance policy, or the accident involved automobile’s insurance policy if the cyclist does not have automobile insurance. PIP can potentially cover medical expenses and lost wages, but coverage only extends up to a certain threshold.
If the cost of your treatment and rehabilitation exceeds PIP coverage, compensation can be pursued through the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may be able to provide an additional source of recovery.
When unsafe conditions on a property contribute to a bicycle accident, homeowner’s insurance may also apply. If an accident involves a commercial vehicle, a company’s commercial insurance may share liability. Even local municipalities like Minnetonka can be another source of recovery if dangerous, yet preventable, road conditions cause an accident.
How an Attorney Can Assist Your Bicycle Accident Insurance Claims
Being involved in a serious bicycle accident leaves most victims unsure of what to do next. Most victims are focused on recovery and worried about missed time at work. That can leave handling insurance claims as a distant priority.
When you choose to work with an attorney on your bicycle accident insurance claim, they immediately begin to take pressure off.
Most reputable injury lawyers offer a free initial no-obligation consultation to get an understanding of the details of your case. What makes a significant difference for many claimants is finding a lawyer who works on a contingency fee. Because they don’t collect payment upfront, bicycle accident legal help becomes much more accessible.
Once you start working with an attorney, they tend to handle most of the communications with insurance companies. This is a major benefit, as many insurance companies will offer quick, low-value bicycle accident settlements that don’t fully cover the extent of the victim’s injuries.
Many initial offers don’t take into account lost wages from missed work, or the loss of earning capacity that some victims experience.
Sometimes, insurance companies even push back altogether on bicycle accident claims. They may try to argue that the cyclist was at fault or that their injuries are not significant. Having an attorney on your side helps you negotiate a fair settlement.
In those circumstances, the lawyer’s true job begins: building a stronger claim.
How a Minnetonka Bicycle Accident Lawyer Strengthens Your Claim
Bicycle accident insurance claims become stronger when injuries and liability are thoroughly documented. When injured cyclists can support their claims with extensive evidence, they enter settlement negotiations in a much stronger position.
One of their first priorities is establishing liability. They’ll gather police reports, photos and videos from the scene, including security cameras and dashcams, and witness statements when available. This type of evidence won’t stick around forever, so the sooner you get an attorney involved, the better the chance you have to preserve the evidence.
After gathering evidence, attorneys often work with accident reconstruction experts to get a better understanding of how the incident played out. This is extremely helpful in proving liability, particularly when insurance companies try to claim the cyclist was partly at fault.
Insurers may question or downplay the severity of bicycle accident injuries, especially when the claimant wasn’t initially transported to the hospital. A good personal injury attorney will look at medical records, treatment notes, diagnostic imaging, and seek out specialists to build a comprehensive picture of the victim’s injuries.
Because bicycle accidents can be severely traumatic, experienced bicycle injury attorneys will also investigate more complex non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium experienced by the victim’s spouse.
What Happens If a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Is Necessary?
Many bicycle accidents result in an insurance settlement before ever reaching a trial. But every case is different, and there’s no guarantee that an insurer will offer a fair settlement. If the insurer continually offers a low-value bicycle accident insurance settlement that both you and your attorney feel is unacceptable, litigation may become necessary.
The good news is that your lawyer likely already has all the evidence necessary to take the case to trial.
Your attorney can file the lawsuit on your behalf and handle any additional discovery and evidence gathering needed to build a solid case. When the case calls for it, they may also bring in expert witnesses like accident reconstruction experts to help prove liability.
Litigation is often a last resort, and your attorney will do everything in their power to get you a fair settlement before the case ever reaches that point. But if the insurer continually refuses to offer fair compensation, it can give you peace of mind to know you have an attorney ready to represent you in court.
Fields Injury Law: Bicycle Accident Legal Help for Minnetonka Clients
Recovering from a bicycle accident injury is a difficult process, made even more challenging when you are trying to negotiate with insurance companies on your own. By working with a bicycle accident attorney, you get help from a professional who knows how to build strong case evidence and pursue all available avenues for recovery.
At Fields Injury Law, we provide bicycle accident legal help to Minnetonka clients who are struggling with insurance claims on their own.
Our team can help you identify the multiple parties and insurance policies involved, and make sure that evidence is collected before it disappears. We thoroughly investigate the accident, document damages both economic and emotional, and handle the negotiations with insurance.
When negotiations break down and an insurance settlement can’t be reached, we are prepared to represent our clients in court.
If you’ve been the victim of a bicycle accident, don’t waste another moment. Contact Fields Injury Law for help with your Minnetonka injury claim. We offer a free initial consultation, and if you choose to move forward with us, we work on a contingency fee. That means no up front cost for you to get started.
Contact Fields Injury Law today, and get experienced help with your bicycle accident claim.
Fields Injury Law — Attorney responsible: Steve Fields
DISCLAIMER: This blog post provides general information regarding bicycling accidents. Individual cases will vary significantly. For personalized guidance on your specific situation, it is essential to consult with a legal expert.
