Bicyclists and vehicle drivers share the road, but sometimes this can be a dangerous mix. Even when cyclists do everything right, they may still end up being struck by a vehicle. A bicycle accident injury attorney in Gonzales, LA is ready to help the cyclist gain financial compensation from the automotive insurer if that insurance company disputes the claim.
How Collisions Occur
Collisions between automotive vehicles and bicycles occur when the driver turns in front of a cyclist or pulls out of a street parking space or from a parking lot without seeing the bike. Drivers may open the car door without noticing a bicyclist approaching the car from alongside. Sometimes vehicle drivers strike cyclists on the side of the highway, perhaps because they did not see them or they did not realize how close the car was to the bike.
A Serious Situation
Injuries to cyclists resulting from these accidents can be very serious. A helmet provides a certain amount of protection for the head, but the rest of the body is relatively unprotected. Bone fractures, internal injuries and severe skin abrasions can require hospitalization, surgery and extensive time away from work. A bicycle accident injury attorney in Gonzales, LA understands how to negotiate with insurers to achieve the best settlement possible.
How Insurance Adjusters Might Respond
An insurance company may deny the claim outright or dispute the seriousness of the matter. Adjusters try to find evidence that the injured person was at fault, even partially. They might assert that a cyclist hit by a car moving from a street parking space should have been paying more attention, for example. That allows them to reduce the claim amount or refuse to pay any amount.
A Better Solution
The injured person may make the mistake of chatting with adjusters on the phone to be helpful. Anything this individual says might be used to undermine the claim. Instead of doing this, referring insurance adjusters to the person’s accident attorney with an organization such as Pujol, Pryor & Irwin: The Litigation Firm is a more effective option. Someone in this type of situation can request a Free initial consultation after visiting the website.
