Were you hurt after a bicycle crash in Aventura, FL? Was the accident caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, the Aventura bicycle accident lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers may be able to help.
Since 2007, we have helped our injured clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars. This includes people who are hurt while biking on the streets of Aventura. Our lawyers can negotiate with insurance and file a lawsuit to hold negligent people responsible for their actions.
If you’re wondering whether or not you have a case, call our office at (305) 937-0191 to set up a free consultation. We can explain your legal options and create a strategy going forward.
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How Can Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Help You After A Bicycle Accident In Aventura, FL?
Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers is proud to help injured people get justice after an accident. Many of our injured clients are dealing with expensive medical bills and a complete change in their daily life. It’s not fair to deal with increased financial stress and recovering from an injury all alone.
Our lawyers can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses. We have over 100 years of combined experience and have been recognized among the best personal injury lawyers in the area. Our team of attorneys include a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Super Lawyers.
When you hire us to handle your bicycle accident case, we will:
- Investigate the cause of the bike crash
- Find out who is responsible
- Collect evidence to support your case
- Calculate your damages and case value
- Provide legal advice
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- File a personal injury lawsuit and go to trial, when necessary
You might feel overwhelmed, but you aren’t alone. Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers will stand by your side until you get the resources you need to move on. Call our office to set up a 100% free consultation.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents In Aventura?
Due to the sunny weather and tourism, Florida is one of the most dangerous states for bicyclists. Many bicyclists don’t wear helmets or aren’t familiar with the rules of the road. This means that they bike more dangerously and it is harder for cars to predict their movements.
Aventura is no exception. The city sits in the bustling Miami-Dade County. In 2022, there were 919 bicycle crashes in the county. These crashes resulted in 844 injuries and 18 fatalities. Bicyclists in Aventura should pay special attention and take care while commuting and enjoying a ride.
What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents?
Most bicycle accidents are caused by someone’s negligence. Sometimes it’s a driver on the road, another bicyclist, or a pedestrian. However, sometimes a crash is caused by a factor outside of anyone’s control.
In our experience, the most common causes of bicycle accidents in Aventura include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Road rage
- Unsafe left turns
- Failure to signal or check blind spots
- Potholes and obstructions in the road
- Improper signage
- Lack of bike lanes
- Poor visibility
Since bike crashes tend to happen quickly, you may not be entirely sure what caused the accident. We can help you investigate the cause and find out how it happened, and who is responsible. This is the first step in your legal case and fighting for the compensation that you deserve.
Bicycle Accidents Can Leave You With Serious Injuries
Most people know that bicycle accidents can cause catastrophic injuries and even be fatal. Most bikers only have a helmet for protection. Even though a helmet can reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries, it doesn’t always work perfectly. The truth is that bicyclists are exposed every time they get on the bike.
That means that bicycle accidents can leave you with serious injuries. No matter what type of injuries, or injuries, you have suffered, we can help. We have worked with clients who have experienced:
- Broken and fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Permanent disfigurement
- Internal injuries
- Crush injuries
- Organ damage
- Neck and back injuries
Our team will work with your doctors to access medical records and fully understand the extent of your injury and the required treatment. This helps us negotiate for full damages so that you aren’t left with an inadequate settlement.
What Is The Value Of My Bicycle Accident Case?
The value of your bicycle accident case will vary depending on your injuries. Some factors that can affect your case value are:
- The severity or permanency of your injury
- The cost of your past and future medical bills
- The impact of your injury on your quality of life
- Your ability to continue to work and earn income
- The emotional trauma associated with the crash
In general, people who have permanent injuries that affect their work, their ability to care for themselves and others, and require ongoing treatment will recover more money. However, even people with less serious injuries can have long-lasting emotional trauma that deserves compensation as well.
What Types Of Damages Are Available In An Aventura Bike Crash Case?
You are entitled to damages to make you whole again after a bicycle accident. This includes compensation for financial and emotional losses.
In many bike accident cases, victims are entitled to:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Lost weaning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Property damage
- Other related out-of-pocket costs
Keep track of your bills after an accident so that we can use them later as evidence during negotiation and trial. You may also wish to write about your experience in a diary so that you can document the emotional impact of the crash on your life.
Can I Recover Money If I Am Blamed For Causing The Bicycle Accident?
Yes. Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule which allows bicyclists to recover damages even if they contributed to causing the accident. However, their contribution must be less than 51%. As a penalty, the bicyclist can only recover damages that are proportionate to their share of responsibility.
For example, if you are 30% responsible for causing the accident, you can only recover 70% of your damages. However, if you are 51% or more responsible for causing the accident, you can’t recover any damages at all.
For this reason, we always work hard to protect our clients from unfair blame after a crash. This is to make sure that they recover the most money. Many insurance companies will look for ways to blame a bicyclist, and this isn’t fair. You shouldn’t be unfairly penalized just because someone else is trying to get out of trouble.
Proving Negligence In Bicycle Accident Cases
Bicycle accident cases hinge upon negligence. To hold the defendant accountable, you must prove that their negligence caused the accident and your injury.
Negligence is when someone fails to use reasonable care and hurts someone else or their property. For example, if a driver fails to check their rearview mirror when merging, and hits a biker, they were negligent. They didn’t intentionally cause the crash or mean to hurt anyone, but their failure to use reasonable care did.
Negligence has four elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of the duty of care
- Causation
- Damages
A plaintiff has the responsibility to prove each element by a preponderance of the evidence to recover money. This is called the burden of proof.
Negligence can be confusing, but we will explain it to you. Our lawyers know what it takes to prove negligence in Aventura courts and can rely on our experience to do that for you. Without a lawyer, it may be difficult to prove each element and meet the burden of proof required in your case.
How Long Do I Have To File A Bicycle Accident Lawsuit In Florida?
For bicycle accidents that happen after March 24, 2023, you have two years to file a lawsuit. The law was recently changed from four years ago.
Two years may seem like a long time, but it goes by quickly. During those two years, we will negotiate with insurance and investigate your case. You’ll likely be recovering and adjusting to your new normal.
You must hire a lawyer as soon as possible so that you don’t miss the deadline. If you do, your case will be dismissed and you will lose your chance to recover any money at all. It’s better to involve legal counsel earlier than risk your opportunity to get compensation.
Call An Aventura Bicycle Accident Lawyer For A Free Consultation
There’s no downside to hiring an Aventura bicycle accident lawyer. We work for a contingency fee, which means you don’t pay us anything unless we win your case. At that point, you pay a percentage of your settlement.
Our consultation is 100% free. There’s no harm in learning about your legal options and connecting with an attorney for advice. Call Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (305) 937-0191 to set up a time to talk today.