Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
Physics says that a collision between a car or a bicycle will result in the vehicle winning. While the rules of the road are the same, the Laws of Physics favor those riding in the car. The car driver may not sustain any injuries but the bicyclist could sustain serious injuries that may require him to stop riding. To be able to determine how much you will need to cover your medical expenses in the future, it is important to have legal representation.
Insurance & Injuries
You have no protection if you’re a pedestrian or bicyclist. You are most likely to sustain serious injuries such as broken bones, spinal injuries, brain trauma, concussion/brain injury, soft tissue injuries, and even concussion. You are entitled to compensation if you are not at fault.
Because there are many insurance policies involved, recovery options are often more extensive than in an auto accident case. These cases may be complex, even though there are many options for recovery. The insurance companies will attempt to shift the blame in terms of liability. The insurance companies will try to shift some responsibility to pedestrians and bicyclists, despite the fact that the driver may have been distracted by a radio or phone.
There will be important steps you need to take in the weeks and days following an accident. This is a list that you might find useful.
Get medical attention immediately and take all the advice from medical professionals.
Soft-tissue injuries can cause more discomfort and pain in the days that follow an accident. Keep your doctor informed about your condition.
Your clothing, bike and cracked helmet should be kept safe. It is likely that the investigating officer will want to inspect it and take photographs.
Keep documentation if you are absent from work. This will help prove your income loss. If you have been disabled from working or are unable to work, get a note from your doctor.
You should seek help if you feel traumatized by the accident. Keep track of all bills to ensure your attorney doesn’t send them to collections.
Sign documents you haven’t reviewed or consulted with legal counsel before signing them. Any document you sign could be binding in your case. Many times, compassionate and kind adjusters will contact you within days of an accident to get you signed paperwork. Be careful!
If you don’t have a long-term insurance headache, it is worth contacting our office right away after your accident.
Each accident is different and only a licensed attorney will be able to give you the right advice. Consultation is free of charge and you don’t have to travel to our office. Call us to get your questions answered. We can help you focus on healing. For a free consultation, we are available 24 hours a day.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
What’s my first step after an injury?
Always contact a lawyer. Even if you do not want to hire a lawyer for personal injury, it is important to be aware of the changes that are about to occur in your life. You need to be aware of the tricks that can significantly lower your chances of a positive outcome. In some cases, you may even have to pay money for negligence.
Do I require a collision report?
An accident report is essential for establishing liability. Although it does not eliminate any potential challenges the at-fault driver may have regarding liability or allocating fault, it is a strong evidence source for liability disputes. You can still report to Washington State Patrol if you are involved in an accident but no law enforcement arrived on the scene.
What is the role of the police at the scene?
Most cases will see law enforcement arrive at the accident scene to conduct an investigation, collect witness information and make an accident report. The officer may ask for statements from the victims depending on their injuries. This can be tricky. This can be tricky if you are still in shock from a concussion. Even saying “I’m sorry”, conveying compassion that you and your partner are in a difficult situation, can be used later to claim that you meant to apologize for the fault. Avoid any discussion about fault, or any statements that might be used to suggest acceptance of blame.
I was transported to the hospital by an ambulance, but did not receive any information or a report. What should I do next?
The severity of injuries will determine when the report should be made available to the Washington State Patrol website. The officer may need to wait several days or even weeks before they file the report. JGR Law Offices can pull the collision report as well as any additional information from any local law enforcement that may have been present at the scene. We will also contact witnesses on your behalf.
What can I do to help my case?
If you are able to communicate with witnesses and can speak coherently, you may ask them to take pictures and video of the scene. They should also attempt to get as many phone numbers and names of witnesses as possible. You or your attorney might be able to obtain video footage from businesses or homes nearby if you are unable to take photos. Although an investigating officer should collect witness numbers and names as well as photos, it is possible for details to be lost or witnesses might drive away. To establish who is at fault, it is best to have more evidence. Insurance companies will often attempt to shift blame to you if there isn’t clear evidence.
What if an adjuster offered money to settle the matter?
This is a very important decision. You are subject to the same standards as a lawyer regarding knowledge of the law concerning subrogation, regardless of whether you were informed. You will likely be required to repay all money paid for your care. You may not be able to receive the bills you have accrued from the ambulance ride to the hospital. If you accept a settlement offer for $5,000, but your medical bills subrogation amount to $10,000, then you will be responsible for $5,000 more out of your own pocket. After you have settled, you cannot ask for more money from the insurance company because you didn’t realize that there were thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills.
Why are I being sent to collections
New clients often contact us because of confusion with medical bills and collection. Problem is, the “order of operations” for paying medical providers can be very complicated. The at-fault driver’s insurance is not paying your medical bills when you are being treated.
Your attorney will “pay back the medical providers’ liens” at the conclusion of your case. This can be done following a settlement or jury verdict. You have many options to avoid being sent to collections until the case is settled.
To avoid being sent to collection, you must provide your medical team with the appropriate insurance policies. If you have PIP, it is important to immediately provide this information to your doctor. PIP must be exhausted before either your Medicare/Medicaid or medical insurance can pay your bills for the duration of the case. This mistake will result in all billing being refunded and rebilled. This is not something you should do on your own. Most injury victims will damage their credit during the process.
What kind of damages can you recover?
The two most painful things in life are suffering and painThis is the most obvious claim, but it can also include many other things. This can cover all of the ways that your pain has affected your life before. You may find it difficult to be intimate with your partner because of neck or back pain. Or you might not be able to lift your children. You might have missed out on your family’s Disneyland vacation because you were unable to ride the rides. Living with pain can have both short- and long-term consequences.
Medical expensesThis is the most frightening category. You could be looking at bills between $3,000 and $7,000. This will depend on how many Xrays or other imaging were ordered. You can also add another thousand if you go via ambulance. Medical bills can quickly mount up. You could end up paying $10,000 more if you add chiropractic and physical therapy to your medical bills. Contrary to popular belief the insurance company doesn’t just pay 3x for medical. The more bills you accumulate does not mean a higher settlement.
You must pay for medical care that is reasonable. If you exceed the reasonable medical treatment for your injury, you may have to pay out of your own pocket. There are many moving parts following an accident. It is important to understand the limits on certain injuries as well as how subrogation (payback) works in your particular case. To give you an accurate financial assessment of your case, we will need to determine whether you have PIP, UM/UIM, or medical insurance. If you would like to know more about PIP benefits, check out our PIP link.
LOST LOCAL WORKERSCommon losses after an accident include loss of advancement opportunities, bonuses, or other compensation. This aspect is often overlooked by those who handle their own cases. You can also claim treatment time and medical travel if you had to take leave from work to go to physical therapy. Do not miss the opportunity to be compensated for your time.
Is my lawyer able to make more than me?
It can also happen at other firms. JGR Law Offices has never received more compensation than what our clients get. If a settlement seems unfair, we will move our money to your columns. You will have to try to get another company to do that.
Your injury is your settlement. It makes sense to find out if you’ll be able to make it through the other side. Even though some minor accidents may result in a small settlement, it is important to understand that your financial and physical recovery will be prioritized.
Are there any lawyers who specialize in personal injuries?
Lawyers who assist accident victims with Tort law. Although this area of law is very broad, it covers injuries or wrongs done to innocent persons. Each claim has its own elements, but the lawyer must address each case with regard to the duty, breach, injury, causation and cause.
Causation is the most important issue in personal injury cases. The insurance company representing the at-fault party will argue that the injury was not their fault, that the insured was contributing to the accident, and that the injuries are not connected at all. The third party adjuster can argue facts and theories, even if an officer has provided an accident report. The injured person’s lawyer may be forced to file a lawsuit if the adjuster refuses to accept the truth of the situation.
JGR Law Offices: Why should you hire them?
Every client has a story. We would love to hear your story.
Every accident is different and therefore the impact on your life is unique. It might take time for you to see the full extent of your loss. We will be patient with you to capture your true story. No matter if you are unable to work or require long-term care, an accident can change your life. It is vital that you have strong advocates for your rights.
Insurance companies make billions of dollars every year, as their job it to report to shareholders. They must make the accident victims as happy as possible in order to be successful in their endeavor. Profit is the bottom line. Either you help them or we look after your future.
JGR Law Offices handles personal injury cases. We will handle the stress of dealing directly with insurance adjusters, conducting an investigation and managing the complicated task of medical bills. Our job is to help you heal.
Get help now
You can choose to take on your case by yourself or hire the JGR Law Offices. Get educated and prepared. You can make a difference in whether your case will result in a fair settlement. There are many factors that affect the outcome of your case. A consultation is completely free and well worth your time. It is likely that you will find that the sooner an attorney is involved, the smoother the transition to normal life. Your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance adjuster, as well as keep track of bills and treatment providers. Your job is to heal. Our job is to represent your injuries and damages to insurance companies and negotiate for a fair settlement that accurately represents the pain and damage you have suffered.