Average Payout for a Bicycle Accident in NJ
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you might wonder what kinds of compensation you are entitled to for the injuries and losses you’ve suffered. Generally speaking, the more severe your injuries, the greater the amount of compensation you are likely to receive.
What Can You Be Compensated for after a Bike Accident?
After a bike accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for losses and expenses attributed to the injuries and damage you sustained in the crash, including for:
- Costs of medical treatment
- Physical/occupational rehabilitation or other therapy services
- Lost income from missed work, or lost earning capacity due to disabilities that prevent you from being able to work
- Physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries and subsequent treatment
- Loss of quality of life due to physical disfigurement or disability
- Property damage, including the cost to repair or replace your bicycle
Read more: What Do I Need to File a Personal Injury Claim?
What Options Do I Have for Compensation?
You may be entitled to obtain compensation for your injuries and losses after a bike accident from several sources such as:
- Filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- Filing a claim with your own auto insurance policy, including personal injury protection coverage for your out-of-pocket medical expenses, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage does not fully cover your losses
How to Maximize Your Financial Recovery in a Bicycle Accident Claim
There are steps you can take to help ensure that you receive maximum financial recovery after a bike accident. Insurance companies will often do whatever it takes to get you to settle for the minimum amount of money possible, since that serves the insurance company bottom line. You can put yourself in a better position for secure maximum compensation in your bicycle accident claim by:
- Contacting law enforcement after the accident to have an officer come to the scene of the crash to prepare a police accident report. Many insurance companies will drag their feet on a claim for compensation or even deny a claim outright without a police report
- Get examined by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident to document any injuries you may have suffered in the crash. If you wait too long to see a doctor, the insurance company may try to argue that you were not seriously injured in the accident, or that the injuries you claim to have suffered represent pre-existing conditions.
- Keep copies of your bills, invoices, and receipts
- Consider starting a journal about your recovery from your injuries, detailing the physical pain and emotional distress they cause you and how they impact your daily living, including activities you can no longer do
- Avoid posting about your accident or posting photos or video of yourself on social media. Insurance companies often monitor accident victims’ social media accounts for posts that contradict their official statements or evidence that the accident victim isn’t as injured as they claim
Finally, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible, and definitely before you agree to any settlement with the insurance company. Once you’ve settled, you can’t demand more money if your injuries and losses turn out to be worse than you initially thought.
Read more: What Makes a Good Personal Injury Case?
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Near You to Discuss Your Bike Accident Case in New Jersey
Were you or a loved one injured in a bicycle accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. represent clients injured in bike accidents in Brick, Long Branch, Asbury Park, Lakewood, Toms River, Middletown, Howell, Marlboro, and throughout Monmouth County, Ocean County, Union County, and Middlesex County, NJ. Call (732) 576-8860 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3315 Route 35, Hazlet, NJ 07730 as well as offices in Red Bank, Brick, and Westfield.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
