When you’re behind the wheel of a car, it’s easy for you to take your eyes off the road and onto something else. On the other hand, being on a bicycle requires constant attention since there could be anything around you at any given time. That being said, as much as cycling can be relatively dangerous, it’s also pretty rare for an accident.
This is why most cyclists aren’t concerned about being in an accident while riding their bicycles. However, that doesn’t mean that someone won’t suddenly come along and hit you, which forces you to file a claim against them. If this is the case, you’ll have to schedule an appointment with a bicycle accident lawyer and let them handle the case.
Bicycle Accident Claims: How Insurance Companies Handle Them
While most accident claims are legitimate, some are fraudulent. This is why some insurance companies are now hiring private investigators to track down cyclists who have been in accidents. If a company witnesses a cyclist in an accident, it will have the right to use that information to either deny a claim or increase the amount it will pay.
Additionally, some insurance companies will use a GPS device to track a cyclist’s location during an accident. When defending against accident claims, most insurance companies will try to deflect any blame toward the cyclist. If this sounds like something you might be going through right now, keep reading to learn more about how a bicycle accident lawyer will protect you from an insurance company’s cheap strategies.
Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Basics
A lawsuit is the only thing standing between you and the insurance company. It’s the only legal way to get the company to pay out a claim. If the company doesn’t pay out a claim, it will simply return your medical bills and any wages you lost while taking time off work. In other words, a lawsuit can help you get compensated for your damages.
When someone is involved in an accident with a bicycle, the first thing that the lawyers for the insurance company will do is look out for any liability issues. If the cyclist was at fault for the accident, the insurance company might argue that the cyclist was partially at fault. If this is the case, your lawsuit will have to prove that the other party was also at fault.
Negotiating With the Insurer for Financial Recovery
When filing a bike accident lawsuit, you want to get the most out of the situation. This, however, will require you to negotiate with the insurance company for financial recovery. You’ll want to negotiate from a financial perspective as well as from a legal perspective.
From a financial perspective, you’ll want to determine how much the company will pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and any property damage you incurred during the accident. From a legal perspective, you’ll want to negotiate how the company will pay the claim.
Conclusion
As you can see, filing a lawsuit against an insurance company can be a costly and time-consuming process. This is why it’s important to hire a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as you have been in an accident.