With a steady uptick in bicycle accidents due to increased road congestion, technology distractions, and infrastructure failures, cyclist fatalities and serious injuries are also on the rise. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident next steps may not be easily identifiable and once determined, may be overwhelming. Debilitating injuries, astronomical medical costs, and loss of work are just some of the significant challenges one faces, whether one contributed to the cause of their accident or another party was at fault.

Below, we cover the types of compensation you may be eligible for following a bicycle accident, courtesy of our Halifax bike accident lawyers!

Bicycle Accident Injuries

Ranging from minor abrasions to severe injuries, discussing your losses with a bicycle accident lawyer can ease some of the psychological pain of what may end up being a life-changing experience. With potential injuries including road rash, severe bruising, lacerations, broken bones, neck and spinal injuries, loss of limbs, or paralysis, your life and those of your loved ones can be affected long-term. From building your claim to identifying and estimating all your economic damages, partnering with an experienced lawyer can remove monetary barriers to recovery, allowing you to focus on your physical and emotional restoration, which can take weeks, months, or even years.

Bicycle Accident Claims – What Types of Compensation Are Associated with a Bike Accident?

Depending on the type of accident you are involved in and the severity, the compensation you collect can greatly vary. Bicycles offer little to no protection in the event of a collision, and brain/spinal cord injuries, fractures, lacerations, and more are common with long-lasting impacts on lives. Recoverable economic damages include:

Medical Costs

A significant component of bicycle accident compensation includes medical costs, which fall into two categories — immediate and long-term expenses.

Short-term medical costs may include surgeries, emergency room visits, medication, and rehabilitation. Often needed to stabilize the patient and address serious or threatening injuries, ie, fractures, lacerations, or head trauma, these services are often critical to the patient’s long-term recovery success.

Long-term medical costs for continuous treatment and rehabilitation may be needed after the initial recovery phase, which may include follow-up surgeries, physical therapy, and prescription medications. Victims in bicycle accident cases often suffer from long-term disabilities (LTD), requiring extensive medical care over a prolonged period. Medical devices, including modifications to the victim’s home, crutches, or a wheelchair, may be necessary for further recovery or even become a permanent part of life after an accident. Significantly affecting a person’s life quality and ability to work, LTD makes it essential to consider all future costs when determining compensation. Your lawyer will work in tandem with medical professionals to estimate ongoing care costs utilizing medical records and targeted prognosis.

Bearing the cost alone, whether requiring long- or short-term care, can be financially devastating and should not be added to the list of life-altering impacts a bicycle accident can, and most often does, entail.

Physical Property Damage

Repairing or replacing a bicycle that was damaged or destroyed in an accident, along with other personal items, including phones, helmets, etc., should be included in your claim, as these items can quickly add up. Photographing and documenting damage, providing receipts or purchase orders, and obtaining estimates from bicycle repair shops will all be important in the reconciliation of these losses.

Lost Wages and Future Earnings Impact

In accidents where disabling injuries are sustained, a victim may experience permanent disabilities or impairments, ultimately affecting their ability to work. The at-fault party may need to compensate you for “Loss of earning capacity” if you cannot return to work or must work in a diminished capacity as your new reality after an accident. Working together, an experienced bicycle accident lawyer will review your salary history and estimate what your potential lost income would be.

More difficult to calculate and negotiate are non-economic damages related to the victim’s personal challenges, which at-fault party’s insurance companies work to minimize the severity of, including wrongful death, pain and suffering, punitive damages, loss of enjoyment of life, and personal impacts.

If you have been in a bicycle accident, schedule a consultation to discuss your options and recourse. You don’t want to put your health, financial well-being, or family’s future in jeopardy. Call Nova Injury Law at (902) 510-4870 or use our contact form to schedule a consultation.