When your pleasant bike ride turns to tragedy in an accident, you can face severe injuries and mounting medical bills. You need skilled Greenville bicycle accident attorneys to examine your case and hold the liable parties accountable.
Smith Jordan Attorneys at Law is committed to helping you recover physically, emotionally, and financially from your crash. Contact us to speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer and learn more about your options today.
A trustworthy bicycle accident attorney will offer a free consultation so you can base your decisions on solid legal advice. After that, working on a contingency basis allows you to get the representation you need without a large upfront retainer. Your attorney receives their fees as a percentage of your settlement, meaning they don’t get paid unless they win for you.
Several South Carolina regulations aim to protect vulnerable bicyclists. These laws determine how bikers should behave and how bike lanes should be used. They also indicate how motor vehicle drivers should proceed near bicyclists.
Section 56-5-3435, for example, mandates that cars maintain a safe distance between themselves and bicyclists. Meanwhile, Section 56-5-3445 prohibits bicyclist harassment. Those who violate these regulations may be assessed significant civil fines.
When negligence leads to bicycle accidents, holding responsible parties accountable via the personal injury claim process is possible.
If you are not severely injured, follow these steps to protect your health and claim for insurance or a personal injury lawsuit.
Keep your helmet and any other gear on while you wait for help. They can protect you against further injury.
Contact emergency services by dialing 911. Ask for both law enforcement and medical personnel.
Share your recollection of what happened with the police. Avoid admitting blame or saying someone else is at fault. Your Greenville bicycle accident attorney will investigate who is liable.
Take photos and videos of your bike, your injuries, the road and weather conditions, and anything that seems necessary. Ask anyone involved in the crash for their contact and insurance details, and get their contact info from witnesses.
You will probably need medical treatment at the scene. Ask for an examination before you leave the accident, and even if you do not go to the emergency room, follow up with your regular doctor or an urgent care center within 24 hours. You need to ensure your injuries are correctly diagnosed and establish a link between your conditions and the accident.
Although bicyclists can sometimes contribute to their mishaps, the chances are much higher that poor decisions by others are responsible for your harm. Speaking with an experienced Greenville bicycle accident lawyer lets you understand your potential avenues for seeking compensation from those at fault.
It’s essential to link your injuries to the wrongdoing of the person who hurt you. When you visit a doctor and get diagnosed immediately, you can refute their claims that you were injured elsewhere. It strengthens your case and shows liability.
In South Carolina, the statute of limitations only allows three years from the date of your injury to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, you could be unable to pursue compensation through the courts. Your bicycle accident attorney in Greenville, SC, will ensure your documents are filed correctly and on time.
Bicyclists can be surprisingly vulnerable, especially when they share the road with motor vehicles. The following are among the most common causes of bicycle accidents.
This could involve rolling through stop signs, driving through red lights, or not checking blind spots before turning.
Drivers are by no means the only careless people on the road. Fellow bicyclists may also be inattentive or even aggressive while riding. Their failure to brake correctly or use the appropriate bicycle lanes could place other bike riders at risk.
If poorly built or maintained, bikes themselves can contribute to accidents. Faulty brakes, in particular, are extremely dangerous.
When streets and roadways are designed, they frequently fail to include sufficient room for bikers. In neighborhoods, bicyclists are often forced to choose between dodging parked cars on the street or riding on the sidewalk, endangering pedestrians and themselves.
Identifying all liable parties can be complicated and confusing for you after a crash. Our Greenville bicycle accident attorneys understand personal injury law and how to interpret it to your advantage. We fight fiercely for your rights and the compensation you deserve.
Even with appropriate safety gear, bike accident victims often experience the following:
Our Greenville bicycle accident attorneys will thoroughly examine the accident to determine all liable parties. These could include:
Bicycle safety is a huge issue in South Carolina. Data gathered by the Palmetto Cycling Coalition reveals that it’s one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians and bike riders, who were victims of 13,719 accidents between 2009 and 2017.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation reports a worrying increase in bicycling fatalities in its Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Action Plan (PBSAP) in recent years, rising nearly 75% between 2015 and 2019. The PBSAP was created to provide a roadmap for reducing bicycling and pedestrian accidents across the state by addressing driver education, road design initiatives, and other factors.
Once you’ve reported your crash, avoid risking your claim by letting your attorney manage all future conversations and negotiations. The insurance company will want to ask you questions, hoping to trip you up and admit guilt.
Do not provide your insurance company with your friends or family members’ names and contact details. They will interview them, looking for anything they can use to minimize or deny your claim.
Do not talk about your accident with anyone other than your attorney. Finally, don’t post about the situation on any social media. Anything you say or write will be used to hurt your case.
Our firm has served Upstate South Carolina for over 40 years with the highest quality legal representation in numerous fields where people need help from the law. We put our knowledge and dedication to work for every client, working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for each unique case. We’ll work hard to obtain total compensation on your behalf. Don’t go it alone; call today and get started.
At Smith Jordan, we take the burden off your shoulders so you can recover with peace of mind.
Ready to get started? Contact the team at Smith Jordan today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about the benefits of working with our Greenville bicycle accident attorneys. You can use our online form or call us at (864) 343-2222.
English 
Spanish