Bicycles provide minimal protection to their riders, and an accident could lead to life-altering injuries. If another person’s actions caused you to be injured while riding a bicycle, you could hold them financially responsible. The law provides the same protections to bicycles as it does to motor vehicles.

To begin the process of recovering for your injuries, contact an experienced Southaven bicycle accident lawyer. A Board-certified personal injury attorney like David E. Gordon can help you hold the defendant responsible for the injuries they caused.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

To recover compensation, the client must show that they suffered an actual injury that resulted from the defendant’s actions.

Injuries that a person suffers from a bicycle accident range from mild to severe. The accident’s circumstances dictate the severity of the injuries, with more significant injuries arising when a car is also involved. The lack of protective gear, such as a helmet, can also increase the odds of a major injury. Below are some common injuries arising from a bicycle accident:

  • Burns from road rash
  • Muscle or ligament sprains
  • Fractures
  • Spinal injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries

For help in establishing compensable injuries, a plaintiff should contact a local bicycle accident attorney right away.

Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries

Once the client has established that the defendant caused their injuries, they are entitled to compensation for their damages caused by the bicycle accident. The defendant is responsible for economic and non-economic damages that the client suffered as a result of the accident. In some instances, they might even recover punitive damages from the defendant.

Economic Compensation

Economic compensation includes all monetary losses that the injured bicyclist suffers. This can include anything that has a quantifiable dollar amount attached to it, such as medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, property damage, household services, and out-of-pocket costs. Lost wages include any time missed from work as a result of the accident. A person suffers lost earning capacity when their injuries diminish their potential to earn money, such as those who become paralyzed.

Non-Economic Compensation

The injured person in a bicycle accident is entitled to compensation for the physical and psychological aspect of the injury as well. Non-economic compensation includes pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. A person experiences a loss of enjoyment of life when the injury prevents them from continuing the everyday activities that they previously enjoyed. They must establish that the injuries stop them from doing the same activities they performed regularly before the accident. For help in proving that an accident severely altered someone’s life, they should hire a Southaven bicycle collision lawyer like David.

Punitive Damages

When a defendant’s actions are so outrageous and careless that they are considered grossly negligent, they might be forced to pay punitive damages. Under Mississippi Code Annotated § 11-1-65, a defendant is liable for punitive damages in a bicycle accident when they acted intending to injure the plaintiff or if they engaged in gross negligence. A defendant acts with gross negligence when their actions demonstrate a willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for others’ safety. An example of gross negligence is driving at an excessively high rate of speed in a busy area.

Hire a Southaven Bicycle Accident Attorney for Assistance

If a bicycle accident caused your injury, you might be entitled to recover for the economic losses you suffered. The defendant should be held responsible for their actions and the law provides you the right to do so. The Law Office of David E. Gordon can help you hold them accountable and recover restitution for your injuries. A Southaven bicycle accident lawyer can increase the chances of a successful lawsuit. Meet with one of our attorneys for a free consultation.

The Law Offices of David E. Gordon

The Law Offices of David E. Gordon
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