Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto represent left-turn bicycle accident victims. If you or a loved one has been injured in a left-turn bicycle accident in Modesto, our team of accident attorneys will help you get fully compensated for your damages. Contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Modesto Bicycle Left-Turn Accident?
While the majority of left-turn bicycle accidents result in severe injuries, insurance companies will still attempt to only compensate accident victims for their immediate injuries without considering future obstacles or medical bills. This type of compensation often leaves victims with enormous debt down the road due to their injuries, and even worse, with financial uncertainty if their injuries make it difficult to return to work.
Bicycle accident attorneys take into account your current and future medical treatment, loss of income, and the damage done to your enjoyment of life after an accident. For that reason, it is recommended to seek the legal counsel of an attorney if you are injured in a bicycle left-turn accident. In addition to compensation, an attorney will provide you with the following services:
- Connect you to trusted doctors for continued treatment
- File a lawsuit to get you compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Assign liability to all additional parties responsible
- Communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf
- Build your case by gathering concrete evidence to confirm your claim
- Represent you in court if your case goes to trial
How Much Time Do I Have to File an Injury Claim for a Modesto Bicycle Left-Turn Accident?
According to the Statute of Limitations in California, you have two years from the day your accident occurred. However, there are some exceptions. For example, if a government vehicle ran a red light to make a left turn and caused your accident. You would have six months, instead of two years to file a personal injury claim.
Another exception would be the “discovery rule.” This rule delays the statute of limitations if you could not have reasonably known about your injuries right away. For example, let’s say a truck makes a left turn at an intersection without seeing you crossing the street at a crosswalk and they hit you before they can stop. You fall and hit your head at a low speed with your helmet on. You seem fine, so you brush yourself off and continue on your way. Years later, however, you begin to have neurological issues that your doctor says must be from a time when you suffered some sort of blunt trauma to your head. In this situation, the “discovery rule” applies as the two-year clock does not start running until the day your injury was discovered.
What Should You Do After a Modesto Bicycle Left-Turn Accident?
Let’s say you’re biking downtown on 10th Street when a car speeds through a left turn, clipping your bike as you’re crossing an intersection. What should you do? The steps you take after an accident will be important to ensuring your safety, as well as protecting your right to compensation if you decide to take legal action. You should consider the following steps after a left-turn bicycle accident:
- Ensure your safety: Get out of harm’s way by getting off the road if you can and check yourself for lacerations, or broken bones. Oftentimes, the adrenaline from an accident can mask the pain from major injuries.
- Call the Police: The police will file an accident report and take down the names of everyone involved, as well as assign fault based on the evidence in front of them. A police report will serve as evidence if you need to defend your claims later. Also, an ambulance can be called to make sure you get immediate medical treatment.
- Document the incident: Take photos or film the aftermath of the accident. Film yourself recounting the details of the incident and describe the pain you’re in. It is best to capture how the accident played out while the memory is still fresh in your mind.
- Gather witness statements and bus driver information: Film or record witnesses willing to give a statement about the accident. Take down their names and phone numbers. Photograph the license of the person who hit you and get their contact information. All of this information will help support your claim and assist your attorney in building your case.
- Do not admit fault: Don’t admit fault even if you feel you may have caused the accident. Allow the police to conduct their investigation and determine fault. Even if you are partially liable for the accident, you are still entitled to recover damages.
- Get Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, it is important to get checked out by a doctor or go to a hospital. Certain injuries can lie dormant and manifest themselves hours, or even days later.
What is the Typical Compensation for a Modesto Bicycle Left-Turn Accident?
There is no set dollar amount for the trauma and pain experienced by bicycle accident victims. However, an experienced accident attorney will help you understand the value of your case by calculating your economic damages (such as lost wages and medical bills) and non-economic damages (emotional harm, depression, and anxiety). These damages combined include:
- Special Damages: medical bills, ongoing treatment, costs that accumulate when you’re unable to work, like rent or mortgage payments
- General Damages: these are non-economic hardships like pain and suffering, anxiety, depression, mental trauma
- Wrongful Death Damages: these damages may be sought by a spouse or close relative for funeral arrangements, burial expenses, and medical treatment before a loved one’s death
- Punitive Damages: these damages are rare, but if the driver engaged in reckless driving with the intention of hurting you, then you could sue for punitive damages
Contact a Modesto Bicycle Left-Turn Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been injured in a left-turn bicycle accident in Modesto, the Modesto accident attorneys are standing by to help. Even a minor accident can have a major impact on your health and finances over time, so, don’t wait until it’s too late to get the legal advice you need. Contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront costs for our legal services and we don’t get paid unless we win your case.