If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. Bike accidents are scary, dangerous, and expensive. Victims of bicycle accidents often incur significant medical expenses and miss work because of their injuries and recovery.
If another person caused your accident, you could recover damages to cover your expenses and losses. To learn more or discuss your case, contact Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Lawyers. Our Fort Mill bicycle accident lawyers have over 150 years of combined experience and have won over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
We’ve been handling South Carolina personal injury cases for over 40 years and know how to get results for clients. Contact us today in Fort Mill, SC, at (803) 902-4045 to help you get the compensation you deserve.
How Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Bicycle Accident in Fort Mill
Bike accidents can be traumatic and disruptive events that lead to financial hardships. Rather than trying to deal with insurance companies and navigate a personal injury claim, let an experienced Fort Mill personal injury lawyer at Elrod Pope handle your case.
Our team will:
- Investigate your accident to determine who was responsible for the accident;
- Gather evidence to support your claim and to show the damages you’re entitled to;
- Negotiate with the insurance company;
- Complete all administrative tasks and comply with all procedural deadlines;
- When necessary, represent you in court.
Contact our law offices in Fort Mill, South Carolina, today to get started with a free consultation.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Fort Mill, South Carolina?
With moderate temperatures and a lot of sunshine, South Carolina is a great place for bicyclists. Plus, many communities in the state have trails and dedicated bike paths, making cycling a popular sport.
Unfortunately, South Carolina is also one of the most dangerous states for bicycle riders. It was also ranked the 5th most dangerous state for cyclists, and the number of bicycle accidents in South Carolina is above the national average.
This means that cyclists in South Carolina need to be cautious when on the road. If you bike, you should always wear a helmet, bright clothing, and reflective gear. In addition, it’s important to ensure your bike is well-maintained and that you take advantage of as many bike paths and trails as possible.
If you’re involved in a bike accident in Fort Mill, contact our lawyers. We’re experienced in handling bicycle accident cases and can help you get the compensation you need.
What Causes Most South Carolina Bicycle Accidents?
A variety of factors make bike accidents more common in South Carolina, but driver negligence is one of the most common causes. Examples of driver negligence that can lead to bike accidents are:
- Distracted driving – for example, texting or eating while driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Aggressive driving
- Fatigued driving
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failure to yield
- Failure to look for bicycles at an intersection
In addition to distracted driving, other factors that can cause bicycle accidents in Fort Mill are:
- An absence of bike lanes or inadequate bike lanes
- Uneven road surfaces
- Bad weather or reduced visibility
- Rider negligence
- Bike defects or malfunctions
- Road hazards
Our team will investigate your case to determine the cause of your accident. Once we’ve established who was responsible, we’ll gather evidence and build a case to support your claim.
Who Could Be Responsible for My Bicycle Accident Injuries?
In many cases, negligent drivers cause bike accidents. However, other parties can be responsible, or liable, for cycling accidents in South Carolina. These include:
- Other cyclists
- Truck drivers
- Bus drivers
- Truck companies
- Bus companies or mass transit companies
- Pedestrians
- Property owner
Our first step is a thorough investigation to determine who was responsible for your bike accident. We’re experienced with these cases and know how to exhaustively evaluate a case so that all responsible parties are held accountable. Contact a Fort Mill bicycle accident lawyer to learn more or discuss your case.
What Damages Are Available to Bicycle Injury Victims in Fort Mill?
If another person caused your bike accident, you can get compensation from them to cover all of your losses. This compensation will reimburse you for both economic losses and non-economic losses.
Economic damages are tangible losses that can be calculated. Determining the amount of economic damages is pretty straightforward. These damages simply reimburse you for expenses you incurred because of the accident.
That said, if you have long-term injuries or are permanently disabled, you’ll have to calculate future expenses. Determining future expenses and lost earning capacity is complicated, and expert witnesses are usually necessary to help determine these amounts. Examples of economic damages are:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-economic damages reimburse accident victims for less tangible losses. Calculating non-economic damages can be tricky, so it’s important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer guide you through this process. Examples of non-economic damages are:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Decreased quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
In South Carolina, punitive damages are also available in rare circumstances. If the responsible party acted intentionally or was grossly negligent, courts will award punitive damages. However, there is a high bar for awarding punitive damages, and there must be “clear and convincing evidence.”
What’s My South Carolina Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
The short answer is that the value of your Fort Mill bicycle accident case depends on the specific facts of your case. Personal injury settlements vary widely, so it’s important to evaluate claims on a case-by-case basis. That said, generally, the more severe your injuries or accident, the more your case is worth.
When thinking through the valuation of your case, you’ll want to consider:
- Your long-term prognosis. Do you have a permanent disability or long-term effects from your injury?
- The impact on your work life. Are you unable to work or unable to work as much as you used to? Has your earning power decreased because of the accident?
- Responsibility. Were you partly responsible for the accident?
- The steps you’ve taken to mitigate your injuries. Did you timely seek medical help, comply with all doctors’ orders, and attend all necessary appointments?
In your initial consultation with a South Carolina bicycle accident attorney, your lawyer will evaluate the facts of your case and provide more details about the valuation of your bicycle accident case.
Can I Still Recover Damages if I’m Partly at Fault for My Bicycle Accident?
One common concern we hear from accident victims is, “Can I still get compensation if I was partly at fault for the accident?” In most cases, the answer is yes.
South Carolina has adopted a policy of modified comparative negligence. Under this system, any party that is less than 50% responsible for an accident may recover damages from the responsible party.
However, it’s important to note that even though you can recover in these situations, your damages will be reduced. Insurance companies understand this and frequently go after accident victims, looking for ways to find them at least partly responsible for the accident.
Because of this strategy, it’s important to have an experienced bike accident lawyer on your side. At our personal injury law firm, we’ll be prepared for this attack from the insurance company and ready to defend you against their accusations.
How Long Do You Have To File a Lawsuit After a Bike Accident in Fort Mill?
In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years. In most cases, this means that you have three years from the date of the accident to file your claim. You must comply with the statute of limitations because, after three years, you’ll have no right to file a lawsuit and get compensation for your injuries.
As there are exceptions to this statute of limitations for some cases, contact us as soon as you can to protect your rights.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in South Carolina?
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means accident victims don’t have to pay their attorney upfront and that they only pay their lawyer if the case is successful.
In your initial consultation, your lawyer will discuss fees and set a contingency fee rate. This rate is the percentage of your total recovery that will go to attorney fees. Usually, the rate ranges from 33% to 40%.
What this means for accident victims is that you won’t have to pay your lawyer out of pocket, and you’ll only have to pay attorney fees if you win. Plus, you can trust that your lawyer is invested in your case because the amount your lawyer gets paid is directly correlated to your recovery.
Contact a Fort Mill Bicycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a collision, our Fort Mill bicycle accident attorneys are here to help put as much money into your pocket as we possibly can.
Contact Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.