- Who Are Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys?
- The 2024 Bike Accident Statistics in Phoenix
- Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident in Phoenix
- What Are the Main Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Phoenix?
- Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Phoenix
- What Types of Damage Can You Recover After a Bike Accident in Phoenix?
- Our recent case settlements
- Who Can Be Held Liable for a Biking Accident in Phoenix?
- How Do You Prove Negligence in a Cycling Accident?
- What If I Contributed to a Bike Accident?
- How Can Our Phoenix Bicycle Accident Lawyers Help?
- Statute of Limitations for a Bicycle Accident Claim in Arizona
- Contact Our Phoenix Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today!
- Get a FREE case evaluation today
Phoenix, with its 300 days of sunshine, versatile terrains, and scenic biking trails, appears to be a cycling paradise. However, growing congestion and incomplete bicycle infrastructure make the city quite dangerous for bikers.
If you are a committed bicyclist, or your friends and family members are, with the annual number of injured cyclists on the spike, it is a good idea to learn all you can about your bicyclist’ rights. Keep in mind: a trusted bicycle accident lawyer is your best partner at all times!
Who Are Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys?
Our accident lawyers are hard-trained legal field professionals who understand all the challenges that a bike crash victim faces. Starting with the financial pressure of paying bills and ending with the emotional toll of the incident on you and your loved ones — we feel for you.
Speckless reputation and proven track record speak of relentlessness and commitment to what we do. Not only does our team strive to secure just compensation, but it also aims to make the streets of our city safer! Whether you need a friendly push in the right direction or expert court representation, call our lawyers today!
The 2024 Bike Accident Statistics in Phoenix
The rate of workers commuting by bicycle in Phoenix has recently dropped by 16%. Despite the local governmental efforts to improve the cycling infrastructure in the city, the injury rates make many people overthink their means of transportation to work. All because bicyclist deaths make up around 4% of all fatalities in the state. In Phoenix, the percentage is even higher — over 6% of fatal incidents involve cyclists.
Recent Bike Crash Facts in Arizona:
Here is a breakdown of the most significant bike crash statistics in Arizona, offering valuable insights into the dangers cyclists face on the roads:
- Over 95% of bike riders suffer serious injuries in cycling accidents.
- People in their 50s-60s make up over 25% of bicyclist fatalities in the state.
- Around 90% of all bike riders sustain severe, sometimes fatal, accident injuries in urban areas.
- 7% of biking incidents take place during the darker hours of the day.
- Rainy weather in Arizona contributed to 10% of cycling accidents.
- Over 70% of bicycle collisions took place in Maricopa County.
- 30% of bicycle incidents in the state take place at crosswalks.
- 2% of bicyclists injured in an accident were riding under the influence.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident in Phoenix
A few simple steps can ensure your safety and make a solid base for a successful personal injury claim. These include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
Your well-being is of utmost importance. So, you should try to get away from the road as fast as possible. That is, if you can move on your own. In case you are badly injured, it is best to wait for the first responders. Some accident injuries may seem minor, but they can pose a serious threat to your health. So, you should call emergency medical services and let a professional check them. Besides, medical records serve as valid accident evidence once you file the claim. In Arizona, it is mandatory to report an accident that exceeds $ 1,000 in injuries and losses. However, an official police report containing all the details of an incident can help you recover the rightful settlement later on. Any insurance company representative will try to diminish the amount of your reimbursement by shifting the blame or trying to lowball you. It is best to allow a professional car vs bicycle lawyer to handle the negotiations.
What Are the Main Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Phoenix?
While bicycle accident cases may differ on multiple levels, there are a few typical causes of bike collisions throughout Arizona:
- Inattentive drivers: Texting, conversing with passengers, daydreaming, and eating behind the wheel all result in distracted driving that leads to traumatic bicycle crashes.
- Ignorant drivers: On average, over 30% of motor vehicle drivers fail to yield the right of way to cyclists and risk creating a dangerous and potentially deadly road situation.
- Dooring accidents: Some drivers neglect the necessity to check their side mirrors before exiting the vehicle. A suddenly opened car door often leads to serious injuries that bicyclists sustain falling off their bikes and under the wheels of upcoming traffic.
- Intoxicated drivers: 1% of all recent bicycle accidents in the state were provoked by motor vehicle operators driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Poor driving conditions: Insufficient lighting, potholes, and debris on the road, along with the lack of safe cycling infrastructure, pose a serious threat to local bike riders.
- Hit-and-run drivers: Hit-and-run accidents are quite widespread across the state, and cyclists often become victims of irresponsible vehicle operators.
Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Phoenix
The type of bike accident injury often depends on the severity of the incident. Based on the variety of bicycle accident claims that our Phoenix bike accident lawyers have worked on, it’s safe to point out the following traumas:
What Types of Damage Can You Recover After a Bike Accident in Phoenix?
Most bicycle accident victims are unaware of the types of damages they can claim. Often, insurance companies offer a minimal settlement for the economic damages sustained in an accident, but an experienced bicycle accident attorney will make sure that you settle for a fair reimbursement that covers the following:
You can recover all the medical treatment costs, including potential future surgery expenses, physical therapy costs, and rehabilitation. Whether a cyclist loses their ability to work temporarily or the sustained condition leads to a permanent decrease of one’s earning capacity, the at-fault party will have to compensate for related costs, past and future. If your bike requires repairs or should be replaced, all the consequent costs can be recovered. This applies to all the other valuable belongings damaged in an accident. A trusted personal injury lawyer will help you claim maximum compensation for such non-economic damages as emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, loss of joy in life, and physical pain and suffering.
The least common type of damages would be punitive damages. They are used as punishment measures for extremely reckless, negligent, or intentional acts to eliminate those in the future.
Our recent case settlements
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Biking Accident in Phoenix?
Several parties may be liable for a bike accident in Phoenix. Identifying them can increase your chances of securing maximum compensation. These include:
- Negligent drivers: A motorist who was speeding, ran at a red light, failed to yield, or violated any other traffic rules and regulations can be held liable for the accident and asked to compensate for all the inflicted losses and damages.
- Bike manufacturers: Some bicycles may be defective from the start. If you can prove that a mechanical failure has led to an accident, you can take legal action against the manufacturer.
- Governmental entities: Sometimes, hazardous riding conditions, such as defective lanes, lack of proper signature, and debris on the street, become the primary cause of a collision. If that is the case, an experienced bike accident attorney can hold the city of Phoenix responsible.
- Other bicyclists: Fellow cyclists who disregard traffic rules can create a dangerous road situation or at least contribute to it. In such cases, they will be partially liable for the consequent damages.
- Pedestrians: While bike riders have to give the right of passage to pedestrians, the latter may not be as law-abiding and cautious. If a pedestrian unexpectedly steps into the lane or intentionally obstructs it, they will be held responsible for the accident.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Cycling Accident?
The state of Arizona belongs to the group of so-called at-fault states, meaning that the person responsible for an incident or their insurance company will be responsible for the damages they caused. However, it takes reliable evidence to prove liability and obtain the reimbursement you are due. To prove other people’s negligence, you will have to do the following:
What If I Contributed to a Bike Accident?
Arizona belongs to the number of states that abide by a comparative negligence rule. The rule ensures that even if the victim contributes to an accident, they are still eligible for fair compensation. However, the percentage of fault will be deducted from the settlement they seek.
To make things a little clearer, let’s say the damage amount a seriously injured bicyclist wants to recover is $100K. Yet, the investigation proves that the cyclist is partially to blame since they didn’t wear proper clothing with reflective elements. So, they are assigned 15% of the fault. The sum the victim receives will be $85K in damages.
Even if you are over 90% at fault for a bike accident, you can still seek compensation unless you intentionally caused the crash, leading to severe injuries or wrongful death. If you believe you may have contributed to the incident, a skilled Phoenix bike accident attorney can handle your claim and provide valuable support for your case.
How Can Our Phoenix Bicycle Accident Lawyers Help?
Some bicycle accident claims may be handled without proper legal assistance. However, working with a well-versed lawyer has perks. For instance:
On top of general legal knowledge, a Phoenix-based attorney knows all the ins and outs of the local law system. They understand how comparative negligence works and are well aware of existing insurance policies and traffic rules. Phoenix bike accident attorneys can assess the incident on multiple layers, uncovering evidence that not only strengthens the case but maximizes the settlement. A simple phrase can jeopardize a seemingly solid bike incident case once said in front of an insurance company. A trained legal representative knows how to communicate with the insurers, deflecting lowball offers and negotiating fair reimbursement. Although rarely, some bike accidents are tried in court. An expert legal advisor will help you prepare for the trial, ensuring that all the paperwork is filed correctly and on time. A professional lawyer will take on the case so that the victim does not have to worry about anything and fully focus on their ultimate recovery.
Statute of Limitations for a Bicycle Accident Claim in Arizona
Statute of Limitations is a state-governed deadline for an accident claim. In Arizona, the timeframe within which you can file a settlement request is two years. Injured parties who fail to apply for the reimbursement within the given period from the date of the accident may lose their right to recover compensation.
However, there may be legal exceptions based on the underlying conditions of the case. You can contact Phoenix bike accident attorneys to figure out if your claim is still valid. At our law firm, we offer free consultations.
Contact Our Phoenix Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today!
Being injured in a bike accident brings a plethora of additional challenges that no person should face alone. Our law-savvy lawyers will provide professional legal assistance, build a unique defense strategy, and offer friendly support to every bike incident victim in the state. All it takes is to contact us for a free consultation and start your road to just compensation and unobstructed recovery!
Share the details of your situation with us so we can begin advocating on your behalf. We customize our approach to fit the unique needs of each client.