Bicycle Rear-End Accidents

The majority of bicyclists on the roads of Kirkland, Bellingham, Olympia, and Seattle are perfectly safe and will not face any problems while riding their bicycles around the town and on the streets of the city. However, there are times when an accident will happen. One of the main reasons, unfortunately, for bicycle accidents are those that result when someone is rear-ended by a car, truck, SUV, or station wagon on the road.

Perhaps the most common reason for a rear-end bicycle injury stems from the fact that many bicyclists ride on the road or street that are primarily intended for cars. Because of this, the driver either does not see the bicyclists or the driver is too distracted to notice the driver until it is too late. Either way, riding on a street with other cars is a likely reason for a rear-end bicycle accident. Other reasons include:

• Distracted drivers
• Left-hand turns
• Drivers who are either speeding or just driving too fast for conditions

These reasons are not meant to be complete as there could be many other reasons as well, but those are the most common.

Being injured in a rear-end bicycle accident can be physically devastating, life-altering, if not life-ending for some people. The most common injuries seen from rear-end bicycle accidents are:

• Tailbone injuries
• Back and butt injuries
• Rib fractures
• Brain injuries (TBI)
• Shoulder and knee injuries
• Neck injuries, including whiplash

These injuries are not likely to simply go away on their own volition. Rather, they are going to take a team of dedicated doctors and healthcare professionals to make right. These injuries are serious and the most common kinds of healthcare professionals to help you are doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors, along with subspecialty doctors.

Contact your health insurance company to see if they can refer you to someone, though it is always best to check in with your primary care doctor to see what the doctor says about your injuries and let this doctor direct your care.

After being in a serious rear-end bicycle accident, life might seem simply too overwhelming too face given your pain and the sheer number of medical appointments you have to attend just to get you back to baseline.

However, there are some affirmative steps you can take to help your case. Among them are: making sure you photograph your injuries and your bicycle showing the damage to it. Making sure you get the at-fault driver’s name, phone number, address, insurance information, including his insurance company, policy number, and when the policy went into effect and when it expires.

It is also important to make sure there is nothing of a damaging nature on your social media pages. If you did not call the police immediately after the accident, it is a good idea to call them as soon as possible and report the accident. You should notify the insurance company for the driver who hit you, your car insurance company, and your health insurance company that you were involved in a serious accident if it appears you are going to be incurring medical bills.

Finally, it is also a good idea to make a record of your injuries in a journal or diary and record how you’re feeling and how the accident has impacted your life.

If you have been rear-ended while riding a bicycle, you are likely starting to deal with insurance companies, which is not a pleasant experience. The insurance company for the driver who hit you is likely calling to check in on your injuries, not because they are concerned with your wellbeing but because they want to try to settle your case for as little as possible to save themselves money.

It’s that simple. If you are still treating for your injuries, it is entirely too soon to settle your case. Legally, you are allowed to receive money for a number of injuries, even though at the end of your case, whether it is a settlement out of court or a jury award in court, you will receive one settlement check. Your damages will represent money for the following:

• Medical bills
• Future medical bills
• Lost wages
• Future lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium (this would apply if your spouse or legal partner was affected in terms of your relationship by the accident)

Before you reach this stage of your case, however, you must first establish that you were fault-free for the accident. This is not always easy. Sometimes the insurance company for the driver who hit you will allege that you were at fault for your injuries by swerving in front of a car or braking suddenly in a lane of traffic. If this is the case, you need the Jackman Law Firm to help you prove your case.

Once we do this, we can begin trying to negotiate with the at-fault insurance company for your injuries. If we cannot come to an agreement that you feel is fair to you for your injuries, we will then prepare to take your case to trial and do everything in our power to make sure you receive a fair award from the jury.

If you have questions about your case, feel free to call us for a free consultation.