New Orleans Bicycle Accident Attorney

What qualifies as a bicycle accident lawsuit?

While bicycle accidents are common, most do not form the basis for a bicycle accident lawsuit. A majority of bicycle accidents involve cyclists who have accidents in which they fall off of their bikes or have another mishaps that they cause themselves. When another person is at fault for causing a bicycle accident, it may form the basis for a lawsuit. The most common type of bicycle accident that may result in a lawsuit occurs when a motorist hits a bicyclist. Others may involve motorists who open doors while parked on the street in the path of oncoming cyclists, defective bicycle parts that lead to accidents or road defects that cause the bicyclist to lose control.

How often bicycle accidents happen in New Orleans

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 34 people were killed in Louisiana in bicycle accidents that happened during 2015. The state had a bicycle fatality rate of 7.3 cyclists per 1 million people, which was the second-highest cyclist fatality rate behind Florida. The country had an average bicyclist fatality rate in 2015 of 2.2 per 1 million people, meaning that Louisiana far exceeded the national average.

New Orleans has also had a problematic record for bicycle safety. In 2014, Vox reported that the city ranked in the top five least safe cities for bicycles in the nation with 5.54 deaths per one million residents. Between 2010 and 2014, the number of bicycle accidents in New Orleans almost doubled, increasing from 129 to 308, according to researchers at Louisiana State University.

Common bicycle accident injuries

A number of different injuries can result from a bicycle accident, including the following:

• Head, face and neck injuries
• Skull fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Thoracic injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Fractures to the arms, legs, hands and feet
• Internal injuries
• Paralysis
• Death

Since bicyclists have very little to protect them when they are in accidents, they are likelier to suffer severe injuries than are people who occupy cars.

When to take legal action after a bicycle accident

In Louisiana, there is a deadline by which personal injury lawsuits, including those that involve bicycle accidents, must be filed. The state has established a one-year statute of limitations. This means that you must file your bicycle accident lawsuit no longer than 12 months after the date that it occurred. It is best for you to speak to an experienced bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident without waiting for the deadline to draw near.

Contact a New Orleans bicycle accident attorney

Being seriously injured in a bicycle accident or losing a loved one can be devastating. In order to protect your rights, it is important for you to consult with an experienced New Orleans bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation so that you can learn more about your potential claim.