Getting Justice After a Bicycle Accident
Gwinnett County is one of the best places in the Greater Atlanta Area to ride a bike. It is filled with bike-friendly suburbs and neighborhoods, and the year-round warm weather in Georgia makes this mode of travel appealing.
If you have taken up bike-riding, then you are no doubt aware of the many hazards that come with it. That is why you are cautious and alert when on the road. Sometimes this is not enough. You may have the unfortunate experience of coming across a driver who does not know or care about the rules. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident that owes to the inattention or recklessness of a motor vehicle driver, then you should take legal action.
Why You Need a Lawyer
As a bicycle rider, you are especially vulnerable to injury. You will not walk away from a collision with a car unscathed. You will need to spend some time in the hospital after such an incident. As you recover, you should consider the future. And your first phone call should be to a bicycle accident attorney.
You should speak to a lawyer before you contact your insurance company. Your lawyer will advise you of your rights as a policy holder, so that you go into the discussion armed with the facts.
The insurance company of the person who hit you may want to interview you as part of their investigation. You should not sit down with anyone without your lawyer. If the driver was clearly at fault for the accident, their insurer may offer you a low-dollar settlement. Do not sign anything until your lawyer has had a chance to review it.
Indeed, you should not deal with insurers or accident investigators of any kind. You should refer all such inquiries to your attorney. You should also let your lawyer handle all emails and written correspondence. This is necessary to protect your interests. You do not want to do, say, or write anything that can later be used against you if you need to file a lawsuit.
When You Need to File a Lawsuit
If the driver’s insurance company makes you a settlement offer that covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, then your lawyer may advise you to accept it. However, if you were seriously injured in the collision, if you have had to undergo a series of medical interventions to make you healthy again, then you will need to demand more money. Life-altering injuries require large settlements. If the insurer refuses to meet this demand, then you should sue them.
How an Attorney Can Help
The first thing your lawyer will do is to initiate their own investigation into the accident using their own team of professionals. Your lawyer will gather the facts, the forensic evidence, and the eyewitness statements needed to prove your version of events. The case need not go to trial. Your lawyer may be able to pressure the respondent into giving you a fair and adequate settlement.