Houston Bicycle Accident Attorney

Anyone who has taken to the streets in Texas on a bicycle, whether for commuting or recreation, knows that Texas drivers don’t seem to believe that cyclists have any right to be sharing the road.  Many drivers can’t be bothered to leave clearance of three feet or further when passing a bike, as Texas law requires, and some drivers see no problem with passing so close they actually force the cyclist off the road.  Others run red lights and stop signs at intersections or turn left without regard for a cyclist riding in the opposite direction; still others use bicycle lanes as if they were meant for cars. If you’ve been injured in a situation like this, you may need legal help from a Houston Bicycle Accident Attorney.

Any number of ways exist for the driver of a car or truck to place a bicycle rider at risk of losing life or limb.  What Texas drivers don’t appear to know but should, is that bicycles and their riders have every bit as much right to be on the road as a car, truck, or motorcycle, and it is the driver’s responsibility to drive with sufficient care to safeguard a cyclist’s life. Nevertheless, inappropriate driver attitudes continue to rob people of life and health on Texas roads.

Texas drivers crashed into more than 2000 bike riders in 2012, resulting in 1,450 serious injuries and 56 cyclist deaths. Clearly, the majority of these accidents are serious, and understandably so, considering that the cyclist has absolutely no protection from a car weighing several thousand pounds. Brain damage, spinal cord injury, paralysis, amputations, fractures, organ damage, scarring, lacerations, and death can result.

Driver Behaviors that Can Kill and Maim Cyclists

Driver negligence is often the cause of bike accident injuries and wrongful death.  Some acts that constitute negligence include:

• DUI/DWI
• Distracted driving
• Speeding and aggressive driving
• Running stop signs or red lights
• Encroaching on bike lanes
• Making careless turns and lane changes without signaling
• Not  respecting the cyclist’s right of way
• Failing to leave 3 feet between the car and the bike when passing

Fighting Back for Cycling Safety

Cyclists are fighting back. Some have begun to wear video cameras on their helmets to capture the car description and plate number of a vehicle that leaves the scene of an accident. Some cities are sending undercover police officers out on bikes to help catch these wrongdoers.

In any case, if a car hits your bike or forces you off the road and you’re injured, if you or a witness can identify the driver, you can file a claim against the driver to recover your damages.  If the driver gets away and is never located, your own uninsured motorist policy may pay for your damages instead.

Help for Injured Bicyclists

When you’ve been injured or a member of your family has been killed while riding a bicycle, you have the right to pursue a claim to recover your damage—both the economic losses, such as lost income, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and others that come with a price tag, and non-economic damage that are harder to quantify but usually more devastating than the financial ones: pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and others.

Experienced Representation

For the best chance of succeeding in getting a recovery sufficient to cover all of your damages, it is in your best interest to find a good Houston personal injury lawyer, such as the attorneys at the Houston personal injury law firm of Gordon & Elias, LLP. With 60 years of combined legal experience and an enviable track record of millions of dollars in recoveries, Steve Gordon, Todd Elias, and Jeff Seely have the skills, experience, and passion for justice that make them the ideal choice to represent you in your Texas bicycle accident.

At Gordon & Elias, LLP, you can come in for a free consultation to learn about your legal options.  If you’re having trouble making ends meet, let us know. We may be able to help with an interest-free loan until your case settles. Don’t wait too long to talk to us, or you could lose your right to a recovery. Texas imposes time limits on filing a claim, so contact us today.