Florida consistently ranks as one of the most deadly states in the country for bicyclists. In fact, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts, the state has the highest fatality rate for cyclists in the entire United States at 6.7 deaths per million residents. This is almost two and a half times more than the national average of 2.6 deaths per million residents.
What makes this situation that much more devastating is that even the most prepared and trained cyclists are not immune from these grim accidents. Instead, when they are involved in a crash, they often end up dealing with catastrophic injuries, debilitating pain, and a slew of medical expenses that forever impacts their lives.
That is why if a bike crash harmed you, reach out to an experienced Clearwater bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, our diligent personal injury attorneys has years of experience handling challenging injury claims, and we know what it takes to get the financial recovery you require during this difficult time.
Perenich Law Injury Attorneys—Who We Are
Following an accident, you need to meet your medical needs and receive the compensation required to care for them. That is why our dedicated injury lawyers are here for you, ready to take on your legal battle and go after the justice you deserve.
Founded by brothers and attorneys Gregory J. Perenich, Timothy Perenich, and Terence Perenich, Perenich Law Injury Attorneys provides those who cannot help themselves the legal assistance they need to go after the financial compensation they require after an accident.
As a result of this dedication and drive, our firm has recovered millions of dollars on our clients’ behalf through settlement awards and jury verdicts.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Clearwater
In Clearwater, bicycle accidents can occur because of:
- A vehicle rear-ending a bicyclist trying to get around a parked car in the bicycle lane
- A driver or passenger in a parked car opening their car door into the path of a biker
- A motorist making a dangerous turn and cutting off a bicyclist
- A driver running a red traffic light
- A driver not stopping at a stop sign
- A driver failing to yield to the bike
- A bicyclist falling off their bike because of an animal attack
- A bicyclist falling off their bike because of a faulty bike part
- A bicyclist suffering harm because of poorly maintained streets
- A bicyclist getting hit by a car at a dangerous intersection, such as at Belcher Road and Gulf-to-Bay Blvd or McMullen-Booth Road and Eastland Boulevard
However, if you were harmed in a bicycle accident and the cause of your accident is not indicated in the list above, it is still important that you reach out to an experienced Clearwater bicycle accident attorney, such as those at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, as soon as you can.
These lawyers can promptly review your accident, determine if you have a viable case, and help you determine how much your bicycle case is worth.
Common Injuries Resulting From a Bike Accident in Clearwater
Typically, bicycle accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries and trauma.
Yet, some of the more common injuries that often result from these accidents include:
- Severe lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractured bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Emotional Trauma
- Facial injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Wrongful death
How Much Time Do You Have to File an Injury Claim Following a Clearwater Bicycle Crash?
Before you can collect damages following a bike crash, you need to first figure out if you have enough time to file your case. The statute of limitations is a law that dictates the maximum amount of time people have to file a lawsuit following an alleged offense. If they do not file their claim within that deadline, they cannot collect compensation for the losses they sustained.
In Florida, the statute of limitations to bring a bicycle injury claim following a bicycle collision is two years. However, there are often exceptions to this rule that can impact this filing period. For these reasons, it is best not to wait to reach out to an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Clearwater following a crash.
At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, when you retain our team, we can review your accident, figure out how much time you have to file your claim, and make sure that all of your legal motions are prepared correctly and filed before the statute of limitations expires.
What Types of Damages Can You Pursue After a Clearwater Bicycle Collision?
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Clearwater because of another person’s wrongful actions, you may be entitled to certain types of compensation.
In Florida, this compensation often includes both economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical costs, including doctor visits, surgeries, hospital stay, prescription medications, assistive medical devices, and emergency services
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Replacement services
- Rehabilitative services such as physical and occupational therapy
- Personal property repairs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Limb loss
- Disfigurement
- Inconvenience
As a result, the best way to determine what damages you can pursue following this tragic accident is to speak with a knowledgeable Clearwater bike crash lawyer. These attorneys can investigate the accident, determine what damages you may be entitled to, and help you fight for maximum compensation.
Actions to Take After a Clearwater Bicycle Accident
No matter how many precautions you take while riding a bike, devastating collisions can still happen. As a result, you need a lawyer who knows what actions you need to take, as these steps can make a significant difference in how much compensation you can recover.
For these reasons, following a Clearwater bicycle accident:
Contact 911 Immediately
After a bicycle accident, you should call 911 right away. Not only is this the fastest way to report the accident to the authorities, but it is also the quickest way to notify emergency medical personnel that you or someone else at the scene needs immediate medical help.
After the police arrive, they can investigate the incident and write down their findings in their police report. If you decide to pursue a legal claim following the accident, this report can provide your lawyer with valuable evidence regarding what happened and who was at fault for the accident.
Gather as Much Evidence as You Can
If you are in condition to do so after the biking accident, you should take as many videos and pictures of the incident as you can. This should include photos of your visible injuries, the damage to your bicycle, the vehicles involved in the collision, their placement on the road, skid marks on the street, the weather conditions at the time of the accident, traffic signs near the scene, and any other evidence that can help show what happened.
However, if you cannot gather this evidence because of your injuries, do not worry. Once you retain an experienced bicycle accident lawyer, these legal professionals can handle getting this documentation on your behalf.
Get Checked Over by a Doctor After the Incident
Although most bicycle accidents tend to result in severe injuries, you should still get to a doctor as soon as possible if your injuries appear to be minor. Many times symptoms of serious trauma such as internal bleeding or a traumatic brain injury can take time to manifest. Yet, the longer you delay getting medical help, the more deadly the condition can become. That is why, after a cycling collision, you should get to a doctor immediately.
In addition, getting medical treatment after the accident can help your bike accident claim. This is because, after an accident, insurance companies are looking for any reason to deny your case or settle for less money than you are entitled to. By not getting to a doctor promptly after your bicycle collision, these insurers will argue that your injuries are not that serious or a result of a subsequent event.
If a doctor examines you shortly after the incident, however, these doctors can prepare a medical report detailing your injuries, providing you with valuable evidence of a direct link between the harm you endured and your Clearwater bicycle collision.
Exchange Information With Those Involved in the Crash
Try to collect information from everyone involved in the accident, including names, driver’s license number, contact information, and insurance information.
Look for Witnesses After the Accident
If there were individuals at the accident scene who saw what happened, try to get their contact details and names. These witness statements can often provide your lawyer with helpful information regarding the incident, as well as help back up your claim.
If these individuals do not want to give you their personal details or a statement, do not try to force them. Instead, leave this information gathering to your attorney.
Watch What You Say to Others at the Scene
As you talk to the other individuals after the crash, make sure you watch what you say. This means you want to avoid making any definitive statements about the incident, apologizing for what occurred, or taking the blame for what happened. These types of comments can end up hurting your case and impacting the amount of money you can receive.
It is also a good idea to stay off social media accounts and online group forums after the accident. Although it may seem like a good idea to get your frustrations out by discussing what happened with others, it can hurt your case since the defense team can use any of these posts as evidence against you.
How Can Perenich Law Injury Attorneys Help After a Clearwater Bike Accident?
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident because of another person’s reckless, wrongful, or negligent actions, you likely want justice and compensation for the harm and significant losses you sustained. However, to obtain this compensation, you generally need to provide solid legal arguments and present relevant and detailed evidence proving your claim. After a bicycle collision, this is probably the last thing you want to worry about.
Fortunately, with a skilled Clearwater bicycle accident attorney on your side, like those at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, you will not have to worry about taking on this legal fight on your own. Instead, these attorneys can take on this challenging legal battle on your behalf.
Once retained, your attorneys can:
- Go over your bike wreck in detail, figure out if you have a viable legal claim, and determine what legal options you should pursue.
- Answer any questions and concerns you have about the accident and the legal process involved.
- Investigate the bicycle crash and obtain the evidence required to prove fault and damages.
- Bring in experts such as accident reconstructionists to substantiate your claim.
- File all necessary legal documents before time runs out.
- Handle all the negotiations and discussions with the insurance company and fight for a fair settlement offer.
- Take your case to trial if the other side is unwilling to provide you with a just settlement amount and go after maximum damages.
Contact a Clearwater Bicycle Accident Attorney Now
Do not wait any longer to get the legal help you need after you or a family member suffered an injury in a bike crash because of another person’s reckless or wrongful actions. Instead, contact Perenich Law Injury Attorneys today for your free case consultation, and let a seasoned Clearwater bicycle accident lawyer show you how we can help.
(727) 669-2828