Opting for a bicycle instead of a car provides a wealth of benefits – from reducing carbon footprints to health and fitness. However, sharing the road with larger vehicles isn’t always the advantage we think it is. With less protection from the elements, it’s no shock that bicycles are much more dangerous than your average car. In fact, the damages caused in a bicycle accident are frequently extensive, with life-altering physical, mental, and emotional consequences. At J. Cogburn Law, our Las Vegas bicycle accident lawyers help victims obtain the compensation they need to recover from injuries sustained.
Nevada Bicycle Accident Resources:
- How do I prove negligence in a Nevada bike accident?
- What damages can I collect in a bicycle accident claim?
- When should I contact a Las Vegas bicycle accident lawyer?
- Nevada Bicycle Laws
- What are the most common causes of Nevada bicycle accidents?
- What are the most common injuries sustained in a bike accident?
- Nevada Bicycle Accident Statistics
How do I Prove Driver Negligence in Bicycle Accident Cases?
Cyclists have the right to the streets – but put their lives at risk when sharing a roadway with a negligent driver. When drivers fail in their legal duty to obey traffic laws or drive with a reasonable standard of care, they can be held responsible for damages they cause during accidents. If you have been injured by a motor vehicle driver, you need to seek a consultation from an experienced bicycle accident attorney in Las Vegas and win back the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Some types of driver negligence you can attempt to prove include:
- Speeding
- Texting while driving
- Swerving
- Drunk or drug intoxication
- Dooring
- Failure to observe cyclists in adjoining lane
- Negligence in passing cyclist
Nevada rules compensation based on the percentage of fault. If your percentage of fault in the accident is less than that of the driver of the motor vehicle, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. It’s only when your percentage of fault is more than the driver of the vehicle that Nevada law states that you’re not entitled to compensation.
In the state of Nevada, you have up to two years to file a lawsuit according to the statute of limitations in a personal injury claim. This means you have two years from the date you were hit and injured on your bicycle to settle your case or file suit. If you do not settle within the allotted period, you will lose the ability to file or gain any compensation for your damages.
What Type of Damages Can I Collect in Bicycle Accident Cases?
Las Vegas bike accidents can result in very serious injuries that require long periods of medical treatment, physical therapy, and missed time from work. If you have sustained injuries in a bike accident, you may be able to recover monetary compensation – not only for your medical costs and lost wages, but also for your pain and suffering, inconvenience, emotional distress, and lost quality of life. Depending upon the facts in the case, various types of damages can be pursued in a lawsuit following a bicycle accident. These damages include:
- Cost of medical care, current, and future
- Lost wages, lost earning potential
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life
- Emotional anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Other damages based on the case
Free Consultation from a Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries, retaining legal representation is an urgent matter. The Las Vegas personal injury attorneys from J. Cogburn Law strive to get you the compensation you deserve. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and determine who is at fault. As trial lawyers, we offer far more than many law firms; we do not avoid court but focus our legal actions on the strategy that will best protect the rights of the person – including filing a lawsuit in civil court.
Nevada Bicycle Laws
Bicyclists and motor vehicles are subjected to follow the same traffic rules and regulations while sharing the road. Bicyclists are expected to ride with the flow of traffic, make turns, and follow road signs as if they were a motor vehicle. Motor vehicles, however, must abide by some additional requirements and regulations to ensure bicyclist safety on the roadways according to Nevada Revised Statutes §484B.270.
Nevada Law requires motorists to:
- Yield to the right of way of bicyclists
- Not overtake or intentionally interfere with anyone lawfully riding a bicycle
- Not enter, stop, park or dive in designated bike lanes
- Exercise extras precaution to avoid collision with riders
- Use the horn to give a warning and avoid a collision
What are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
Nevada laws are designed to protect bicyclists on the roadways, but unfortunately, bicycle-involved accidents are all too common. Despite a bicyclist’s best effort, some accidents are unavoidable and due to the negligence of another. The smaller size and lack of protection do not make bicycles the safest mode of transportation, especially on busy roads. Often the size makes bicyclists more difficult for other drivers to see. Though many bicycle accidents are not the fault of the cyclists, it does not mean that bicyclists never contribute to accidents they are involved in.
Some of the most common bicycle accidents occur due to:
- Driver Negligence
- Defective Bicycle
- Poor Road Conditions
- Negligent Bicyclist
- Rider Error
- Dog Intervention
If you were injured by a negligent driver on the roadway or involved in a bike accident of any kind, consult our Las Vegas bicycle accident attorneys to better understand your options in building and filing a case.
What are the Most Common Injuries in a Bicycle Accident?
It is a tragic fact that along with the increase in bicycle riding comes a spike in injury and fatal bicycle accidents in Las Vegas. The victim often faces life ahead with permanent impairments, whether physical, cognitive, or both. A seriously injured cyclist may no longer have the ability to earn a living, work in his or her profession, or enjoy the quality of life they had prior to being hit by a car, truck, or other vehicles. The Las Vegas bicycle accident attorneys at J. Cogburn Law understand how difficult it can be moving forward after being seriously injured in a bicycle accident and are determined to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your losses. The most common injuries sustained in a bike accident include:
- Broken bones
- Fractures
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (paraplegia, quadriplegia)
- Amputations
- Severe skin abrasions
- Wrongful death
Head and brain injuries are the most serious of the injuries reported. While wearing a helmet is important, even the most high-tech, modern bicycle helmet may not provide enough protection against a head or brain injury. Other common injuries span from the fact that bikers are virtually unprotected while riding, making injuries easier to come by.
Nevada Bicycle Accident Statistics
In 2016, there were 840 pedal cyclists killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States, an increase from 829 in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Pedal cyclist deaths accounted for 2.2 percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents.
In Nevada specifically, the NHTSA reports that there is an average of 4 deaths a year due to bicycle accidents, making Nevada the 26th most deadly state in the United States for cyclists. With 80% of all bicycle-related accidents happening in Clark County, cities like Las Vegas and Henderson remain the most dangerous in the state. Forbes Magazine lists Las Vegas as the third most dangerous city for cyclists in America. Cyclist deaths have reached a record high with over 115 cyclists killed in 2017. The city’s infrastructure was established around motor vehicles, and while advances have been made, city streets are currently extremely dangerous for cyclists. Contact the team of Las Vegas bicycle accident attorneys today at (727) 747-6000.