Damages in Longmont Bicycle Accident Cases

Many Longmont residents enjoy bicycling for recreation, health benefits, and transportation. Although the area has many resources in place to help cyclists enjoy riding safely, accidents involving bicycles and motorists occasionally occur, often causing severe injuries to riders. Bicycles offer little protection for riders, making impact with a vehicle catastrophic. Even when motorists are traveling at slow speeds, riders can sustain severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and broken bones. Recovery from such injuries requires expensive medical treatments and weeks or months out of work.

If you have been involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you could seek compensation to cover your medical costs, property damage, and more. Damages in Longmont bicycle accident cases are awarded based on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of injuries. A dedicated bicycle accident attorney could help you understand your rights and get the compensation you are entitled to after an accident.

What Types of Damages Can Be Recovered in Bicycle Accident Claims?

The damages that can be recovered in Longmont bicycle accident claims depend on the circumstances of the accident and the scope of damages sustained by the victim. Compensation for damages falls into two main categories.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover measurable financial losses caused by an accident. They are the most common type of damages awarded in bicycle accidents and can be proven with bills, receipts, pay stubs, or other financial documents. Economic damages awarded in bicycle accident cases may include the following:

• Medical expenses, including both current and future expenses, such as emergency care, rehab, prescriptions, and other medical costs
• Lost wages for missed work due to recovery or medical appointments
• Lost future earning capacity if you are unable to work in the future due to your injuries
• Property damage, such as the costs of repairing or replacing your bicycle
• Altered lifestyle adjustments, such as renovations required to support long-term or permanent disability

The types of economic damages awarded to a victim are related to factors such as the severity of injuries and property damage.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages compensate victims for intangible losses that cannot be directly calculated. Such losses can cause physical or emotional trauma that temporarily or permanently affects a victim’s lifestyle. Common non-economic damages awarded in bicycle accident claims may include the following:

• Pain and suffering, including ongoing physical pain or discomfort caused by injuries
• Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD
• Inability to participate in activities previously enjoyed
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Non-economic damages are more difficult to prove and often require evidence presented by an experienced accident lawyer.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are less common than economic and non-economic damages. They are awarded in specific situations to punish defendants for particularly reckless behavior. Punitive damages are only awarded in the most severe cases and typically involve cases in which a defendant intentionally causes harm. An experienced bike accident attorney may seek punitive damages for a client in cases involving road rage or repeat drunk driving offenses.

How to Get Compensation for Bicycle Accident Damages

Recovering damages in Longmont bicycle accident claims requires proving that the accident and the related losses were caused by someone else’s negligence. A skilled attorney could gather evidence to prove the at-fault motorist’s actions breached their duty of care as a safe driver. Some of the most common negligent actions that cause bicycle accidents include:

• Speeding
• Driving too close to cyclists
• Distracted driving
• Failure to obey traffic signs and signals

At Amy G Injury Firm, our legal team could gather various forms of evidence to support your bicycle accident claim, including photos, witness testimony, medical records, and accident reports. Such evidence is used in insurance negotiations or court trials when necessary.

Contact a Knowledgable Longmont Attorney to Learn More About Damages in Bicycle Accident Claims

Damages in Longmont bicycle accident cases depend on a victim’s ability to prove the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence. Insurers often go to great lengths to prove the cyclist was responsible for the accident or injuries are not as severe as the claim suggests.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bicycle accident caused by another motorist’s negligent actions, the experienced bike accident lawyers at Amy G Injury Firm could help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss the details of your accident.