Albuquerque Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Who Really Causes Albuquerque Bike Accidents?

The most common cause of bicycle accidents in Albuquerque is the automobile driver. In fact, the Department of Transportation found that only about 16% of bicycle accidents were due to rider error. Distracted driving was the number one cause of bicycle accidents.

Naturally, most people ride during the day, so most accidents happen in the daytime. However 50% of deadly bicycle accidents happen after dark. With the combination of driving too fast, drunk driving, and difficulty seeing the bicyclist, fatalities are a tragic reality.

How to Reduce Your Chances of Being Hit By a Car While Riding a Bike

There are a few things that bicyclists can do to improve their safety. While nothing will make us totally safe, and even the safest bicyclist can still be struck and injured by a bad driver, these steps may help you avoid the worst possible outcome. Please consider the following:

• Adhere to the rules of the road such as
  • follow traffic signals and signs
  • don’t ride where bikes are forbidden
  • stay in a bike lane when available
  • ride with a working lamp, reflectors, and functional brakes
  • use hand signals to signal things like turns
• Wear a helmet at all times
• Wear bright reflective clothing
• Ride on the right side of the street

What if I am found at-fault for the bike accident?

Bicyclists who are found at-fault by police or by insurance companies can still win their case! Don’t let what somebody else says about your situation dictate your future. You have the right to stand up for the truth and to tell your story. Our job is to help you prove it in court.

We see it all the time: A bicyclist is blamed for the accident because they failed to do something, or the driver didn’t see them so they weren’t reflective enough, or any other reason. The police aren’t experts at accident reconstruction and they just want to finish their job and get home. But we go the extra mile and collect witness statements, find video surveillance footage of the bike accident, recreate the crash, and hire bike accident experts to prove what really happened. We can challenge any claim that you are at fault and prove your case.

Never give up on getting fair compensation for your injuries. Let’s talk first and see what’s really possible.

What if I Was Hurt in a Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident?

This happens all the time. A distracted or intoxicated driver hits a bicyclist and drives away, either because they are afraid, they are uninsured, or even because they failed to realize what they had done. Obviously the bicycle accident lawyers at Roadrunner Law will do everything we can to track these people down and make them pay for the injuries they caused. But what if the drivers are truly un-findable? It turns out your own insurance may be the answer. Your car insurance almost certainly has a coverage called “Uninsured Motorist” or “UM” coverage. You would think this only applies to when your driving, but this coverage may protect you when you are struck by another vehicle, no matter what you were doing.

The Albuquerque bicycle accident lawyers at Roadrunner Law will help you go through the insurance contracts and fight for your right to get the coverage you pay for from your own insurance company. Don’t give up hope after a hit and run! Call us today!

Some Important Factors When Evaluating Your Case

There are a lot of factors that lawyers, judges, juries and insurance adjustors take into account when evaluating how much your Albuquerque bike accident case is worth. Some of the most important are going to be accident location, road conditions at the time of the accident, time of day, and, of course, the behavior of the people involved.

Behavior – this is usually the most important component of your case. Did the driver break any traffic laws, were they distracted by a text message, or under the influence? Was the bicycle rider in the bike lane, wearing Bluetooth headphones, or behaving inappropriately? Be prepared for the other side to claim that you, as the rider, were doing absolutely everything wrong. Don’t worry, though, we’ll help prove your case.

Location – Depending on where the bicycle crash happened, there may be considerations such as right-of-way laws, construction zones, road hazards, bike lanes, etc. For example, if the accident happened outside of a bike lane, but a bike lane was available, we’ll have to explain why you weren’t using the bike lane.

Conditions – if the road was especially narrow, or there was damage, or if the weather affected things, that could have a big affect on your claim. After all, if the driver should have been extra cautious due to the unusual road conditions, it becomes even more obvious the bike crash was their fault.

Time – Was the bike crash at night or on a bright day? Was it during a cold, icy day, or in the summer time? The insurance company will absolutely take this into consideration as they decide who to blame. Our experts can prove how even the time of day affected the situation.

How Does an Albuquerque Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help?

Our job is to get you fair compensation for all of your bike accident expenses. That includes past, current, and future medical expenses, the cost of the bicycle, income you may have lost while recovering, future income you may not have due to your injuries, your pain and suffering, and, in the case of a wrongful death, the expenses associated with funerals.

We do all that by proving your case and taking the insurance company before a judge and jury if necessary to get them to pay what they promised to pay. The insurance company will try to get out of paying whenever possible and we hold their feet to the fire by using the power of the law.

We can’t just go to the judge and ask nicely. We have to prove that what we are saying is true. That means the bike accident lawyers at Roadrunner Law will go the extra mile. We hire medical experts, accident reconstruction experts, investigators, and engineers. These professionals testify under oath as to what they find and provide strong evidence that can win your case.

You don’t need to try and do all of that alone. Let us help.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

Immediately after an accident it’s important to call 911. Get medical help immediately!  If you need help finding a medical provider you can trust, call us and we can point you in the direction of the good guys.

If you are able, collect contact information for any witnesses and take photos and video of the scene. Record witnesses and get a police report where possible.

Preserve any evidence which includes the bike, your clothes, helmet, and take photos of yourself and any injuries you have as soon after the accident as possible.

Call Roadrunner Law right away! We can quickly send investigators to the scene who can document much more than you can and who may be able to collect vital data such as surveillance footage, skid mark data, and wreckage measurements. Even if you trust your insurance company it’s so very vital that you take this seriously.

Some Safety Tips for Cyclists

Bicycle accidents can be devastating to entire families. We want you to be safe! Please join us in following some simple safety tips that might keep you safe.

• Follow bicycle & traffic laws
• Don’t transport items in a front basket. Opt for a backpack when possible.
• Ride a bike that fits you. Talk to a professional for tips on how to select a bike that is sized well for your frame.
• Wear a helmet whenever you ride
• Wear bright and reflective clothing
• Don’t ride with multiple people on one bike
• Keep your bike well repaired and functioning
• Don’t listen to music or give in to distractions while riding

Get the Attention You Deserve for Your Bicycle Accident Case

While bicycle accidents may seem small when compared to motorcycle and car accidents, they can still result in serious injury, even death.

Injuries that can come from an incident like this can include:

• Whiplash
• Road rash
• Fractured bones
• Torn muscles/ligaments
• Disfiguration

If you or a loved one was involved in a serious bicycle accident, you deserve personal care and legal representation.