530+ Google Reviews
A bicycle crash can leave you dealing with serious injuries, time away from work, and financial pressure while an insurance company begins evaluating the claim.
Our Caroleen bicycle accident lawyers at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC help injured cyclists and families understand their rights and pursue compensation when another person’s negligence caused the collision.
Our firm has represented more than 10,000 clients and recovered more than $100 million. If you were injured while riding, contact our Caroleen personal injury lawyers for a free case evaluation.
When a Driver May Be Responsible for a Bicycle Crash
Drivers are expected to use reasonable care around bicyclists and follow the traffic laws that apply to the roadway. A driver who fails to yield, makes an unsafe turn, follows too closely, or becomes distracted may be liable when that conduct causes a collision.
Bicycle crashes may result from:
- Failing to yield at an intersection.
- Turning across a cyclist’s path.
- Passing a bicycle without sufficient clearance.
- Speeding.
- Distracted driving.
- Driving while impaired.
- Running a red light or stop sign.
- Opening a vehicle door into a cyclist’s path.
- Failing to check for a cyclist before entering traffic.
North Carolina generally treats bicycles as vehicles under state traffic law. The state also requires a driver overtaking another vehicle to pass at least two feet to the left in the circumstances covered by G.S. 20-149.
What Compensation Can You Pursue After a Bicycle Accident?
The losses from a bicycle collision may continue well beyond the date of the crash. Medical treatment can last for months, and some injuries affect your ability to work, drive, exercise, or complete everyday tasks.
Depending on your injuries and other facts, a claim may include compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment.
- Hospital stays and surgery.
- Follow-up care and rehabilitation.
- Future medical expenses.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning capacity.
- Damage to your bicycle and other personal property.
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Scarring or disfigurement.
- Permanent physical limitations.
A Caroleen bicycle accident attorney can review your medical records, employment documentation, bills, and other evidence to determine which losses should be included in the claim.
How Evidence Can Establish Fault
Bicycle accident claims often depend on details that are easy to overlook. The cyclist’s direction of travel, the vehicles’ direction of travel, roadway markings, sight lines, and the point of impact can all help explain what happened.
Evidence may include:
- The police crash report.
- Photographs of the roadway and vehicles.
- Damage to the bicycle and helmet.
- Witness statements.
- Surveillance or dashcam footage.
- Traffic signals and signs.
- Cell phone records when distraction is suspected.
- Medical records.
- Employment records showing lost income.
Our bicycle accident lawyers in Caroleen review the evidence as a whole rather than relying only on what a driver or insurance adjuster says happened.
North Carolina Contributory Negligence Can Affect Your Claim
North Carolina follows a contributory negligence rule. In an ordinary negligence case, an injured person who is found to have contributed to causing the injury may be barred from recovering damages.
That makes allegations against the cyclist especially significant. An insurance company may argue that you failed to yield, rode unpredictably, ignored a traffic control, or otherwise contributed to the collision.
We examine those claims against the physical evidence, witness accounts, traffic laws, and accident report before determining how best to respond.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Caroleen
Your first concern should be getting medical attention. Once you are safe, there are several steps you can take to preserve evidence and support your claim.
If possible:
- Call law enforcement and report the collision.
- Seek medical treatment.
- Photograph the vehicles, bicycle, roadway, and visible injuries.
- Get the driver’s contact and insurance information.
- Collect contact information from witnesses.
- Keep your bicycle, helmet, clothing, and damaged equipment.
- Save medical bills and receipts.
- Keep records showing time missed from work.
- Preserve any photos, videos, or messages connected to the crash.
You should also be cautious about giving a recorded statement or signing documents for an insurer before you understand what injuries and financial losses the collision has caused.
How Insurance Companies May Challenge a Bicycle Accident Claim
An insurer may accept that a collision occurred but still disagree about what it should pay. Adjusters frequently review medical treatment, fault, lost income, and whether all claimed injuries are related to the crash.
Disputes may involve:
- Whether the driver caused the collision.
- Whether the cyclist contributed to the crash.
- Whether the treatment was related to the accident.
- Whether future care is necessary.
- How much income was lost.
- The value of damaged property.
- The severity of pain or permanent limitations.
When we represent you, we communicate with insurers, gather supporting documentation, and evaluate settlement offers based on the evidence and the full effect of your injuries.
Who Can Be Liable Besides the Driver?
Some bicycle accident claims involve more than the motorist who caused the crash. The facts may point to another person or business with legal responsibility.
An Employer
If a driver was performing work duties when the collision occurred, the employer may potentially be liable under North Carolina law.
A Vehicle Owner
Ownership and permission to use the vehicle can affect insurance coverage and, in some cases, the parties involved in the claim.
Another Responsible Party
Certain crashes involve additional circumstances, including construction activity, roadway conditions, or other conduct that contributed to the collision. Claims involving government entities may follow different procedures and deadlines, so they must be evaluated separately.
How Our Caroleen Bicycle Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help
A bicycle injury claim requires more than collecting bills and sending them to an insurance company. We look at how the crash happened, whether the driver violated traffic rules, how your injuries have developed, and what financial losses you have experienced.
Our work may include:
- Investigating the collision.
- Gathering police and medical records.
- Preserving available evidence.
- Interviewing witnesses.
- Reviewing insurance coverage.
- Documenting lost income and medical expenses.
- Responding to contributory negligence allegations.
- Communicating with insurance adjusters.
- Evaluating settlement offers.
- Preparing a lawsuit when appropriate.
Our goal is to provide you with clear information about your case while pursuing compensation supported by evidence.
Contact a Caroleen Bicycle Accident Attorney to Get Started
If you were injured while riding in Caroleen, you may have questions about fault, insurance coverage, medical expenses, and how long you have to bring a claim. A Caroleen bicycle accident lawyer can review the circumstances of the crash and explain what legal options may be available.
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC offers free case evaluations and is available 24/7. Contact us today to discuss your bicycle accident claim and learn how we can help.
