Chesterfield County Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you suffered severe injuries in a bicycle accident, you might be at a loss regarding what happens next. You could be in considerable pain and unsure how to pay for your growing medical expenses.

Fortunately, an experienced Chesterfield County bicycle accident lawyer could help you seek out fair financial compensation for your injuries and associated losses. With a skilled personal injury attorney on your side, you could establish negligence and hold the responsible parties accountable.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, bicyclists are generally obligated to adhere to the same rules of the road as other motorists. Certain exceptions apply, however, and there are specific rules in place which apply to bicycles only. A bicycle crash attorney in Chesterfield County would explain these laws to the injured party in detail. Among the most common rules pertaining to bicycles are those forbidding riders from riding on the sidewalks, requiring the use of hand signals during turns, and requiring cyclists to wear reflectors.

What Laws Must Bicyclists Follow?

Under Virginia Code § 46.2-906.1, any city, town, or county can pass an ordinance requiring children 14 years old and under to wear a helmet. Bicyclists are required to ride in the furthest right lane whenever possible and follow all yield and stop signs. Furthermore, cyclists are required to adhere to all other Virginia bicycle laws and yield to pedestrians when there is a right-of-way question.

Bicycle crashes often happen when motorists are not focusing their complete attention to the road. Some common causes of bicycle accidents in Chesterfield County include:

• Cars turning left or right in front of cyclists who are heading straight, even though the bikers have the right of way
• Motorists opening their doors in the path of moving cyclists
• Vehicles backing out of driveways and colliding with bikers
• Cars side-swiping bicycles while trying to pass
• Drivers colliding with bike riders from behind when following too closely

The exposed nature of bicycles means that cyclists do not have the same protection as other motorists in the event of an impact. When they are hit by another vehicle, their bodies could be exposed to the direct force of impact, leading to catastrophic injuries. Concussions, broken bones, internal organ damage, severe abrasions, and cuts are all common injuries sustained in bicycle accidents.

To establish negligence in a Chesterfield County bicycle collision case, the injured party must prove that a duty of care was violated and that the violation caused the injury. Virginia law adheres to the contributory negligence doctrine, which means that if a jury finds the injury victim at all responsible for the crash, they cannot recover damages.

A bicycle accident lawyer in Chesterfield County could examine the specifics of a potential case to identify the negligent parties. Bicycle accident victims generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. If the statutory deadline runs out, the court could refuse to hear the case. A seasoned attorney could help an injured person file a claim promptly.

If you were recently hurt in a bicycle crash, a Chesterfield County bicycle accident lawyer could help you through this challenging time. Call now to schedule your consultation. With assistance from an experienced legal team, you may be able to recover full and fair compensation for your injuries.