Paceline Law P.C. helps injury victims in Lafayette and East Bay bicycle accidents. You’re unfortunately vulnerable against all different types of accidents, but especially with drivers that are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you’ve been hurt in one of these accidents, my firm can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
Why Do You Need a Lawyer After a DUI Bicycle Accident?
If you’ve been in a DUI bicycle accident, especially with severe injuries, having a lawyer can be crucial. Even though liability might seem clear, getting the full compensation you deserve depends on how well your case is presented.
Our team can make the legal process easier by:
- Handling negotiations and offering a clear plan for your claim.
- Investigating the accident and collecting evidence, like medical records and police reports, to prove the driver was under the influence.
- Guiding you through the claims process, whether it’s an insurance claim or a lawsuit, and securing a fair settlement.
Working with our team guarantees that your rights are protected, which will help you get the best possible result for your claim.
What Damages Can You Get in a DUI Bicycle Accident Claim?
What often separates a DUI bicycle accident from a regular bicycle accident is the damage it inflicts on both you and your family. Your legal damages, which you can recover in an injury claim, stem from these injuries and losses.
Each bike accident claim is unique, so while your damages may vary, there are common types of damages available in every one of these claims:
- Medical expenses – These cover costs for surgeries, treatments, emergency services, and ongoing care.
- Pain and suffering – These damages provide support for physical pain and mental anguish caused by the accident.
- Lost income – These cover any wages lost due to time off work, including future earnings or benefits.
- Emotional distress – These cover psychological impacts like depression, anxiety, or PTSD that come up because of the accident.
- Loss of companionship or enjoyment of life – These damages reflect how the accident affects your quality of life or relationships.
- Wrongful death expenses – These damages are available in a “wrongful death” claim if the accident is fatal. It covers funeral and burial expenses, and possibly lost income or medical costs before death.
- Punitive damages – In DUI cases, you may seek these additional damages for extreme or intentional recklessness.
Many DUI bicycle accident victims don’t fully realize the extent of their damages right away. That’s where our experienced team can help by tracking and compiling these damages, But another important part of the process is figuring out who pays for these damages.
Who Pays For Your Damages in a DUI Bicycle Accident Claim?
While you might think a DUI bicycle accident is fairly straightforward in terms of liability, you’d be right. The driver that’s under the influence at the time of the accident is going to be primarily responsible for causing the accident, and thus will have to pay for your damages.
But, it’s not always that simple. There are other parties that could also share in the responsibility, even if they weren’t directly involved in the crash. These include:
- Social hosts – People who provide drugs or alcohol to underage or visibly intoxicated individuals at parties or events can share liability if that person later drives under the influence.
- Employers – Businesses that allow their employees to drive company vehicles while under the influence can also share responsibility–if the driver is on the clock at the time.
- Bars or restaurants – Bars or restaurants that continue serving alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons can also share some liability for DUI accidents, especially if they don’t stop them from leaving and driving.
In these situations, the third parties who provided alcohol or drugs can also be partly responsible for the accident. To get the full damages you need, it’s important to put together the strongest case you can. That process starts right after the accident.
How Can You Strengthen a DUI Bicycle Accident Claim in Lafayette?
When you’re involved in a DUI accident while biking in Lafayette, the injuries are often severe due to the lack of protection compared to a car. Impaired drivers have slower reactions and impaired judgment, which makes these accidents particularly dangerous. To protect both your health and your legal claim after the accident, follow these steps:
- Get to safety and call 911 – First, move to a safe location. Once you’re safe, call 911 so the local police will be dispatched. Make sure to let them know that you think the driver that is involved is under the influence. Also, ask for an ambulance to take care of your injuries.
- Gather information – If you can, get the impaired driver’s contact, insurance, and license details. If not, ask the police to help. Also, take pictures and videos of the accident scene if you can.
- Collect witness information – Write down names and contact details of any witnesses, and ask them for statements if they saw what happened.
- Be careful with statements – When talking to police or an insurance company, don’t say the accident was your fault–even though this is obvious.
- Preserve all the evidence you can – Save your medical bills and other important documents for evidence.
Taking these steps can help secure your health and strengthen your claim. But more importantly, it lays the foundation for your case. When you file your claim, you’ll lean on this information.
What Are Some Common Injuries in DUI Bicycle Accidents in Lafayette?
Any bicycle accident is going to cause you some level of injury when you’re hit by a vehicle. There’s simply no protection against a larger, metal vehicle moving at speed. This, unfortunately, is greatly enhanced when the driver is under the influence. In real-world terms, this means the impact of the collision is greater and the injuries and resulting fallout is usually much more serious.
In most DUI bicycle accidents in Lafayette, you can expect to have to deal with many of the following injuries:
- Head injuries, particularly traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and skull fractures
- Neck and spinal injuries, leading to paralysis
- Severely broken bones
- Road rash
- Internal organ damage
- Muscle tears
- Burns
As a bicyclist, you have no control over how other drivers behave, which can be frustrating. While you can’t prevent a DUI accident on your own, you can take steps to alert others to the danger by calling 911 and if you do get hurt, turn to our team for support.
Contact Paceline Law After a DUI Bicycle Accident in Lafayette or the East Bay
Bike accidents are always stressful, but DUI accidents are even more severe because they often lead to more serious injuries and are completely preventable. At Paceline Law P.C., we understand how difficult this situation can be, and we’re here to help you through it. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident caused by a DUI in Lafayette or the East Bay, contact us today for a free consultation.
