Hartford Bicycle Accident Lawyer | Free Consultation

How Our Hartford Bicycle Accident Law Firm Can Help

We offer comprehensive assistance to individuals injured in cycling accidents. Here’s how we can support you in taking on your claim:

1. “Dooring” Cases: If you’ve been involved in a “dooring” accident, where a motorist opens a car door into the path of a cyclist, we have the expertise to handle your case. Our legal team will thoroughly investigate the incident, gather evidence, and advocate for your rights to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
2. Recovering Lost Wages: Suffering injuries in a bicycle accident can result in lost wages due to time off work for recovery. Our firm can help you pursue compensation for these lost earnings, ensuring that you are not financially burdened by the accident’s impact on your livelihood.
3. Help with Medical Bills: Dealing with mounting bills after a bicycle accident can be overwhelming. We work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the medical care you need and that your medical expenses are fully covered by the at-fault party’s insurance or through other means of compensation.
4. Property Damage: In addition to personal injuries, accidents can damage your bike and other personal property. We will assist you in seeking compensation for repairing or replacing your damaged property, ensuring that you are not left to bear these expenses on your own.
5. Emotional Recovery: The emotional toll of a bicycle accident can be significant, leading to anxiety, stress, and other mental health challenges. Our compassionate legal team provides support and guidance throughout the legal process, helping you navigate the emotional recovery process with sensitivity and understanding.

By entrusting your bicycle accident case to our firm, you can rest assured that you have a dedicated team of Hartford legal professionals fighting tirelessly on your behalf.

We are committed to securing the compensation you deserve while providing you with the support and resources you need to heal and move forward with your life.

First Steps To Take After a Bike Accident

1. Prioritize Safety: If you’re able to, move yourself and your bicycle out of the roadway to avoid further danger. However, keep the bike in the same condition it was after the accident if possible, as it might be important for insurance or legal reasons.
2. Assess for Injuries: If there are any injuries, promptly call emergency services.
3. Notify Authorities: Regardless of the severity of the accident, inform the police and file a report. A police report is vital for recording the accident’s specifics.
4. Exchange Details: Gather information from all involved parties, including names, contact information, insurance details, and vehicle license plate numbers. Additionally, contact details should be obtained from any witnesses to the accident.
5. Document the Scene: Capture photographs or videos of the accident scene from various perspectives, such as vehicle damage, road conditions, and relevant landmarks or signs. This visual evidence can be pivotal during the claims process.
6. Seek Medical Evaluation: Even if there are no apparent injuries immediately after the accident, seeking medical assessment is essential. Some injuries may have delayed symptoms, and timely documentation of any injuries is critical for your claim.
7. Consult with Legal Counsel: Consider seeking advice from a reputable Hartford, CT bicycle accident lawyer to understand your rights and explore options for seeking compensation. A seasoned law professional can offer valuable insights throughout the claims process and safeguard your interests.
8. Inform Your Insurer: Report the accident to your insurance adjuster without delay. Provide them with precise information about the incident and file an accident claim. At this stage, you can let us do all the communication for you.
9. Maintain Detailed Records: Keep meticulous records of all documents related to the accident, including medical invoices, repair estimates, correspondence with insurance companies, and any other pertinent paperwork.
10. Refrain from Admitting Fault: Avoid admitting fault or making statements that could be interpreted as an admission of responsibility. Stick to factual information when discussing the accident with others.

Deadlines To Seek Compensation For Your Injuries

If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident due to negligence, recklessness, or other factors, there’s a time limit to file a claim. Typically, in such cases, you must file within two years from the accident date or from when you first realized you were injured or reasonably should have realized it.

Acting swiftly within this timeframe is essential to protect your rights and pursue compensation for any injuries sustained in the bicycle accident.

What Can I Expect to Pay for a Bicycle Accident Attorney in Hartford?

One crucial aspect of the legal process is payment. Our law firm follows contingency fee agreements so that all who wish to recover compensation can do so. These agreements allow individuals to access legal representation without upfront costs, as we only receive payment if we successfully secure your compensation. 

Once established, we will manage all aspects of your case, from investigation to negotiation and, if required, litigation. Throughout this journey, your attorney will diligently advocate for your rights, ensuring you are informed and focused on your recovery. Ultimately, contingency fee agreements offer a means to pursue justice and compensation without imposing additional financial strain on an already challenging situation.

Hartford Can be Dangerous for Bicyclists

Reports indicate that pedestrian and bicyclist deaths are increasing in the Hartford area. The director of Capital Projects and Operations in Hartford noted that the roads in our city are designed for vehicles to move at higher speeds, which is the number one predictor of death in a traffic crash.

Fatal accidents occur on Main Street near Battles Street and on the other side of the city at Franklin Avenue and Bliss Street. Wherever you might be in Hartford on your bicycle, pay attention to your surroundings, but you cannot prevent a driver from making errors and hitting you. If a driver was not paying attention and hit you, you can seek compensation for your injuries.

Drivers are Often Responsible for Bicycle Accidents and Injuries

When a driver causes an accident that injures someone due to a traffic law violation, they should be liable for all the harm they cause, including injuries to cyclists.

When a driver is negligent and hits your bicycle, you will usually seek your damages from their insurance provider. This requires that you file a complete and accurate claim with sufficient supporting evidence of liability and your losses. This is difficult to accomplish at any time, especially when focusing on recovering from your injuries. This is where our Hartford bicycle accident attorney can step in and handle every step of your claim.

The Insurance Company Works Against Injured Persons

When it comes time to collect compensation for your injuries, you will generally start with a claim against the insurance company of the person who hit you. The insurance company is a for-profit organization that maximizes profits like any other company. They do this by minimizing costs while maximizing revenue.

Insurers minimize revenue by reducing the amount they pay out on claims. They will deny whichever claims they can; if they must approve a claim, they will offer as little as possible to injured claimants. It saves them money when a claimant accepts a quick offer of a far too-low settlement, which happens often. Claimants then face responsibility for any losses the insurer should cover.

Your bicycle accident lawyer evens the playing field against the insurance company to ensure you receive the full amount you need. We apply the law, case precedent, and average settlement amounts for injuries like yours to negotiate for the highest possible compensation in your case.

Important Bicycle Laws in CT

1. Bicycles as Vehicles: According to the law, bicycles are considered vehicles and thus must adhere to similar rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers.
2. Stay Right: Cyclists must ride as close to the right side of the road as is practical when traveling at a speed lower than the flow of traffic.
3. Full Lane Use: Cyclists are permitted to occupy the entire lane when traveling at the same speed as traffic or when conditions require it, such as when preparing to turn, overtaking, avoiding hazards, or if the lane is too narrow to share safely.
4. Bike Lanes: While cyclists are not obligated to use bike lanes, they may choose to do so. However, bicycles are prohibited from using parkways or other limited-access state highways unless there are designated paths specifically for cyclists.
5. Sidewalks and Crosswalks: Bicycles are allowed on sidewalks and crosswalks, provided cyclists yield to pedestrians and provide an audible signal when passing them. It’s advisable to check local ordinances for any variations on this regulation.

What Clients Think of Us

Take a moment to hear directly from those we’ve had the privilege to represent: