Bicycle accidents are prominent for causing physical and emotional trauma. The CDC affirms that over 130,000 bicyclists sustain injuries in crashes annually. The financial burden of injuries can be overwhelming, leaving many households struggling. Luckily, bicycle accident victims can file claims and require the responsible parties to pay for damages. A well-versed attorney can help you find out if you have a bicycle accident claim and develop a solid case to attain compensation. Read on to learn seven damages you can seek after a bicycle accident.
Table of Contents
1. Medical Expenses
Bicycle accidents often leave victims with numerous injuries ranging from bruises to sprains, cuts, spinal cord injuries, TBIs, and broken bones. Since bicycles offer less protection in a crash, severe injuries like concussions are probable, accounting for 60% of accident fatalities.
After an accident, you may need urgent medical attention, and the expenses can add up quickly. From doctor bills to medications, physical therapy, assistive devices, and rehabilitation, a bicycle accident can hurt your finances, and even get into debt. When another person is liable for the accident, you can recover medical costs, including ongoing and future treatments.
2. Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
It is common for victims to miss work for a few days or even weeks following a bicycle accident, especially if they get severe injuries. As a result, your earnings may be affected, and you sometimes can’t perform your duties at work. You can receive compensation for lost wages due to missed work or reduced earning capacity because of injuries.
3. Property Damage
You can get compensated for property damage emanating from a bicycle accident. For instance, you can claim the costs of replacing your bike, helmet, cellphone, backpack, and smartphone if damaged in the accident.
4. Pain and Suffering
Besides the economic damages, bicycle accident victims can seek non-economic damages like pain and suffering. They involve the psychological implications of an accident, such as mental anguish, anxiety, and emotional trauma.
For instance, an accident may leave you with significant scars and disfigurement that are painful, making you self-conscious and affecting social interactions. Similarly, you can be anxious or fearful about riding a bicycle. Some victims have PTSD and experience nightmares, depression, and flashbacks.
5. Impaired Life Quality
A bike accident can have life-altering effects. It can render you immobile, confining you to a wheelchair all your life. In other instances, you can suffer severe head injuries, affecting your cognitive function. Consequently, you can’t participate in recreational activities such as cycling competitions as you did before the accident. In such a case, you can recover damages related to loss of life enjoyment and impaired life quality.
6. Punitive Damages
While rare, you can recover punitive damages in a bicycle accident claim. These damages mainly apply when the responsible party demonstrated utterly negligent or deliberate harmful behavior. They serve to penalize the defendant and deter such behavior.
7. Wrongful Death
Approximately 1,000 people die every year due to bicycle crashes. If your loved one was killed in a bicycle accident, you could seek damages like medical and funeral costs, grief, lost wages, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. However, you must demonstrate that another party’s doings or misdoings led to the accident and, in turn, death.
After a bicycle accident, victims can recover many economic and non-economic damages. They can demand the at-fault parties, whether drivers, bicycle manufacturers, or government agencies, to reimburse them for losses. Regrettably, the process of collecting damages can be overwhelming and tedious. Hiring a bicycle accident attorney protects your rights while fighting for fair compensation.
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