New Mexico Bicycle Accident Attorney
Cycling is a healthy lifestyle choice and an environmentally-friendly means of transportation. As the number of cyclists increases in New Mexico, so do the accidents involving cyclists with motor vehicles and road hazards.
If you or your loved one suffered a serious or fatal injury while riding a bicycle in New Mexico, you might be eligible for compensation to cover your medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income, and more.
Why Choose Liles White For Your Bicycle Accident Case
The New Mexico bicycle accident lawyers at Liles White want to help you achieve the best possible outcome in your overall recovery while holding any negligent parties responsible for your accident-related injuries.
At Liles White, our New Mexico bicycle accident attorneys are:
- Successful in obtaining multi-million dollar verdicts for our clients;
- Focused on our clients’ goals and expectations; and
- Compassionate yet aggressive advocates for the injured.
Speak with a legal professional at Liles White today. Our team of New Mexico bicycle accident lawyers will put our more than twenty years of legal experience to work for you.
How Our New Mexico Bicycle Accident Attorneys Can Help
When you retain Liles White for your bicycle accident claim, you get the backing of a full-service personal injury law firm. We are unafraid to take on large insurance companies and pursue the financial recovery and justice our clients deserve.
After answering your accident questions and addressing your concerns, your bicycle accident attorney from Liles White will do the following:
- Communicate openly with you throughout all stages of your accident claim;
- Promptly and thoroughly investigate your accident and its surrounding circumstances;
- Determine all liable parties;
- Pursue compensation from the responsible parties and their insurance providers;
- Settle your claim through negotiations; or
- Take your case to trial if no fair settlement is offered.
Reach out to Liles White now to talk about our approach to bicycle accidents and claims. There is no risk to you in contacting our law firm, so call (361) 826-0100 today to speak to a New Mexico bicycle accident attorney.
Bicycle Accident Statistics in New Mexico
According to data from 2012 through 2016 compiled by the League of American Bicyclists, a cycling and pedestrian advocacy organization, New Mexico is the third deadliest state for pedestrians and bicyclists. Trailing only Florida and Delaware, New Mexico has a fatality rate of 3.2 per 100,000 residents.
How Is Liability Determined in a New Mexico Bicycle Accident?
New Mexico is an at-fault accident state. Unlike no-fault states, where accident victims are only compensated through their own insurance providers, in a no-fault state it matters who is to blame for an accident. The person at fault has liability in the accident and their insurance must cover your claim.
Because bicycles in New Mexico are subject to the same traffic laws and road rules as motor vehicles, the same at-fault standards apply. This requires proving the following to determine fault:
- That the driver owed others on the roadway a duty of care to follow laws and drive safely for the protection of others sharing the road, including cyclists
- That the driver breached their duty in some manner, either through distracted driving or failing to follow traffic laws
- That their negligent breach directly caused an accident
- That the accident resulted in physical and financial harm to you as the victim
In order to successfully show the above, it can be helpful to collect evidence at the scene if you are physically able. If you are not physically able but conscious and alert, you can ask someone at the scene to collect evidence for you.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in New Mexico
After a bicycle accident, an investigation takes place to determine liability. This means evidence is required to prove who was at fault. In some instances, nearby video surveillance may capture the accident on digital video but it’s extremely helpful to your case if you or a helpful bystander can collect evidence. Your smartphone is a handy tool to help accomplish this. After an accident, if you are able, it helps to do the following:
- Take photos of the bike and any involved vehicles, obstacles, or factors relevant to the accident such as traffic signals and road signs
- Collect contact and insurance information from any involved drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians
- Gather contact information for any eyewitnesses to the accident
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible either through paramedics or by going to an emergency room (Never leave the scene of an accident until after the police indicate that you’re free to leave)
- Tell your doctor about all of your injuries and symptoms and ask for detailed notes about your injuries, treatment recommendations, and prognosis
- Get a copy of the police report
- Call an experienced bike accident attorney in New Mexico before talking to insurance representatives.
If you can keep a clear head during the tumultuous aftermath of an accident and take these steps you can not only protect your physical health but also your financial recovery after a bicycle accident.
What Are The Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
Whenever multiple forms of transportation share a roadway, there is accident potential. Road conditions are affected by drivers, cyclists, and operators of heavy equipment and all are subject to the weather.
The most common causes of bicycle accidents are:
- Distracted driving;
- Drugged or drunk driving;
- Speeding;
- Driving or swerving into bicycle lanes;
- Inclement weather; and
- Poorly maintained roads.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Although many bicyclists take safety precautions and wear protective clothing and gear like helmets and knee pads, they do not have the same protection afforded those riding in passenger cars and trucks. When a cyclist falls or is hit by a vehicle, their body bears the impact of the crash.
As such, bicycle accidents frequently result in serious, life-changing injuries. Typical injuries sustained by cyclists in severe accidents include, but are not limited to:
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Spinal cord injury;
- Bone fractures;
- Eye injuries; and
- Contusions, sprains, and strains.
The most serious are traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Any trauma to the head can cause traumatic brain injury.
Some symptoms of a traumatic brain injury are:
- Headaches;
- Nausea;
- Memory problems; and
- Mood swings.
Trauma to the spinal cord can cause the following symptoms:
- Loss of bowel control;
- Breathing difficulties;
- Numbness; and
- Paralysis.
Our New Mexico personal injury attorneys have handled a range of both spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury cases and understand these injuries have the potential to be permanent and can require years of treatment and therapy.
What Compensation Can I Receive For a Bicycle Accident in New Mexico?
If someone else was probably at fault in your accident, you deserve compensation and their insurance must pay out on your claim. You can gain the following financial compensation to help you move forward and focus on your recovery:
- Medical expenses and future medical expenses
- Lost earnings and future lost wages in the event of ongoing treatment and missed work
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
While financial compensation can’t take away your injury or suffering, it can relieve your financial concerns so your focus can be on making a full recovery.
Contact an Experienced New Mexico Bicycle Accident Attorney at Liles White
If you would like more information about filing a bicycle accident claim, contact the team of New Mexico personal injury lawyers at Liles White. Our skilled New Mexico bicycle accident attorneys have the experience and resources necessary to handle your claim professionally and competently.
The team of attorneys at Liles White provide complimentary consultations at no risk to you. Do not pay for someone else’s negligence. Call (361) 826-0100 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.