Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bicycle accidents are prevalent on the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2016, five bicyclists died in Clark County. Only one other county (Washoe, with one death) recorded any bicyclist deaths the same year. Negligent, distracted, and drunk drivers are often the reasons bicyclists suffer serious to fatal personal injuries. If you or a loved one recently experienced a bike accident, contact our Las Vegas bicycle accident attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP to learn your rights. We may be able to help you recover the costs of your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Why Work With Our Law Firm?

• Our personal injury lawyers have a combined legal experience of over 100 years helping victims of serious injuries.
• Our team has recovered over $3 billion since 2010 in compensation for injury victims.
•  We have obtained record settlements and have a national reputation for excellence.

Most Common Causes of Bike Accidents

Most Las Vegas bicycle accidents are preventable. They occur due to negligence and human errors such as drunk or distracted driving. When negligent and careless parties cause bike accidents, victims may have the right to file claims to damages. At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we are passionate about holding at-fault parties accountable for harmful bicycle accidents in Las Vegas.

• Distracted driving
• Texting and driving
• Ignored rights-of-way
• Broken traffic laws
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Reckless driving
• Dooring
• Potholes and other road defects
• Bad weather
• Bicycle defects

After a bicycle accident, try to remain calm and keep the driver at the scene. Notify the police and request an ambulance, if necessary. Retrieve the driver’s name and contact information. Take photographs of your injuries and the damaged bicycle. Then, contact a Las Vegas bicycle accident lawyer who can help you bring a claim against the responsible party.

Nevada Bicycle Laws

A no-fault state is one in which fault for the accident has no bearing in the insurance process. All parties involved will seek reimbursement from their own insurance providers despite who or what caused the bicycle accident. Only 12 states in the US follow no-fault laws. Nevada is not one of them. Nevada is a fault-based accident state, meaning you will bring your claim against the party that negligently or recklessly caused your accident. The driver or another party at fault for your wreck will be responsible for paying for your damages.

Under the state’s fault-based insurance laws, you or your accident attorney will need to identify the at-fault party. This may take an investigation of how your accident occurred, including examining police reports, photographs, witness statements and more. Then, your lawyer will bring your claim against this party’s insurance company in pursuit of fair compensation. Some accident claims in Las Vegas involve multiple defendants.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim?

Act quickly if you believe you have grounds for a Las Vegas bicycle accident claim. Every state has a statute of limitations – a time limit on your right to file a claim. For the courts to view your case as valid, you must file your lawsuit within at least two years of the date of your accident. If you wait longer than two years, the courts may bar your action for recovery. You may have more or less than two years, however, if your case qualifies as an exception or comes with special rules.

Note that Nevada’s statute of limitations applies only to personal injury claims – not to insurance claims. Most insurance companies require you to report auto and bicycle accidents as soon as possible or within a reasonable time. The specific deadline can depend on the circumstances of your accident and injury. The best way to ensure the validity of your claim is to report the accident as soon as possible

Your Rights as an Injured Bicyclist in Nevada

Bicyclists have all the same rights to the roads as other motorists in Nevada. However, they must obey bike-specific statutes, when applicable. Bicyclists are the same as all injured accident victims when it comes to the right to pursue compensation through the civil court system. The state’s law permits injured cyclists and the family members of deceased or injured loved ones to bring claims against the at-fault drivers or other parties in pursuit of financial recovery. To have grounds for a claim, you must show the following:

1. The defendant owed you a duty of care. All drivers owe bicycle riders duties of care to prevent accidents and injuries. Other parties, such as the city, owe bicyclists duties as well.
2. The defendant breached this duty. Breaches of duty include acts of negligence such as texting and driving, speeding, ignoring the right of way at intersections, and driving recklessly around bicyclists.
3. The breach of duty caused your bike accident. You need proof that the defendant’s actions were the direct cause of your bike accident. If you partially contributed to your accident, don’t worry – state laws still make you eligible for recovery.
4. You suffered damages in the accident. Damages can include personal injuries, lost wages, property damage, and emotional pain and suffering.

The Las Vegas bicycle accident attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP excel at helping bike accident victims prove their losses and the other party’s fault in bicycle accident claims. Let us show you what we can do for your family during a free discussion with one of our attorneys. It may surprise you to find that you’re eligible for significant recovery because of someone else’s fault for your collision. Don’t go up against insurance companies alone. Retain our firm for the help you need.

Common Injuries in Bicycle Accidents

Depending on the driver’s speed and the intensity of the crash, accidents can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences. A personal injury claim can hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence and you can recover financial compensation to cover for medical expenses. Common injuries caused by bicycle accidents include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Road rash
•  Head and neck injuries
• Spinal cord injury

It’s important to seek medical attention after your accident, even if you don’t feel hurt, some injuries take time to show symptoms, which is why it’s recommended to get treated before you have serious discomfort. Seeking medical treatment also helps with your injury claim, medical records verify the extent of your injuries and how much you should be compensated for.

How to Prevent a Bike Accident?

Although a bicycle crash can occur in many different ways, some types of accidents are more common than others. Recognizing these accidents could help you avoid them while riding around Las Vegas.

For example, accidents in intersections are especially frequent. When passing through an intersection on your bicycle, yield the right-of-way to an oncoming vehicle, if necessary.

You must follow all the same rules as other drivers, including coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or red light.

Slow down and look carefully for traffic.

Do not wear headphones as that could limit your ability to hear an oncoming car.

Take up an entire lane rather than riding on the right-hand side of the road when riding in traffic. Riding to the right of the road could lead to drivers passing too closely and sideswiping you.

Riding in the road could also decrease your chances of an accident with a car door.

Many bike accidents occur because motor vehicle drivers don’t see the cyclist. You can help prevent these collisions by wearing bright colors or reflective gear, avoiding biking at night could also help improve your visibility.

Contact an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas

Our Las Vegas bicycle accident attorneys know how debilitating a bike crash can be. You might have suffered a serious head injury that requires weeks of rest and time off work. You could also be afraid of getting back onto your bicycle – experiencing flashbacks of that terrible day. Know that the state’s civil justice system wants you to seek recovery for all these damages, both physical and emotional.

The Las Vegas personal injury attorney you choose to represent your case can make all the difference in the type of compensation you recover. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has an impressive case history, with results reaching into the multi-millions for injured clients in the past. We garner the best possible results by never backing down from our beliefs. We support our clients’ causes with tenacity, doing all that we can to ensure fair results. When it comes to representing your accident claim with passion, count on Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. Contact us for more information about how we can help your family. Call our law firm at (702) 560-5520 for your free consultation, we serve clients in the Las Vegas area.