Baton Rouge Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Baton Rouge, LA due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. A bicycle accident can involve serious injuries, and your physical and mental recovery is essential. Our experienced attorneys at Mansfield Melancon Injury Lawyers will do the hard work on your personal injury claim while you focus on your personal health. Contact us today for a free consultation at (225) 263-4787.
How Mansfield Melancon Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Bicycle Accident in Baton Rouge
A Baton Rouge personal injury attorney will investigate the details of your accident and take other steps, such as:
- Meeting for a free consultation to talk about your bicycle accident and how you were injured
- Investigating the accident and locating witnesses
- Collecting evidence such as police reports, photos, and surveillance video to build your case
- Negotiating with insurance companies to discuss settlement of your bicycle accident claim
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit to pursue monetary damages
- Handling each step of a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf
- Preparing for trial, if necessary
At Mansfield Melancon Injury Lawyers, our Baton Rouge bicycle accident attorneys will stand by your side as you pursue the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Baton Rouge?
Lawyers will usually work on contingency in bicycle accident cases. A contingency fee arrangement means that accident victims can get legal representation without paying upfront for attorney fees. In a contingent fee agreement, an attorney only collects a percentage of the fees if they win a financial award for you. In a contingency case, you don’t pay your lawyer’s fees if you don’t win.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Baton Rouge?
Bicyclists are especially vulnerable to severe injuries in any kind of accident. Unlike auto drivers, bicyclists aren’t protected by state-of-the-art vehicles with modern safety measures. When drivers ignore traffic signs or don’t drive with caution for others’ safety, disaster can strike. According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, hundreds of bicycle accidents happen yearly on Louisiana’s roads — particularly in highly populated areas like Baton Rouge.
What Are Common Injuries in Bicycle Accidents?
Frequent bicyclist injuries caused by someone else’s negligence could include:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Knee injuries
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
What Is My Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
In a bicycle accident case, you could be entitled to economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages address actual financial losses such as medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, costs of therapy and future treatment, lost income, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages refer to the emotional and psychological harm caused by an accident — mental anguish, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, disability, and disfigurement.
What Is Negligence, and How Do I Prove It?
In a bicycle accident case, you will need to prove four elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: Someone owed you a duty of care within a particular context.
- Breach of Duty: The person at fault violated this duty that they owed to you.
- Causation: There is a causal link between the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered injuries from the accident, reflected by medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Evidence that your attorney will rely on includes medical bills and reports, photos from the accident scene, video surveillance, witness statements, police reports, and expert witnesses including medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists.
Do I Still Have a Claim if I Was Partially At Fault For the Accident?
Yes. Under Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence laws, you can recover compensation even if you are partially at fault for the accident. For example, if you were 30% at fault for a bicycle accident, you can still pursue a personal injury claim — but your financial compensation would be lowered by 30% in proportion to your share of fault.
What Is the Statute of Limitations in Louisiana for a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit?
Louisiana recently extended its statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits from one year to two years, effective July 1, 2024. Accidents that occurred before that date are subject to the old one-year time limitation. The clock usually starts running on the day of the accident, the day your injuries were discoverable, or the date of a loved one’s wrongful death.
Contact a Baton Rouge Bicycle Accident Lawyer For a Free Consultation Today
You might have a right to payment for your losses if you were injured in a bicycle accident in Baton Rouge, LA. The dedicated accident and injury lawyers at Mansfield Melancon Injury Lawyers have helped many clients just like you get the financial recovery they deserve. Call our Baton Rouge bicycle accident lawyers today to schedule your free consultation or visit our law office.
