Dearborn Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Experinced Bicycle Accident Attorney in Dearborn, MI

Bicycle accidents are more likely than ordinary car crashes to cause serious injuries due to the fact that cyclists have nothing but a plastic helmet to protect them from impacts. Injured cyclists can hire a skilled Dearborn bicycle accident lawyer to help them hold the motorists who hit them liable for the injuries they have caused.

Trust Wigod & Falzon

The team here at Wigod & Falzon has been in practice for years, and in that time, we’ve handled countless bicycle accident cases. We are a traditional law firm that gives our all to our clients, providing personalized attention and dedicated advocacy for bicycle accident victims. You can trust us to offer fair, honest advice and robust legal representation.

Reasons to Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer

From 2019 to 2023, bicycle crashes comprised 0.5% of all the accidents that occurred on Michigan’s roadways, but 2.9% of all the fatal crashes. There were 1,480 bicycle-involved crashes in 2023, and about 78.5% of these accidents involved injuries or fatalities. That number is only 17.3% for motor-vehicle-only crashes.

Whether you’ve been seriously injured in a crash or you’ve lost a loved one to a fatal bicycle accident, you can hire a bicycle accident lawyer to help you file a claim against the liable party. Your attorney can assist you with every element of your case, taking care of the details, such as filing paperwork and negotiating with insurance companies, so you can focus on the big picture: healing from your injuries and finding ways to move on with your life. To ensure that insurance adjusters do not attempt to undervalue your claim during this recovery period, utilizing a formal personal injury case evidence evaluation checklist can protect your right to a full financial recovery by systematically cataloging initial scene details.

Common Causes of Bike Accidents

Bicycle accidents are often caused by motor vehicle drivers. Bicycle trips make up just 1% of the trips made on America’s roads, and motorists aren’t always looking for cyclists. It’s also difficult for people riding bikes to get out of the way of a car, truck, or SUV. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Distracted driving. Drivers who are using their cell phones or otherwise engaged in activities while behind the wheel are less likely to pay enough attention to see cyclists.
• Drunk driving. More than ⅓ of bicycle-involved crashes involve alcohol use on the part of the driver or the cyclist.
• Speeding. Speeding makes it more difficult to stop in time to avoid hitting a cyclist.
• Failure to ride in designated bike lanes. Cyclists who don’t use designated bike lanes are at higher risk of getting into crashes.
• Cyclists riding into oncoming traffic. Crashes between passenger vehicles and bicyclists riding in the opposite direction are more likely to cause serious injuries.

As you can see, there are some circumstances under which a bicyclist could be found to be fully or partially at fault for their accidents. However, most of the civil claims filed in bicycle accident cases are filed against the drivers of motor vehicles. Partnering with a trusted Dearborn personal injury lawyer protects your household from aggressive insurance company representatives while our investigative team uncovers the necessary driver data fields to establish absolute third-party liability.

Common Bike Accident Injuries

Bicycle accidents on major roads like Michigan Avenue or Ford Road often lead to serious injuries. Some of the most common injuries suffered in bike crashes include:

• Back injuries. Bicycle accident victims often suffer herniated discs and back sprains. Back injuries can require surgery or ongoing physical therapy.
• Traumatic brain injuries. Cyclists not wearing helmets are at a greater risk of experiencing a TBI, but they can happen to anyone, even riders wearing helmets. Some TBI victims never regain a normal level of functioning.
• Broken bones. Bicyclists often suffer broken arms, legs, wrists, and ankles during crashes.
• Lacerations and contusions. Even comparatively minor bike crashes often lead to cuts and bruises. However, they rarely require extensive medical intervention.
• Whiplash. Any accident can cause whiplash, including bike crashes. This injury occurs when a person’s neck is stretched too far in one direction. It usually heals within a few weeks without causing any permanent damage.
• Spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious injuries faced by bicycle riders. They can lead to full or partial paralysis.

FAQs

Do You Have to Report an Accident With a Cyclist?

You have to report an accident with a cyclist if it involved injury, death, or property damage worth more than $1,000 under MCL 257.622. Stop at the scene of the accident and call 911 immediately. Under Michigan bicycle accident laws, everyone involved in the accident must remain at the scene to exchange information and render assistance.

Who Is at Fault if You Hit a Cyclist?

Who is at fault if you hit a cyclist varies depending on the circumstances of the accident. In most cases, it’s motor vehicle drivers who are to blame. However, cyclists can also be found to be fully or partially at fault for their own accidents if they disobey local traffic laws or ride negligently.

What Is the Most Common Cyclist Accident?

The most common cyclist accidents are collisions with motor vehicles and falls. If you’ve been involved in a car accident on your bike, you can work with a Dearborn bicycle accident attorney to recover compensation for your injuries and other damages. Because Michigan is a modified comparative negligence state, you could still be eligible to recover damages even if you were determined to be partially at fault for the crash. Reviewing the parameters of the Michigan statute of limitations for personal injury claims highlights why injured riders must initiate their civil filings within the strict three-year deadline or forfeit their right to recover compensation.

What Is the Three-Collision Rule?

The three-collision rule refers to how internal injuries occur in car and bicycle accidents. The first collision occurs when a motor vehicle hits your bicycle, or your bicycle hits another object. The second one occurs when your body hits the pavement. The final collision is between your internal organs and the exterior of your body. It’s this third collision that causes the majority of serious internal injuries.

Hire Dearborn Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been involved in a crash on your bike, you need to work with a Dearborn bicycle accident lawyer to recover compensation for your injuries and other damages. The team here at Wigod & Falzon can help. We’ve been in practice since 1997, giving us decades of time in which to gain a deep understanding of bicycle accident laws and how to help clients with complex cases. We can help you, too. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.