Thornton Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Thornton Bicycle Accident Attorney

Many people living in the Thornton, Colorado, area enjoy riding bicycles for leisure, exercise, or as simple local transportation. While most can enjoy riding their bikes without problems, even the most cautious and experienced bicyclists can suffer tremendous injuries if a motor vehicle hits them. When a bicycle accident happens, the bicyclist is likely to suffer extreme injuries that, in turn, cause tremendous economic losses.

Helping Victims of Bicycle Accidents Recover in Thornton

If you are struggling with injuries from a bicycle accident that someone else caused, contact our firm. Our team is ready to help you recover your losses and get the compensation you need to heal. The attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard have extensive professional experience handling all types of personal injury claims in Thornton, including bicycle accident claims. We know you probably have lots of pressing legal questions in this difficult time, and we can provide the guidance and support you need to recover with confidence.

Proving Liability in a Bicycle Accident Case

When another party has injured you in a bicycle accident, you have the right to claim compensation for the damages resulting from the incident. However, before you can recover any kind of compensation, you must prove who caused your accident, how they caused it, and the extent of the damages you suffered. While explaining the aftermath and your damages may be easy, proving that the collision was the fault of the vehicle’s driver can be more challenging.

Bicycle accidents can happen due to negligence, including distracted driving, speeding, and moving violations. It’s also possible for these accidents to occur if drivers do not use extra caution during poor driving conditions like low light or severe weather. If any kind of negligence caused your bicycle accident, you would need to prove the defendant owed you a duty they failed to fulfill and, in doing so, directly caused your claimed damages.

It is also possible for a bicycle accident to happen because of intentional misconduct, such as reckless driving or driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. When this type of bicycle accident occurs, the defendant is likely to face criminal charges from the state along with a civil claim for damages from the victim. If this applies to your situation, your Thornton bicycle accident attorney will advise you as to how the illegal nature of the defendant’s misconduct could influence your final award.

Compensation for a Bicycle Accident in Thornton

Once you have successfully established liability for your bicycle accident, the next phase of your case is proving the scope of the damages done by the defendant. Colorado allows you to claim repayment of:

• Any property damages incurred by the defendant’s behavior. This aspect of your recovery will likely pertain to the cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle. You can also seek compensation for replacing any other property lost in the crash.
• All medical expenses resulting from your injuries. When a defendant has injured you, they are liable for the cost of all the medical care you require to achieve maximum medical improvement from your injuries. This includes immediate and future medical expenses arising from the incident. For example, you can hold the defendant accountable for your hospital bills, but if you require ongoing rehabilitative care, they are responsible for these expenses as well.
• Lost income. You could be left unable to work until your injuries recover, and if so, the defendant is liable for the income you cannot earn during this time. You can also seek repayment for the value of any vacation time you were forced to use after your accident.
• Lost future earning potential. Unfortunately, many bicycle accident victims suffer catastrophic injuries resulting in permanent disabilities. If the defendant’s behavior has impaired your ability to work and earn income in the future, they are responsible for the future wages you would have reasonably expected to earn if your injury hadn’t occurred.
• Pain and suffering. You have the right to seek money for physical pain, emotional trauma, and psychological distress resulting from the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. The state limits non-financial damages in personal injury claims to $500,000, and your Thornton bicycle accident attorney is the best asset you have for maximizing the pain and suffering compensation you receive.

Proving the full extent of your economic losses will likely require appropriate documentation. You must not only prove how much you lost but also prove that your losses solely resulted from the defendant’s negligence or misconduct and not some other cause.

Once you have an experienced legal team reviewing your case and calculating your claimable damages, you might be surprised to discover that your claim is worth much more than you initially expected. When Cheney Galluzzi & Howard represent you in a bicycle accident claim, our goal is to secure as much compensation as Colorado allows.

What to Expect in Your Recovery Process

A bicycle accident is a vehicle accident, so you have the right to start a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance. Your Thornton bicycle accident attorney can assist you with this claim filing process, ensuring you receive fair treatment and a reasonable settlement offer from the insurer in a timely manner. Once you have exhausted this initial step in your recovery process, any remaining losses can be recovered with a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

Most personal injury cases are resolved through privately settled agreements. Private settlement allows all parties involved to avoid the stress, expense, and time commitment of a court case. However, if your case needs to be resolved through litigation, you can rely on Cheney Galluzzi & Howard to represent you through these proceedings. We aim for a swift settlement, but if we must take your case to court to secure the compensation you legally deserve, we are fully prepared to do so.

Colorado Bicycle Accidents FAQs

Q: How Do I Prove Liability for My Bicycle Crash?

A: Your Thornton bicycle accident attorney will be invaluable for determining the best way to establish fault for your bicycle accident. This may require gathering statements from eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen, physical evidence from the accident, or even expert witness testimony. Success with any personal injury claim requires proving the defendant directly caused the incident in question and bears sole liability for the resulting damages.

Q: What Happens if I Share the Fault for Causing the Bicycle Accident?

A: Colorado upholds a modified comparative negligence law, meaning that a plaintiff found partially responsible for causing their claimed damages will lose some of their case award to reflect this shared fault. If, for example, a plaintiff is found 10% at fault for their bicycle accident, they lose 10% of the compensation recovered from the defendant. However, if the plaintiff’s fault exceeds 50%, they lose their right to seek damages from the defendant.

Q: How Long Do I Have to start a Bicycle Accident Claim?

A: The statute of limitations or time limit for filing a personal injury claim in Thornton is two years, starting on the date the injury occurs. Do not make the mistake of assuming you can wait until the last minute to file your claim. It is best to start the process quickly to have the greatest chance of maximizing your recovery. You also have a very short window to start an auto insurance claim against an at-fault driver, so seek legal counsel immediately after receiving medical treatment for your injuries.

Q: How Much Is My Bicycle Accident Claim Worth in Thornton?

A: The total compensation a personal injury plaintiff may recover hinges on the scope of the damages the defendant caused. Colorado allows you to seek full repayment of property damage, medical expenses, and lost income resulting from the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. You can also hold them accountable for the pain and suffering they caused. Your Thornton bicycle accident attorney can provide an estimate of your case’s total potential value.

Q: How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Thornton Bicycle Accident Attorney?

A: It’s understandable to have concerns about your legal fees when you must pursue legal recourse in response to a bicycle accident someone else caused. However, the team at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard accepts personal injury clients on a contingency basis. This means you will only pay an attorney’s fee once we win your case, and the fee you pay is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you. There is no fee if we cannot win your case, so there is no risk to having our firm represent your bicycle accident claim.

Find Experienced Thornton Bicycle Lawyers

Cheney Galluzzi & Howard can leverage our firm’s extensive legal experience in personal injury law for you in your bicycle accident case. If someone else is liable for the injuries and economic losses you suffered, we will do everything to help you hold them accountable for your damages. Contact us now and schedule a free consult with a Thornton bicycle accident attorney and learn more about the legal services we offer.