Summerlin Bicycle Accident Attorney

What is the Nevada Helmet Law? 

Under Nevada’s helmet law, drivers and passengers on motorcycles, mopeds, and tri mobiles with handlebars and saddle seeds are required to wear a helmet. The only exception to the helmet law is when drivers and passengers are inside an enclosed cab, a three-wheeled or more vehicle operated by a steering wheel rather than handlebars.

Nevada law also requires all helmets that are used to be compliant with the helmet safety standard set by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

What is the average bicycle accident claim payout? 

As with any case, bicycle accident claim payouts are impacted by factors like the damages sustained, the injuries sustained, medical losses, and how your injuries have affected your life. Generally, however, a bicycle accident claim payout can range anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand.

Speaking with a Nevada bicycle accident attorney about your specific case is the best way to determine what a potential payout might be. Get in touch with our attorneys to schedule your free case consultation and get a thorough analysis of the strength of your case and the compensation you may be entitled to. 

Even if you are partially at fault in your bicycle accident, you may be able to turn to your insurance policy to recover compensation for your injuries. Let one of our experienced team members help you understand your case so you can make the best option possible as you move forward in your healing. 

How serious are your injuries and other damages?

With any bicycle accident claim, your injuries are an important consideration because they help determine, in part, what your actual losses might be. As a general rule of thumb, the more severe your injuries, the more likely you can recover compensation.

Although bicyclists travel at a lower rate of speed than other motorists, including motorcyclists, the injuries can still be severe after a bike accident. Small injuries and more severe injuries associated with bicycle accidents can include the following: 

• Broken bones
• Facial injuries like missing teeth, broken nose, and eye injuries
• Road rash
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Internal injuries

Calculating damages

Your calculable damages can also help determine the strength of your case. If you have experienced the following damages, you may be able to pursue compensation from negligent parties as a form of restitution, such as:

• Hospital bills
• Cost of medical treatment
• Rehabilitation services
• Loss of income 
• Reduced earning capacity due to permanent injuries 
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, and even chronic pain 

Can you use your car insurance for bicycle accidents? 

Insurance for bicycle accidents is generally lumped in with your auto insurance. Generally, your auto insurance will cover you in the event of an accident, no matter the type of vehicle you are traveling in. However, it’s important to understand that all insurance policies are different, and all policies have different requirements on what they will and will not cover. 

If you’ve been injured while riding your bicycle, you may be able to tap into your auto insurance policy for coverage unless it specifically states that coverage for bicycle accidents is not offered.

Bicycle accidents are also not all the same. If your insurance policy does cover bicycle accidents, there will be other factors to consider as well. What caused your bicycle accident to happen, what parties were at fault, and the extent of the damage and your injuries could all impact whether or not and how much an insurance policy will cover following your bicycle accident. 

Working with an experienced bike injury attorney allows you to have a legal representative who will comb through the details of your accident and your policy coverage to determine your available options. Learn more about cyclist insurance when you contact our team. 

How can a bicycle accident attorney help?

Although less common than motorcycle accidents and even pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents can still result in serious injury and, unfortunately, even death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported 961 bicyclist fatalities in 2021. Unfortunately, the most serious injuries include some sort of head injury, underscoring the importance of wearing a helmet when you go out on a bicycle.

If you are the victim of a bicycle accident and have suffered injuries, regardless of whether you are at fault or were not wearing a helmet, a bicycle accident attorney can help. A bicycle accident attorney will ensure that a thorough investigation of your case is conducted. This often starts by going back to the scene of the accident, documenting the scene, and having a detailed understanding of how the accident occurred.

Next, your attorney will begin the evidence collection process. This critical process allows you to have evidence like surveillance footage, witness statements, police reports, and other documentation that can help support your claim.

Your attorney will then help determine your losses. This can also be done through the evidence-collection process. Your attorney will rely on things like medical bills, invoice statements, pay stubs, and physician statements that can paint a picture of your injuries and how they’ve impacted your life.

As you negotiate with insurance companies or plead your case in front of a judge or jury if your case goes to trial, having an experienced attorney on your side can be invaluable. At Adam S. Kutner, our attorneys have expert negotiation skills and a thorough understanding of Summerlin’s Clark County court system, and we are ready to communicate with all parties as we fight for your rights. 

Work with a bicycle accident attorney near me

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident in Summerlin, NV, near Spring Valley, or elsewhere in the Southern Nevada region, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.