Dedicated Legal Representation For Bicycle Accident Victims
Bicyclists and pedestrians have the right to share the road with other motorists. Unfortunately, when bicyclists and pedestrians are involved in accidents with motor vehicles, they are likely to be seriously injured or even killed.
When you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a pedestrian or biking accident, it is important to the successful recovery of compensation that you are represented by experienced, skilled attorneys who are dedicated to your case.
What Are The Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries In Minnesota?
Bicyclists in Minneapolis are incredibly vulnerable. They have no protective frame, yet they have to share the road with semi trucks, commercial vehicles and countless negligent drivers. The physical impact of a collision often results in catastrophic, life-altering injuries. When a vehicle strikes a rider, the cyclist typically suffers a dual-impact event: first, when the car initially hits them; second, when the impact throws them forcefully to the ground.
The aftermath often requires emergency medical treatment. Some cases may also involve months of physical therapy. Some of the most common trauma-related injuries occurring to local riders include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Even when wearing a helmet, a rider can suffer concussions, skull fractures or brain contusions.
- Bone fractures: Accidents regularly break fragile bones. Common examples include broken wrists from attempting to break a fall, and severe leg or pelvic fractures.
- Spinal cord trauma: Severe impacts can compress or sever the spinal cord, leading to chronic back pain or even paralysis (paraplegia and quadriplegia).
- Road rash and lacerations: Sliding across pavement rips through regular clothing, causing deep skin abrasions that resemble severe burns.
Faced with these severe medical realities, injured riders find their lives disrupted by mounting hospital bills and missed weeks of work. Securing legal representation helps hold the at-fault motorist responsible for these heavy financial burdens.
How Long Do I Have To File A Bicycle Accident Claim In Minnesota?
If you are hurt while riding, you should remain aware of the state’s deadlines. Under Minnesota Statute § 541.05, Subd. 1(5), the standard statute of limitations for a personal injury claim based on negligence is six years from the date of the incident. This includes bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles. include bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles. This six-year window is notably longer than many other states, giving victims ample time to file a formal lawsuit.
However, this timeline shrinks drastically if your accident involved a public entity. For example, being struck by a Metro Transit bus or crashing due to an unmaintained city street. In those circumstances, you must file a formal notice of claim with the government body within just 180 days. Because evidence like traffic camera footage can disappear within days, contacting an attorney immediately ensures that you can fully protect your rights.
Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers Will Help Your Family Through This Difficult Time
At the Law Office of Jeffrey A. Jones, P.A., attorneys Jeffrey Jones and Christopher Vilione understand the difficulties you are facing: the long road to recovery, the loss of the ability to live your life normally from day to day and the inability to return to your job.
Contact us at 612-234-2992 today for a free consultation to discuss obtaining compensation for your bicycle accident injuries with experienced Minneapolis attorneys.
Common Ways Serious Bicycle Accidents Happen
Many bicycle accidents happen because negligent drivers make mistakes. Examples include:
- Passing too close to the bicycle
- Driving in the bike lane
- Failing to yield the right of way, such as turning in front of the bicycle
- Running a red light or a stop sign while a cyclist is proceeding through the intersection
- Striking the bike while overtaking
- Dooring a cyclist by blindly opening a car door into the bike lane
Often, these mistakes have a root cause that helps demonstrate why the accident occurred. Examples include impaired driving, reckless driving, distracted driving and more. A driver who is looking down at their phone may not see a traffic light turn red and may inadvertently run the light, for instance, striking a cyclist as they begin riding forward with the right of way.
How Fault Is Determined In A Bicycle Accident
Fault is determined by gathering evidence, usually to demonstrate negligence. Most bicycle accidents are not the result of intentional actions but of negligent mistakes. Evidence could include police reports, witness statements, dashcam footage, pictures or videos from the scene, medical records and more.
Police reports are very important because they can help outline the mistakes the other driver made. If a driver failed to check their blind spot before turning right and turned into a cyclist who was legally in the bike lane, for example, it is clear that the driver acted negligently.
Often, the basis for a determination of fault lies in the duty of care owed by the driver. They have a duty of care to the cyclist – they are required to drive safely and follow the rules of the road – and they breached that duty by failing to do so. The resulting accident then led to injuries, which in turn led to medical bills, lost wages and many other financial damages. The injured party can often seek substantial compensation to cover these costs, and it can help to work with an experienced attorney at this time.
Our Lawyers Protect The Rights Of Victims Of Pedestrian Accidents
We have the necessary financial resources, experience, knowledge and determination to pursue compensation from the negotiation stages to trial. We are also able to assist families who have lost loved ones who were fatally injured while biking or walking with filing wrongful death lawsuits.
With the help of our network of professionals, experts and specialists, we will demonstrate liability, whether the accident was caused by a distracted driver or you are the victim of a hit-and-run.
Were You Injured After Being Hit In The Crosswalk In Hennepin County? Contact Us To Discuss Your Potential Lawsuit
Was a loved one killed due to someone else’s carelessness? Were you catastrophically injured in a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident? St. Paul attorneys Jeffrey Jones and Christopher Vilione are compassionate, skilled attorneys who will fight aggressively to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available to cover your medical costs, lost wages and other losses.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We are here to guide your family through this difficult time. At the Law Office of Jeffrey A. Jones, P.A., we take personal injury cases on contingency. No attorney fees are paid unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.