Santa Fe Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Santa Fe Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bicycles are an environmentally friendly way to travel and exercise. However, bicycles come with inherent risks, and a bicycle accident can cause catastrophic injury. If someone else’s negligence caused your wounds, you need to speak with a Santa Fe bicycle accident attorney to see if you have a case.

At Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, we work with our clients to award them the largest settlements possible, helping to ease the economic burden after a bicycle crash. We can tirelessly advocate for you in negotiations and in court to get you the help you need.

Can Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, Represent Me After a Bicycle Accident?

When looking for an attorney, you’ll want to find a firm with significant experience. At Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, our team of excellent attorneys has been working in personal injury for years. They can leverage their experience to craft a strategic legal plan and pursue the maximum compensation possible.

At our firm, we seek to alleviate your worries by ensuring you feel like our top priority. We can work to create a plan tailored specifically to your case, and we won’t try to adapt a one-size-fits-all approach to your situation.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Santa Fe Bicycle Accidents?

When a bicycle collides with a car, the car always sees less damage. While bicyclists can cause accidents, this is less common, and the rider often sees the most significant injuries. Even if the bicyclist was partially responsible, they may still be able to seek compensation if a motorist shares the blame for the accident.

Bicycle accidents are quite common in New Mexico—the state is third in the United States for pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. Whether next to a busy street or on a rural road, biking can be dangerous. However, the risks carried by biking don’t mean cyclists need to pay for injuries they didn’t cause. Drivers have a duty to be especially careful around cyclists due to their vulnerability.

Some of the common causes of bicycle accidents in Santa Fe include:

• Distracted driving: When a motorist drives on a road, they have an obligation to remain alert and attentive to their surroundings. There are many ways for drivers to be distracted, such as using the touchscreen display in their car, texting while driving, or engaging with a passenger and not looking at the road. Because bicycles have a lower profile than cars, it can be detrimental for a cyclist.
• Failure to follow the rules of the road: Whether it’s speeding, failing to yield a right of way, or disregarding signals, motorists sometimes break rules while driving. In extreme circumstances, a motorist disregarding the rules of the road can cause a bicyclist’s injuries.
• DUI: Drivers make an agreement with the law not to be under the influence of drugs while operating a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, many motorists continue to drink and drive. Impaired reflexes can easily lead to severe injuries if a motorist fails to notice a bicyclist in time and causes an accident. Driving under the influence constitutes negligence, and victims should be compensated accordingly.

What Injuries Do Bicyclists Typically Suffer After a Crash?

When you’re in a vehicle, numerous safety features should keep you safe in the event of a crash. You have a seat belt on, an airbag ready to deploy, and a car ready to protect the driver at all costs. Bicycles do not have those same protections, so the enormous force of a car can have severe repercussions for bicyclists.

If you’re involved in a bicycle accident, even a minor bump can cause serious injury. While there is useful protective gear, it doesn’t always have an impact. Serious injuries can have enormous financial and psychological costs, and you deserve to be compensated fairly. The more expenses caused by the accident, the more compensation you should receive.

Some of the most common bicycle-related injuries in New Mexico include:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Even if you have a helmet on, your head is still vulnerable to damage after a bicycle accident. Any trauma to the head can cause a TBI, and helmets are useful for lessening the blow rather than protecting you entirely. Concussions are the most common TBIs, but they also include injuries like brain bleeds. Recovery from a TBI is long, and you may suffer long-term consequences.
• Broken bones: The force of the landing can easily break a bicyclist’s bones. If they try to catch themselves, it can lead to a fractured wrist, forearm, or collarbone. A rider’s legs, ribs, and ankles are also susceptible to injury in an accident.
• Lacerations: You’ll likely skid across the pavement or sidewalk after a bicycle crash, and this has the potential to cause serious scrapes. While a few bruises aren’t particularly damaging, severe lacerations can leave you in severe pain and require stitches.
• Death: Unfortunately, fatalities are common after a bicycle accident. With little protective features in a bicycle, a bad fall or high-speed crash can lead to a loved one dying. In these cases, you’ll have the option to file a wrongful death claim. While this can’t bring back your loved one, it will remove some of the economic burden on your family from lost income.
• Spinal injuries: If you land on your back, it can easily cause a spinal injury. Even a moderate amount of force can cause a problem with your spine, and you’ll have a long recovery as doctors try to determine the most effective way to repair your nervous system. Many spinal injuries could lead to permanent paralysis.

How Do I Prove Fault After a Bicycle Accident?

It isn’t always easy to prove fault in a bicycle accident. However, courts know that bicycles are rarely at fault and that cyclists suffer severe injuries. This knowledge can work in your favor.

Although you could be too severely injured to do anything after your accident, if your injuries are minor, you should take certain steps to help prove fault later on.

After an accident, you’ll want to check yourself for any injuries. Look for any open wounds and try to determine where you feel pain. Some injuries may not be apparent at first, as your body will be producing adrenaline after a crash. Don’t over-exert yourself, and be sure to move off the road and to safety. You should call an ambulance if you think you need emergency treatment. You’ll also want to contact the police to report the accident.

If you are able, take pictures of the scene. Take a photo of your bike, the other driver’s vehicle, the general conditions on the road, and any apparent injuries you have. You’ll also want to exchange information with the driver so you can get in touch with them later.

When the police arrive, give them a factual recounting of the accident. Don’t leave out any important details, but don’t say anything that could be misconstrued as admitting fault. Simply state the facts and ask for a copy of the accident report.

You’ll want to see a doctor as soon as possible to have them conduct a full examination of you. Make sure you get a copy of the doctor’s report as well, as you might need that for evidence. At this point, if you want to pursue legal action, you’ll want to speak with an attorney and retain their services.

Can a Santa Fe Attorney Help Me With My Bicycle Accident Claim?

An attorney can help with a personal injury claim. A bicycle accident attorney can handle the difficult aspects of filing a claim while you work to recover from your injury. Filing a claim requires plenty of paperwork, and any issue with proper filing could jeopardize your case. You can let your attorney handle this work and focus on resting.

Most personal injury cases are settled out of court. If you try to represent yourself, the driver or their insurance company may offer you a settlement that appears fair but isn’t worth taking. Without a lawyer present, you may take an unfair deal that leaves you struggling with medical bills. If you’re unable to work, compensation is vital to supplement your income during this time.

If your case does go to trial, your attorney will be able to advocate for you and convince the court of the other party’s negligence. If the defense wants to negotiate yet again, your attorney will be able to negotiate the maximum possible settlement.

In a personal injury claim, your attorney will likely work on contingency, which means there is little financial risk to you.

Reach Out to a Skilled Santa Fe Personal Injury Attorney

A bicycle accident can put you in the hospital for a long time, and your financial losses can be significant. In some circumstances, these accidents can be fatal. If you or someone you know was involved in a Santa Fe bicycle accident, you need a lawyer you can trust.

At Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, we can represent you and pursue the settlement you deserve. Contact us today for a consultation.