Were you or a family member hurt riding your bike in Pensacola, FL? Bicycle accident injuries can impact your life in unexpected ways. When someone else caused your accident, they deserve to be held accountable. An experienced Pensacola bicycle accident lawyer at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can help you fight for every available dollar.
Our attorneys have over 75 years of experience in personal injury law. We’ll use that experience to fight for money to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain, trauma, and more.
Injury victims in the panhandle have trusted us to handle their legal battles since we started our practice in 1981. Now, we’re here to stand up for you. Call our law offices in Pensacola, Florida, to schedule your free case review today with a Pensacola bicycle accident attorney at (850) 434-3333.
How Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover Compensation After a Bicycle Accident in Pensacola
The at-fault party may fight you at every turn after an accident. Even if they’re clearly responsible, the insurance company won’t make things easy. Without legal guidance, it’s very likely that you could walk away with a settlement that doesn’t fully cover your losses.
We know that navigating the insurance claims process after an injury can be overwhelming. Filing a lawsuit for justice can seem impossible. You deserve an experienced Pensacola personal injury attorney on your team.
When you hire Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, our Pensacola bicycle accident lawyers will:
- Investigate and identify all liable parties
- Handle all paperwork, requests for information, and insurance communications
- Work with experts when necessary to prove elements of your case
- Anticipate and defend against any victim-blaming tactics
- Determine the fair value of your case
- Handle the negotiation process and fight for a full settlement
Our Pensacola personal injury lawyers are here to provide support and guidance throughout the entire process. You don’t have to handle this fight alone in Pensacola, FL. Contact us today for more information about how we can help.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Florida?
Florida is consistently listed as one of the most dangerous states in the U.S. for bicyclists.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) publishes crash data on traffic accidents in Florida. Based on preliminary data for 2023, 8,414 car accidents involving bicycles occurred statewide. 227 cyclists were killed in those crashes.
In Escambia County, at least three bicyclists were killed in motor vehicle accidents during 2023.
In 2022, 632 bicyclists suffered incapacitating injuries in traffic accidents. 2,247 cyclists suffered injuries that were deemed less serious. Unfortunately, 181 bicyclists were killed.
What Is My Pensacola Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
The value of any personal injury case depends on the unique facts and circumstances.
Some of the most common factors that will impact your case value include:
Extent of Your Injuries
More severe injuries tend to result in higher costs. Your medical treatment costs will typically be much higher if you suffer a severe injury. Severe injuries are also the most likely to cause long-term or permanent damage.
Because severe injuries are most likely to impact your life in dramatic ways, they’re also likely to lead to higher settlements and verdicts. Your damages will simply be more extensive than in a case involving minor injuries.
Strength of the Evidence
Even if your injuries are severe, you’ll need strong evidence to prove liability. At-fault drivers and their insurance companies don’t always like to accept responsibility. Having strong evidence is critical to proving your case.
Comparative Fault
Victims who contribute in some way to an accident will see their compensation awards reduced. Your compensation is reduced to the extent you share any blame. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you lose your right to compensation entirely if you were more than 50% responsible.
Insurance companies don’t always play fair. They might blame you without sufficient evidence. It’s important to know that you don’t have to take their allegations at face value.
Your Lawyer’s Experience
Experienced attorneys deal with insurance companies every day. They know the strategies the insurer will use to avoid paying a full settlement. They also have the skills and resources to fight back.
Whether you’re being blamed for your own injuries or the insurance company is trying to downplay your losses, it’s important to have a respected attorney in your corner. Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers is here to provide the support you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you maximize your financial recovery.
What Types of Compensation Can Bicycle Accident Victims in Pensacola Receive?
Medical bills and financial costs can be high after an accident. You may also experience significant pain and suffering. Under Florida law, you can seek compensation for all of these economic and non-economic damages.
However, you’ll have to identify the specific losses you have suffered due to the accident. For non-financial losses, you’ll also have to provide evidence about their value in dollars.
Some examples of the types of damages you may have suffered include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Nursing assistance
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Lost employment benefits
- Property damage
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Humiliation
- Depression
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Our lawyers will carefully review the evidence to document your losses. You should also keep any receipts or records related to the accident and injury. This documentation can be critical to establishing the value of your damages.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer in Pensacola?
Too many accident victims don’t hire a lawyer because they’re worried about the cost. At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we don’t think your finances should prevent you from obtaining quality legal representation.
Like many personal injury law firms, we take cases on a contingency fee basis. Instead of paying an upfront retainer fee, you’ll pay a percentage of your compensation to cover our attorneys’ fees. Of course, that means you don’t have to pay if we fail to recover compensation for you.
Our Attorneys in Pensacola Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
Even if you were wearing a helmet, you may have suffered extensive injuries. As a bicyclist, you simply have very little protection if you’re hit by a car. Injuries can be even more severe when high speeds are involved.
Our Pensacola bicycle accident lawyers often handle cases involving:
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Road rash
- Head and neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Pelvic injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you were injured in an accident, seek medical attention quickly. The sooner you receive medical care, the easier it will be to prove that the accident caused your injuries rather than something else.
What Are the Leading Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Pensacola?
Nearly all bicycle accidents are caused by carelessness. Often, they happen because drivers aren’t watching for cyclists.
Some of the more common causes of bike accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to cyclists
- Veering into the bike lane
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Drowsy driving
- Passing too closely
- Opening a door into a cyclist
- Dangerous or illegal turns
- Racing through intersections
- Drunk driving or drug use
- Lack of dedicated infrastructure and bike lanes to protect cyclists
- Dangerous road conditions
Bicyclists have the right to share the road with motor vehicles. However, they also have to obey traffic laws.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Financial Compensation After a Bicycle Accident in Florida?
Negligence is the primary legal theory involved in most bike accident cases.
Someone is negligent when:
- They owe you a legal duty of care
- They breach that duty through some act or failure
- The breach directly causes an accident
- You suffer damages, meaning injuries and other losses
Different types of evidence can be used to establish these elements. Police reports, medical records, and physical evidence from the accident scene are all important. Video footage and statements from eyewitnesses may also be available. In more complex cases, we may even bring in experts in accident reconstruction and other specialties to prove your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle Accident in Florida?
In Florida, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. Wait any longer than two years, and you forfeit your right to seek compensation.
Exceptions to the general rule are rare. Since the consequences for missing the deadline are so harsh, it’s always important to get started quickly. Building a strong case will take time and work–and you deserve the strongest case possible.
Contact a Pensacola Bicycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Don’t hesitate to call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers for legal advice after a bike accident in Pensacola, FL. An experienced Pensacola bicycle accident lawyer will listen to your story and help you understand your legal options. Your consultation is free, so contact us today.