If you are a cyclist who has been injured in a car accident then you could have grounds for a personal injury claim.
If the driver was negligent and your lawyers can help you prove this in court, then the driver will owe you for your medical expenses, lost wages, damages to your bicycle, and for pain and suffering damages.
You can also get compensation if it’s evident that you will lose wages or lose your ability to work as a result of your bicycle accident.
You may think this is all very open and shut. A large car strikes a tiny bicycle, so the car is clearly at fault. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, bicycle riders must also follow all of Alberta’s traffic laws. If the defence can prove that you broke those laws then you will be held responsible, not the driver.
Thus, the defendant has plenty of motivation to prove that you were somehow at-fault for the accident, and is often more than willing to throw a great many resources at a bicycle accident case. You’ll need an experienced bicycle accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve.
What makes bicycle cases complicated?
An accident between a vehicle and a bicycle often creates a more complicated case than an accident between two vehicles. This is because the bicycle rider is often too hurt to take helpful steps after the accident.
Many bicycle riders are unconscious, or are in so much pain that they struggle to collect insurance information, witness names, contact information, or photos. It’s all they can do to follow medical instructions in the moment.
That means an injured cyclist’s lawyer must go in and reconstruct the facts of the case from other evidence. Meanwhile, the defence has a head start on the case and has plenty of incentive to fight as hard as they possibly can.
You need lawyers who will put all the necessary time and resources into your case.
Wrongful Death Claims
It’s tragic but true: many motorcycle riders die in car accidents. When they do, families are left to pick up the pieces.
Alberta law allows the spouses, parents, and children of the deceased to recover compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses, and other expenses associated with the accident. A wrongful death case also allows you to receive money to help cover the loss of your loved one’s income and services.
No amount of money can replace your loved one, but we can work hard to make sure you get the money you need to absorb the financial losses that the defendant’s negligent behavior has caused.
Why Merchant Law?
We’ve built a huge multi-province practice because we help our clients win big settlements and verdicts. We have reputations as some of Canada’s toughest and most thorough litigators as a result. You can trust that our lawyers have the experience and passion to win your case.
We don’t get paid until you get paid, so calling us is always risk-free. Schedule your consultation today.
Call (780) 799-7777, or visit our office at 425 Gregoire Drive.