If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, you want Bressman Law on your side. We understand how the laws apply to cyclists and motorists alike, and we can help you hold the at-fault driver responsible for your injuries.
Bicyclists have the same rights and obligations as motorists on Ohio’s roads. A bicycle accident lawyer from our firm can help you seek monetary damages if you were hurt in Columbus, OH or the surrounding area.
What Types of Damages can I Recover?
We are prepared to do everything necessary to recover compensation for your injury-related damages. Some economic and non-economic damages that you can recover include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Future care and ongoing needs
- Lost wages
- Future lost income
- Lost benefits (if you cannot return to work)
- Pain and suffering
- Other accident-related expenses
Only once we put an approximate value on your case do we begin negotiating a settlement with the insurance company.
If you try to negotiate a settlement on your own without understanding the costs associated with your injuries, you could end up paying for your future care out of your own pocket. We do not want this to happen to you. Bressman Law can calculate the value of your losses and advocate for a fair settlement agreement.
Ohio’s Statute of Limitations
Under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2305.10, you generally have two years to file your personal injury lawsuit. Similarly, you also could have two years to file if you lost a loved one, as explained by ORC §2125.02.
By filing your case before the statute expires, you prevent:
- The possibility of your case being dismissed in court
- Having to pay for your damages on your own
- Having the insurer deny your claim
Bressman Law understands that your situation may toll the state’s deadline. However, do not make any assumptions about this; let a bicycle accident lawyer from our firm make that determination for you.
What If I Also Played a Role in Causing my Bike Crash?
You may have made a mistake that caused your injuries or made them worse. However, this may not bar you from seeking compensation. Under ORC §2315.33, you can still seek damages even if you are partially at fault for your accident.
As long as the other party is 50 percent or more at fault, you can claim damages. However, the money you can get goes down based on your contribution to the crash. If the court determines you contributed 30 percent to your injuries by speeding, you can only collect up to 70 percent of your damages.
If the insurance company attempts to falsely blame some or all of the accident on you, we can collect evidence to counter this claim and fight for the compensation due. Even if you did play a role in causing your crash, we can minimize your contribution and maximize your payout.
Our Law Firm can Prove Negligence
To secure coverage for your losses, your legal team must prove the following:
- The driver had a legal obligation to take certain actions or avoid others in order to keep you safe.
- The driver failed to uphold this obligation.
- He or she caused a collision because of this failure.
- You suffered physical, emotional, and financial harm because of it.
Bressman Law has over 30 years of experience and understands what measures go into proving negligence. A bicycle accident lawyer from our firm can build your case if you were injured in Columbus.
Examples of Negligence
When a motorist violates traffic laws and it causes your accident and injuries, this is negligence. When negligence causes a crash, we can file a third-party liability claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy to collect the compensation you need to pay your medical bills and cover other losses.
We may find that in the moments before the crash, the other driver:
- Was looking away from the road
- Was otherwise distracted
- Forgot to check blind spots
- Did not look for cyclists before opening a car door
- Did not look for cyclists before pulling out or turning
- Failed to look behind the vehicle when backing up
- Did not leave enough space to safely pass
Once we learn about how your accident happened, our team can move forward with your case.
We will Build Your Case Based on Evidence
As noted, to claim compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, we must have the evidence to prove the motorist acted negligently and caused your crash.
Two pieces of evidence that we can use to prove negligence include:
The Police Report
The police report describes what responding officers found during their on-scene investigation. It may include a citation for the motorist or the cyclist for fault in the accident. This can offer major support for our case––especially if the driver received citations for violating traffic laws.
Eyewitness Testimony
Eyewitness accounts of the crash also play a significant role if there is no video of the accident available. Only those who actually saw it happen can explain exactly how and why the collision occurred.
We identify and interview all potential witnesses to ensure we have all the necessary information available to us when we file a claim.
In some cases, we may call accident reconstructionists or other experts to help us understand how the accident happened. We have the resources and experience to collect this testimony when necessary.
Call Bressman Law for a Free Case Review
Since we began serving our community, we have recovered millions of dollars in damages for our clients. We pride ourselves on transparency, communication, and experience.
You can discuss working with a bicycle accident lawyer serving Columbus by calling today.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
