Long Island Bicycle Accident Lawyer

When a bicycle and a car collide, the cyclist tends to take the brunt of the impact. Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries to the bike rider, which can be very expensive to treat. Luckily, our Long Island bicycle accident lawyers can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve.

At the Morelli Law Firm, our team of experienced Long Island personal injury lawyers knows what it takes to get the compensation our clients need after an injury. Learn more about how we can help during a free initial consultation. With decades of combined legal experience, you can trust us to win your personal injury claim.

How Do Bicycle Accidents Happen?

Bicycle accidents can happen for various reasons, often resulting in severe injuries. Cyclists are vulnerable on the road, and understanding the common causes of accidents can help prevent them. If you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident, it’s crucial to know your rights and seek legal assistance. Here are some common causes of bicycle accidents:

• Motorist negligence: Drivers may fail to notice cyclists, especially when turning or changing lanes.
• Distracted driving: Drivers using their phones or engaging in other distractions can inadvertently collide with cyclists.
• Poor road conditions: Potholes, debris, and uneven surfaces can cause cyclists to lose control.
• Dooring: Cyclists can be hit by car doors opening unexpectedly into their path.
• Speeding: Excessive speed reduces reaction time for both drivers and cyclists, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Failure to yield: Drivers may not yield the right of way to cyclists at intersections and crosswalks.
• Impaired driving: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs pose a significant danger to cyclists.

If you’ve suffered catastrophic injuries from a bicycle crash in Long Island, contact Morelli Law Firm today to get legal representation. Our law office can help you navigate the legal process and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

What Do Our Long Island Bicycle Accident Lawyers Do?

A Long Island bicycle accident attorney from our firm will help ensure that your legal situation is taken care of while you focus on recovering from your injuries. After you hire one of our personal injury attorneys, they will handle every aspect of your legal case until its conclusion. One of the first actions our attorneys will take will be to investigate your accident by:

• Visiting the accident scene to take pictures and gather evidence
• Interviewing witnesses
• Consulting experts
• Reviewing the official accident report
• Communicate and negotiate with insurance companies

Through their investigation, your attorney will aim to determine who is liable for your injuries and gather evidence to support your injury claim. Once they have completed their inquiry, your lawyer will assess your damages and calculate the value of your claim. They will then discuss your options with you and advise you about the pros and cons of each.

The next step will likely be to file the appropriate paperwork with either the liable party’s insurer or with the court. If pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, your attorney will go through all the steps of the pretrial process as they prepare to represent you at trial. At the same time, your attorney will be in negotiations with opposing counsel, attempting to reach a settlement deal.

Bicycle Accident Lawyers Work on a Contingency Fee Basis

Unlike most other types of attorneys, personal injury lawyers do not charge their clients based on the amount of time they spend working on their cases. Instead, these lawyers get paid based on results. Their fee is contingent upon securing compensation for their clients. Additionally, the amount they get paid is directly related to how much the accident victim receives.

Your Long Island bicycle accident attorney’s fee will be assessed as a set percentage of the money you receive from the liable party. That means that the more money you get, the more your lawyer gets paid. On the other hand, if you don’t recover compensation, your lawyer doesn’t collect any money for their services.

This fee system works to ensure that your attorney’s interests are aligned with your own and that they will do everything in their power to ensure you get as much money for your injury claim as possible. Another perk of this system is that anyone can afford legal representation for a personal injury because they will never have to pay a penny out-of-pocket.

Damages You May Be Eligible to Claim After a Bike Accident

After a bicycle accident where you suffered serious injuries, there are various damages you will likely be eligible to recover. Which damages you qualify for will depend on the specifics surrounding your accident and injuries. There are three primary categories into which all specific damages can be sorted. These groupings are:

• Economic damages
• Non-economic damages
• Punitive damages

Economic Damages

Economic damages are simple. There are the losses that you suffered that have a direct impact on your financial well-being. Any dollar you have spent or will spend because of your accident is covered under economic damages. The money recovered for these losses is meant to equal the amount you pay. Common economic damages include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Lowered earning capacity

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are far more complex. These are the losses suffered that can not be measured in dollars. Non-economic damages are the things that profoundly affect the rest of your life. Because these damages are so significant, they tend to result in substantial compensation. In most cases, non-economic damages make up the bulk of your payout.

Common non-economic damages include:

• Permanent disability
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages work quite differently from economic and non-economic damages. Unlike these damages, which are focused on repaying the losses suffered by the accident victim, punitive damages are meant to punish the liable party.

Punitive damages are only awarded in extreme cases. If the actions of the at-fault party were criminally negligent or performed with the willful intent of causing harm, your case may be eligible for punitive damages.

Don’t Delay in Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

You have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. In New York, personal injury victims typically have three years to file a lawsuit from the date of their accident. However, it is essential to note that special circumstances may apply to your case, which can further limit the amount of time you have to file.

The best way to protect yourself and ensure that you meet all deadlines is to hire an experienced Long Island bike accident attorney as soon as possible after you get injured. Hiring an attorney quickly will also put them in the best position to gather evidence and build a strong case against the negligent party or their insurance company.

Get a Free Consultation From a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Long Island, NY, Today

Hiring an experienced Long Island bicycle accident lawyer is the best way to ensure that you recover fair compensation after an accident. At the Morelli Law Firm, our team of Long Island bike accident lawyers has a history of getting favorable results for our clients. Contact us to find out if we can help you.