Amarillo Bicycle Accident Attorney

Understanding Bike Accident Claims in Texas

If you were injured in a bicycle accident, you are likely facing numerous physical and financial challenges. Whether you were hit by a motor vehicle or were involved in a crash with another bicyclist or pedestrian, you may be dealing with serious or even catastrophic injuries, leading to enormous medical bills, extended time off work, and immense pain and suffering.

At Wood Law Firm, LLP, we understand what you are going through. Our Amarillo bicycle accident lawyers have helped countless injured cyclists in the wake of serious accidents, as well as the families of those wrongfully killed in bike crashes. We know what it takes to go up against major insurance carriers and fight for the full, fair compensation you are owed. Our aggressive, litigation-focused approach has helped us successfully recover millions of dollars for our clients, and we are ready to fight for you, too.

If you or someone you love was injured in a bicycle accident, contact Wood Law Firm, LLP online or by phone at (806) 304-0447 today to request a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.

Identifying Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Most bicycle accidents are entirely preventable. This is because most bicycle accidents are caused by negligence—negligence on the part of an automobile driver, another cyclist, a pedestrian, or even the injured cyclist. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, you cannot always predict the actions of others. When others are careless or reckless, you could be seriously hurt.

Some examples of how negligence can lead to a bicycle accident include:

• A distracted driver who fails to see a cyclist who is sharing the road
• A drunk driver who veers into a bicycle lane
• Another bicyclist who fails to follow the rules of the road
• A motorist who doesn’t yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist
• An aggressive driver who follows too closely or passes a cyclist without leaving enough space
• A careless driver who fails to stop at a red light or stop sign
• The passenger of a vehicle who suddenly opens a car door into a bike lane
• A pedestrian who fails to yield when crossing a bike lane or street outside of a crosswalk

Bike accidents can also happen when construction companies design or build defective roads or fail to properly maintain roads, leading to various hazards, such as potholes. Additionally, defective bikes or bicycle equipment can also contribute to, cause, or worsen the effects of an accident, particularly when the defective equipment is a helmet or another safety device.

Determining Fault in Bicycle Accidents

Because Texas is a fault state, it is very important to the outcome of your case that you determine who was to blame for the accident. You will need to file your claim against the at-fault person or party’s insurance provider (in most cases).

To determine who was at fault for your accident, our Amarillo bicycle accident lawyers may ask the following questions:

• Did another person or party owe you a duty of care, meaning did someone else have a legal responsibility to take reasonable measures to prevent an accident and/or keep you from coming to harm?
• Did that person or party breach the duty of care, meaning did they fail to take reasonable actions to prevent you from coming to harm by acting negligently, carelessly, recklessly, or unlawfully?

For example, our investigation may uncover that the driver of a car that hit you was texting at the time of the accident. This is a clear example of negligence and a breach of the duty of care. In this example, we could determine that the driver was at fault for the accident and, therefore, liable for your damages.

In some cases, fault may rest with multiple parties—including yourself. Under Texas’s shared fault laws, you are not barred from filing a claim if you shared some portion of the blame for the accident. As long as you were less than 51% at fault, you could still recover compensation. However, the amount of compensation you will receive will be reduced by the same percentage of fault you are found to have. For example, if a jury finds you 20% at fault, your total recovery will be reduced by 20%.