West Virginia Bicycle Accident Attorney
As bicycle accident attorneys, we know riders are extremely vulnerable to injuries while on the road. When vehicle drivers fail to check diligently for bicyclists or refuse to yield the right-of-way to a cyclist, it is the bicyclist who risks suffering serious injuries. Victims of West Virginia (WV) bicycle accidents run the risk of incurring grave injuries and major crash-related expenses, not to mention the pain and suffering that can accompany these injuries. An experienced West Virginia bicycle accident attorney can make a difference in the outcome of your case and help you recover the damages you deserve.
Whether you were hit by a distracted driver or there was another cause for your bicycle accident, your best chance of a successful resolution after you sustain WV bicycle accident injuries comes through help from an experienced West Virginia bicycle accident lawyer.
Seasoned Legal Help from a West Virginia Bicycle Accident Attorney Helps Get Results
If you or your loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries. Get help seeking the compensation you deserve from talented and aggressive West Virginia personal injury attorneys. After a bicycle accident in West Virginia, contact a seasoned, professional, and dedicated Martinsburg bicycle accident attorney at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for a free evaluation of your case.
Distracted Drivers Are Often to Blame for Bicycle Accidents
In recent years, the rate of accidents involving bicyclists has climbed substantially. Many experts suggest that the rise in the number of bicycle crashes is attributable not to bicyclists but to the carelessness of motor vehicle drivers. The growing rate of fatal accidents involving bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists has risen along with the popularity of smartphones.
These statistics have led some researchers to believe that drivers who are preoccupied by their phones are only looking up at the road in front of them briefly while reading or typing on their phones, causing them to fail to notice objects smaller than cars on the road ahead. As a result, the most vulnerable parties on the road, such as cyclists, get hit.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents Seen by a West Virginia Bicycle Accident Attorney
Distracted drivers aren’t the only threat to bicyclist safety. Other common accidents affecting bicyclists include:
- Dooring accidents (accidents caused by the occupant of a parked car negligently opening the car door into the path of a bicyclist)
- Driving too closely to a bicyclist and clipping them or causing them to swerve to avoid a crash
- Speeding in a school zone or residential area, where children are riding their bicycles
- Failure to yield to a bicyclist
Most WV bicycle accident injuries arise due to the defendant’s negligence. However, the plaintiff must be aware that any compensation recovered may be reduced should the cyclist bear any fault for the accident. Under the modified comparative fault standard outlined in WV Code § 55-7-13a, plaintiffs’ damages are reduced in proportion to their fault, and they cannot recover damages if their responsibility exceeds 50 percent.
A Martinsburg bicycle accident attorney at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson can gather and evaluate the evidence in your case and defend you against accusations that your actions played a role in the accident that caused your WV bicycle accident injuries.
Get Help from an Experienced West Virginia Bicycle Accident Lawyer
An experienced West Virginia bicycle accident lawyer can make a difference in your case by applying deep understanding of the law and legal system to the facts of your case. Whether it is communicating with the other attorney or judge or presenting an argument in court, an experienced personal injury lawyer’s skill set can give you an advantage.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in West Virginia, contact an effective, determined, and knowledgeable West Virginia bicycle accident attorney at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for a free consultation by calling 304-263-0900 or completing this online contact form.