Cyclist Injured in Stockton Bicycle Accident
A cyclist was injured after a bicycle accident in the Stockton area on April 7, 2021. The incident occurred at Horner Avenue and Adelbert Avenue. A person was riding a bicycle in the area when they were hit by an oncoming vehicle.
The injured party was transported to the hospital in unknown condition. Further details on the cycling crash were not immediately available as an investigation is underway by the Stockton Police Department (Stockton PD).
What You Should Know About Bicycle Accidents
California is a fault state, meaning that the driver responsible for a bicycle accident or their insurance company is responsible for paying resulting damages. But the insurance carrier may not be willing to extend a fair settlement offer. Since insurers are for-profit businesses, they may not have the best interests of injured parties at heart. An experienced Stockton personal injury attorney may need to step in or even take your case to court for the recovery you deserve.
What Does a Personal Injury Claim Cover for a Stockton Bicycle Accident?
A demand for personal injury compensation will factor economic and non-economic damages incurred by bicycle accident injuries. Following is a list of the damages that may be included in a settlement for a cycling crash:
- Past and future costs of medical treatment related to a car vs. bicycle accident
- Lost wages and future earning capacity
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
Should the court decide that the actions of the at-fault party in the bicycle accident case were egregious, punitive damages may be awarded. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the negligent party and to deter future wrongdoing from them and others in the future. For additional details on the bodily injury claims process, watch the video below.
Is There Enough Insurance?
It is essential to get uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM and UIM) on your auto policy. In the event that you are involved in a crash caused by a driver with little to no bodily injury coverage, your UM or UIM coverage would kick in. This would help pay for any damages related to the accident not fully covered by the at-fault party or not at all.
What is great about UM coverage is that it may come into play for a hit-and-run bicycle accident. If you were injured in an accident as a cyclist, contact our law firm today for a free case evaluation. A member of our legal team can discuss your potential case with you and go over the possible coverages applicable to your claim.
Benefits of Working with an Experienced Attorney
The insurance company is generally responsible for personal injury damages caused by their insured in a bicycle accident. If the insurer is not involved, defense counsel will most likely be. In either of these cases, insurance carriers and defense attorneys alike will not have the best interests of injured parties when it comes to making settlement offers.
Such parties are likely to use defense tactics as a way of downplaying the value of a bodily injury claim. In other situations, they may attempt to shift the blame on the injured cyclist, potentially affecting the value of compensation they may receive under comparative fault laws in California. That is why it is essential to retain an experienced personal injury lawyer. An attorney will not only protect your best interests and legal rights but also recover the fair compensation you need and deserve.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Stockton
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury lawyer. After a serious bicycle accident, it is often challenging to recover. You are dealing with injuries, mounting medical expenses, and time away from work. To make matters worse, the insurance company representing the at-fault party may not want to offer a fair settlement, and the thought of taking legal action on your own can be stressful. Fortunately, our injury attorneys are here to help. We will handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on getting better. To learn more, call us at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. We are available anytime to speak with you and provide free, friendly advice on your potential options for recovery.
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To see how we have resolved cases for past clients, go to our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Photograph Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/emergency-emergency-services-1137137/
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