Wednesday, February 20, 2013

When Cycling Accident Claims Can Be Made

By Steven Harrison


One of the common complaints of authorities and citizens is that cyclists all seem to be complacent with traffic rules. As a result, they end up harming themselves and other motorists. Injuries can have very severe impacts on one's life. That is why authorities allow cyclists or their families, on their behalf, to file for cycling accident claims to get compensation.

Statistics show that cities have more incidences of bicycle accidents. The victims are often males although all age groups can be included, even older citizens in their fifties. Most accidents occur where there are intersections or bends. Either the cyclists fail to do the necessary precautions or motorists took them by surprise.

For a claim to be honored by the authorities, the element of negligence should be proven to be present. Due to the cyclists' preference to drive on pavements, often not minding pedestrians, they are often blamed for their own accidents. However, there are times when motorists are careless too. This is where claims can be made appropriately.

There are various reasons for claims to be made. The most common one would have to be for the physical injuries incurred during the accident. It is very common for cyclists to suffer from head, limb as well as chest and abdomen injuries especially if they did not wear protective gear. If the injuries are proven to be results of the accident, compensation can be given.

In order to prove that the injuries did exist due to the accidents, the lawyers of the claimants will have to refer them to examining doctors. The doctors will furnish reports as evidence to the claims. The extent of the physical damages should also be indicated in order for the authorities to determine how much they should be giving as awards to the claimants. Awards may also be given for the damages incurred by the bicycles.

If the value of the bicycle went down due to the repairs, the diminution can also be compensated. Other properties involved such as the helmet, vehicle attachments and even clothing used while riding can also be repaired or replaced. Once again, cyclists will have to provide proof that they really owned the items.

A direct consequence of injury is time off from work. Claimants who encounter serious physical injuries barely have the skill to do work right after the incident. If their families are highly dependent on their income generating capacity, then that has to be addressed. Authorities need to provide monetary support for the families in this case. The same thing applies if the cyclists have to spend additional to look for other means of transportation.

Any therapy or treatment necessary to continuously treat the after effects of the injuries can be made compensable if deemed just. Cyclists may need physical therapy later on to completely recover their mobility, for instance. Make sure that you have this discussed with your lawyer properly in order to get the best outcomes.

Carelessness is one reason why cyclists end up being in the losing end. However, sometimes, they can also fall victims to the negligence of other motorists. For this reason, cycling accident claims are allowed by authorities. As long as proper evidence can be procured to prove the presence of negligence in the circumstance, awards may be given to the casualties.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...