A peaceful bicycle ride can quickly turn into a nightmare when a negligent driver is involved. The aftermath of a bicycle accident can leave you dealing with devastating injuries and wondering how you will pay for your medical bills. You need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side who knows how to handle these complex situations.
The team at Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers has 315 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of injury victims. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for accident victims, and we have the experience you need on your side after one of these devastating accidents.
If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident in Morgantown, WV, contact us today to let us put our experience to work for you. Call us now at (304) 225-5990 to schedule your free consultation with a Morgantown bicycle accident lawyer.
How Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Bicycle Accident in Morgantown
Bicycle accident claims can be complex for a number of reasons. Even though you may legally be entitled to compensation, the insurance company will not hand it over without a fight.
After your accident, Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers can help you by:
- Thoroughly investigating your accident to determine all responsible parties
- Gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses who can help bolster your claim
- Handling all paperwork and documentation required for your legal claim
- Accurately assessing the value of your claim to ensure you are fully compensated
- Handling all conversations with the insurance adjuster and opposing counsel
- Aggressively negotiating a top-dollar settlement for your claim
- Going to court and trying your case in front of a jury when the insurance company refuses to pay what your claim is worth
Clients in Morgantown, West Virginia, turn to our Morgantown personal injury lawyers. Our experienced personal injury attorneys know how to get results, and we are ready to get started putting together a winning strategy for your case. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a Morgantown bicycle accident lawyer and let us get started.
What Is My Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
After an accident, injury victims often wonder how much their claim may be worth. After all, they want to ensure they get enough money to pay their medical bills and compensate them for their pain and suffering. The value of your bicycle accident case is dependent upon the specific facts of your case.
No two bicycle accidents are the same, so it can be challenging to compare the value of one case to another. However, the factors that affect your case’s value are generally the same.
Those factors are:
- The severity of your injuries
- How your injuries have affected your life and relationships
- The amount of time you missed work due to your injuries
- Your average wages prior to and after the accident
- Any permanent effects resulting from your injuries
- The amount of insurance coverage available
The more severe your injuries, the more your case is likely to be worth. It is not uncommon for cases involving extremely severe injuries to be worth more than six figures. The best way to assess the value of your claim is by seeking the help of an experienced bicycle accident lawyer. Contact Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers today to let us help you put an accurate value on your claim and help you get compensation.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
Bicycle accident victims often suffer a variety of losses. A court may award them a number of different damages to compensate them for these losses. After an accident, injury victims are generally entitled to recover both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate injury victims for the monetary losses they suffered because of their accident. Putting a value on economic damages is usually quite easy because there are bills and other financial documents that show the exact amounts of these losses.
Common examples of economic damages include:
- Property damage (bicycle repair or replacement)
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses, such as diagnostic tests, doctor visits, surgery, and more
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Cost of medications
Non-economic damages are those that compensate victims for their physical and emotional trauma or losses. These damages are not financial in nature, although their value can be much higher than the actual financial losses in an accident.
Some common non-economic damages resulting from bicycle accidents include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
- Depression
- PTSD
Non-economic damages are subjective, so it can be difficult to put an accurate value on them. Insurance companies often try to downplay your injuries so that they can make you a lowball settlement offer. Let the team at Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers help evaluate your claim and make sure the insurance company does not take advantage of you.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a bicycle accident lawyer in Morgantown will not cost you any money up front. That is because bicycle accident lawyers utilize contingency fees. When using this type of fee, the lawyer takes their fee as a portion of any money awarded to the client.
If the lawyer does not win the case, they do not receive a fee for their services. Fees in bicycle accident cases usually range from 25% to 45% of the total recovery.
The specific amount of the fee typically depends on:
- The complexity of the case
- The lawyer’s experience level and track record
- Geographic location
- Whether the case settles or goes to trial
According to the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct, contingency fee agreements in the state must be in writing and signed by the client. The agreement should clearly state the percentage the lawyer will receive, and it should also state any other expenses that may be deducted from the client’s recovery.
Many times, bicycle accident victims struggle financially after their accident. Medical bills and lost wages can really take a toll on a victim’s finances. Many victims want to hire a lawyer, but they think that it will be too expensive. At Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers, we will only charge you a fee if we win your case, so contact us today to get started.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Bicycle Accident in West Virginia?
Yes, you may still be able to recover compensation even if you are being blamed for your bicycle accident. West Virginia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Under this rule, an injury victim may still recover compensation as long as they are 50% or less responsible for the accident. If they do share some fault, their recovery will be reduced by their portion of the fault.
For instance, consider a victim who suffered $10,000 in damages after an accident. If a jury finds that the victim is 20% responsible for the accident, they would be entitled to recover 80%, or $8,000, in damages from the defendant.
Let us help defend you against the common “blame the victim” tactics of the insurance company. We will fight to prove who was really responsible for your accident and hold them accountable for your damages.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicycle riders have little protection when they are involved in an accident. A rider is no match for a motor vehicle, and these accidents can result in catastrophic injuries.
Some of the most common injuries suffered in bicycle accidents are:
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe road rash
- Internal bleeding
- Permanent scarring
- Head and neck injuries
- Wrongful death
If you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, let the team at Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and let us learn more about your claim.
What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents in Morgantown, West Virginia?
Negligent motor vehicle drivers are one of the most common causes of bicycle accidents. These negligent drivers often leave bicycle riders suffering from devastating injuries.
Some of the most common causes of these crashes include:
- Texting while driving
- Driving under the influence
- Passing too closely
- Poor visibility
- Failure to yield
- Speeding
- Poor weather conditions
- Lack of highway lighting
After your accident, our experienced team can help investigate what happened to identify all potential defendants. We have the knowledge and experience to handle these difficult and complex cases, so give us a call today to let us help you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle Accident in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including bicycle accidents. This means that you must file a lawsuit for damages within two years of your accident. Failure to file your suit on time may completely prohibit you from recovering any compensation for your injuries.
This is why you should always consult an experienced lawyer as soon after your accident as possible. If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, contact Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers right away. We can help ensure that your claim is filed prior to the deadline so that you do not lose your chance to get compensation.
Contact Our Morgantown Bicycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident in Morgantown, West Virginia, contact Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers today. Don’t wait until it is too late and let your time to file a claim run out. Schedule your free consultation with one of our Morgantown bicycle accident attorneys who is ready to help you get all the compensation to which you are entitled.
