Charlotte Office 704-815-6055
Asheville Office 828-252-2852
Asheville Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Asheville Bicycle Accident Attorney
Asheville, North Carolina, is one of the top destinations for mountain bikers in the United States due to the beautiful mountain trails available. Alongside mountain bikers, there are thousands of road bikers enjoying the hundreds of miles of roads and intersections in the city. Although biking is a wonderful way to get around in Asheville, people can be reckless and neglectful, causing bike accidents. If you have been a victim of a bike accident, an Asheville bicycle accident lawyer from Bridgman Gantt Law Offices can support you.
The personal injury team at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices has years of experience assisting bicyclists who have been injured riding in Asheville and surrounding areas. We are proud to contribute to making the area safer for cyclists by holding reckless or neglectful drivers accountable for their actions. Our skilled and experienced team can help you optimize your settlement by fully evaluating your associated damages and injuries and developing a sound legal strategy.
How an Asheville Bicycle Accident Attorney With Bridgman Gantt Law Offices Can Help
Asheville is a bicycle-friendly city compared to others in the state and in the country, with the number of bicyclists constantly rising. However, reckless and negligent motorists threaten the safety of cyclists in the area every day. Even a minor accident with a motor vehicle can cause severe injuries and damage to your bicycle. If you have been a victim of a bicycle accident in Asheville or in the surrounding areas, our legal team at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices is here to support you with the following:
- Understanding and Analyzing Your Case. After your crash, a compassionate attorney from our team provides a safe and non-judgmental space to understand what happened before, during, and after your crash. We can help determine who was legally liable for the crash and help you understand whether you have legal grounds for a claim.
- Proving Liability. North Carolina has strict contributory negligence laws, meaning that even if you were considered to be less than one percent at fault for the accident, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Our team will work to ensure that you are not penalized by such laws by proving adequate liability so that you can get compensation for your damages.
- Collecting Evidence. A large part of proving liability in a bicycle accident case involves gathering critical evidence that shows the other party was at fault. A liable party or parties may vary depending on the crash and could be designers of infrastructure, manufacturers of bicycle parts, or other motorists.
- Evaluating Your Damages. In order to understand an adequate settlement amount that can cover your damages and injuries, it is critical to analyze all expenses associated with a bicycle accident and injuries, such as medical expenses and lost wages. An experienced lawyer from our firm can also consider non-economic damages such as pain and suffering to calculate a fair and just settlement amount to pursue.
- Filing a Claim. A bicycle accident lawyer from our team can file a claim with the insurance company of the at-fault motorist in Asheville. They can also communicate and negotiate with the insurance representative on your behalf to achieve an optimal settlement amount.
- Going to Trial. If the insurance company is not cooperative with making a fair and just settlement, our personal injury team can help you pursue litigation. While the process can be exhaustive and complex, our team will handle all logistic, legal, and bureaucratic issues and processes. We will attempt to settle out of court but will not shy away from going to trial if necessary.
Bicyclists in Asheville, North Carolina, and the surrounding area deserve to feel safe when riding and in control of whether they will arrive home uninjured. Therefore, our Asheville law firm fights tirelessly to pursue compensation for cyclists who have been hurt on the roads. By ensuring that injured cyclists have the compensation they need and holding reckless parties accountable for their actions, Bridgman Gantt Law Offices is proud to contribute to a safer Asheville for bikers.
Avoiding Bicycle Crashes in Asheville, North Carolina
Bicycle crashes tend to fall into two major categories: a person falling from the bicycle and a crash with other motorists. Crashes with motorists tend to be most severe in that they result in greater injuries and damages. To avoid bicycle crashes in Asheville, North Carolina, there are certain steps you can take to protect yourself, including:
- Ride Vigilantly. By staying alert to the road and those around you, you can avoid crashing with motorists. A common cause of bicycle crashes involves motorists not seeing bicyclists, so if you believe that a driver is not seeing you, move out of their blind spot.
- Make Sure Your Bike Fits and Works. Riding a bike that is the right size for you will give you better control and allow you to maneuver the roads confidently. Also, make sure your bike is fully functional. For example, be sure that your brakes are fully engaged.
- Wear Adequate Equipment. Wearing protective gear that is adequately reflective can make you more visible to others on the road and help reduce your chances of severe injury if you are ultimately involved in a crash. At night, or when visibility is not good, be sure to have a white light on the front of your bike and a red light on the back. Wear bright clothing during the day.
- Keep Your Hands on the Handlebars. Unless you are signaling a turn, you should always have both hands on the bicycle handlebars, ready to engage the brakes. Keep all objects you ride with securely strapped to the back of the bicycle or in a backpack so that you are not distracted, and your hands are free.
- Understand Your Route. Be sure of your route from start to finish, so that you are not distracted while trying to navigate. Try to take roads with less traffic or slower traffic, and optimize your use of bike-friendly roads, such as bike paths and or roads with well-planned bike lanes.
Although there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting into an Asheville bicycle accident, there are many cases in which an accident is unavoidable. For example, there may not be a viable option for you to take a road that is well-designed for cyclists, or a reckless driver could hit you even if you are taking maximal precautions, resulting in catastrophic injury. In such cases, a dedicated bicycle accident lawyer from Bridgman Gantt Law Offices is ready to represent you aggressively.
FAQs
Q: Who Can Be Found At Fault in A North Carolina Bicycle Accident?
A: In a North Carolina bicycle accident, the person at fault is dependent on a variety of factors, including whether the bicycle had the right of way, the conditions of the roadway, whether a driver was distracted, and other considerations. An experienced bike accident lawyer can analyze the details of your crash to determine the at-fault parties involved in the accident, and work to prove liability to pursue compensation on your behalf.
Q: What Happens if I Have an NC Bike Accident?
A: If you have been in a bicycle accident, it is critical to focus on your health and safety. Directly after the accident, move yourself out of the way of imminent danger, check for severe injuries, and call 911. If your injuries are severe, you will be taken to the hospital by paramedics. Exchange contact and insurance provider information with the other parties in the crash and see a medical professional even if you believe that you have not suffered injuries.
Q: Is North Carolina an At-Fault State for Bicycle Accidents?
A: Yes, North Carolina is an at-fault state for bicycle accidents, meaning that the at-fault party is required to pay all the damages associated with the accident. For bicycle accidents, cyclists are subject to the same laws as car drivers. If an accident victim is found to be even partially at fault for the accident, they could lose access to their right to compensation.
Q: When Are Bicycle Accident Deaths Highest in North Carolina?
A: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, bicycle accident deaths tend to be the greatest during June and September, with the large majority of them happening in urban areas. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution during the summer months and to ride responsibly by following traffic laws and wearing proper protective gear, such as helmets. Making sure that your bicycle is visible can also help you avoid crashes in the state.
Work Towards Compensation With an Asheville Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you have been in a bicycle accident in Asheville caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person, you do not have to bear the financial burden of the accident. A dedicated and experienced personal injury attorney from Bridgman Gantt Law Offices can analyze the circumstances of your bicycle accident, assist you with collecting evidence, and submit a claim for your case. If the insurance company of the at-fault motorist refuses to come to a fair and just settlement, we will not hesitate to pursue litigation on your behalf. Contact us today to get started discussing your case.
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Our Locations
Charlotte Office
2125 Southend Drive
Suite 453
Charlotte, NC 28203
Asheville North Carolina
82 Church Street
Historic Downtown Asheville
Columbia Office
5111 Trenholm Rd.
Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29206
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2309 West Cone Blvd.
Suite 150F
Greensboro, NC 27408
Charlotte Office 704-815-6055
Asheville Office 828-252-2852
Charlotte Office
Asheville North Carolina
Columbia Office
Greensboro Office
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