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A Mobile bicycle accident lawyer helps people who get hurt while riding bikes in Mobile, Alabama. Bike crashes can cause serious injuries and big medical bills. Our team at Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers understands how hard this time can be for you and your family.
Bicycle accidents happen when cars don't see riders or don't share the road safely. These crashes often leave cyclists with broken bones, head injuries, or worse. The road to recovery can be long and costly.
At Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers, we work hard to help bicycle accident victims get money for their injuries. We explain each step of the legal process in simple terms. The information below will help you understand what to do after a bicycle accident in Mobile.
A bicycle accident lawyer knows how to fight these laws and show the driver was completely at fault. Your lawyer will gather evidence like traffic camera footage, witness statements, and police reports to protect your rights.
Insurance companies often try to blame cyclists for accidents to avoid paying claims. They may offer very small settlements or deny your claim completely. A lawyer stands between you and these unfair tactics, handling all talks with insurance companies so you can focus on healing.
Alabama uses a rule called contributory negligence that makes bicycle accident cases very tough. This rule means if you had any fault in the accident - even just 1% - you might not get any money at all for your injuries. Unlike most states that allow partial compensation based on your percentage of fault, Alabama's system is all-or-nothing.
Even small mistakes like not having the right bike lights or briefly riding outside the bike lane can cost you your entire case. Insurance companies know this rule well and look for any tiny reason to say you helped cause the accident. This is why bicycle accidents in Alabama are harder to win than in most other states.
Bicycle accidents in Mobile happen in many different ways, but most involve cars not seeing cyclists or following traffic rules. Each type of accident has its own dangers and causes different kinds of injuries. Understanding these accident types helps show what really happened in your case.
Mobile's busy streets and sometimes narrow roads create special risks for bike riders. Weather conditions like rain can make roads slippery, while heavy traffic during rush hours increases the chance of accidents. Many crashes happen because drivers aren't looking for cyclists.
These accidents happen when drivers don't yield right-of-way to cyclists at stop signs or when turning.
Cyclists get hit at intersections when cars run red lights or make turns without checking for bikes.
Some drivers leave the accident scene after hitting a cyclist, making it harder to get compensation.
Cars strike cyclists from behind when drivers follow too closely or don't pay attention to the road.
These crashes occur when cars cross into bike lanes or sideswipe cyclists riding along the road.
Parked car occupants open doors without looking, causing cyclists to crash into the suddenly opened door.
Impaired drivers have slower reaction times and poor judgment, creating serious dangers for cyclists.
Drivers looking at phones or adjusting radio controls miss seeing cyclists in their path.
Potholes, uneven pavement, or debris can cause cyclists to fall or swerve into traffic lanes.
Bicycle crashes often cause worse injuries than car accidents because cyclists have little protection on the road. Bike riders may suffer injuries that take weeks, months, or even years to heal fully. Medical bills can pile up quickly while you're unable to work.
The first few hours after a bicycle crash can make a big difference in your case. What you do right after getting hit can help you get money for your injuries later. Your actions create a record that shows what really happened.
Taking the right steps helps protect your health and your legal rights. Many cyclists miss important steps because they feel confused or scared after a crash. Here's what helps most after a bike accident in Mobile:
Call 911 right away so police can make an official report. An official police report serves as a neutral account of what happened and who might be at fault.
Take pictures of your bicycle, the car, the road, and any traffic signs or signals nearby. Ask anyone who saw the accident for their name and phone number so they can tell what they saw later.
Go to the doctor even if you feel okay - some injuries don't hurt right away. Medical records connect your injuries directly to the accident and show how serious they are.
Report the accident to your insurance company within the time limit in your policy. Give only basic facts about when and where the accident happened, not opinions about fault.
Talk to a bicycle accident lawyer before giving recorded statements to any insurance company. Insurance adjusters often ask tricky questions that make it sound like you caused the accident.
After a bicycle accident in Mobile, you can ask for money to cover different types of harm you experienced. The law allows injured cyclists to seek compensation for both money losses (like medical bills) and non-money losses (like pain). Your bicycle accident lawyer will help identify all the damages that apply to your specific situation.
Alabama law recognizes several types of damages in bicycle accident cases, though the state's contributory negligence rule makes recovery challenging. A skilled bicycle accident attorney works to document each type of damage with strong evidence like medical records, pay stubs, and expert testimony. Here are the main types of damages available:
Medical costs include hospital bills, ambulance rides, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and future medical care related to your bicycle injuries.
Lost wages cover money you couldn't earn while recovering, including salary, commissions, bonuses, and reduced earning ability if you can't return to your previous job.
Pain and suffering compensates for physical pain, discomfort, and limitations on activities you enjoyed before the bicycle accident.
Emotional distress addresses psychological impacts like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or fear of riding a bicycle again.
Property damages cover the cost to repair or replace your damaged bicycle, helmet, clothing, phone, watch, or other personal items.
Disfigurement compensation acknowledges permanent changes to your appearance from road rash, facial injuries, or surgical scars.
This damage type recognizes when injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, sports, or family activities you enjoyed before the accident.
Insurance companies often treat bicycle claims differently than car accident claims. They may question why you were riding on certain roads or suggest you were not visible enough to drivers. Their main goal is to pay as little as possible or nothing at all by using Alabama's strict contributory negligence rule against you.
Many cyclists are surprised when insurance companies immediately ask for recorded statements or quick settlements after an accident. These early offers are usually much lower than what your case is worth and don't account for future medical needs. Insurance companies hope you'll accept before talking to a lawyer or understanding your full injuries.
Delayed responses happen when insurance companies drag out your claim hoping you'll give up or accept less money out of frustration or financial pressure.
Requesting unnecessary records allows adjusters to search through your medical history looking for old injuries they can blame instead of the accident. They might ask for records from years before the crash that have nothing to do with your current injuries.
Surveillance tactics include watching your social media posts or even hiring investigators to film you, hoping to catch you doing activities that contradict your injury claims.
Misrepresenting the law occurs when adjusters tell you incorrect information about Alabama bicycle laws or suggest you don't have a case when you actually might. They count on you not knowing your legal rights as a cyclist.
Pressuring you to give recorded statements without a lawyer present can lead to words being twisted or taken out of context later. Even innocent comments like "I'm feeling better" can be used to minimize your injuries.
Bicycle accident cases often settle before trial, but getting a fair offer takes careful planning and patience. Your lawyer gathers evidence like medical records, witness statements, and accident scene photos to build a strong position during talks with insurance companies. The goal is to show the driver was 100% at fault so Alabama's strict contributory negligence rule doesn't block your claim.
If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, your lawyer may recommend taking your case to court. Filing a lawsuit shows the insurance company you're serious about getting fair compensation for your injuries. Court cases take longer but sometimes result in higher payments for serious bicycle injuries.
Detailed demand letters explain your injuries, treatment costs, and how the accident affects your daily life, giving insurance companies a clear picture of your damages before formal negotiations begin.
Medical expert testimony helps connect your injuries directly to the bicycle accident when insurance companies try to blame your pain on old injuries or claim you're exaggerating.
Settlement conferences bring both sides together with a neutral third party who helps find middle ground when negotiations get stuck on certain issues.
Demonstrative evidence like accident scene diagrams, bike damage photos, and injury pictures help judges and juries understand exactly what happened in ways that words alone cannot.
Depositions let your lawyer question the driver and witnesses under oath before trial, often revealing important details about how the accident happened that weren't in the police report.
Many bike riders have questions after being hurt in an accident in Mobile. These questions are common and understanding the answers can help you know what to expect. Here are some of the most frequent questions we hear from injured cyclists.
Compensation amounts vary widely based on your specific injuries, medical bills, lost work time, and pain levels. Some cases settle for a few thousand dollars when injuries are minor, while serious injuries involving long-term disability might result in much larger amounts. Each case is different, and the final amount depends on the evidence, the insurance policy limits, and how the accident affects your daily life.
In Alabama, the contributory negligence rule makes it very difficult to recover money if you were even slightly at fault. Unlike most states that allow partial recovery, Alabama's rule means that if you were even 1% responsible for causing the accident, you might not receive any compensation. This makes having strong evidence and good legal representation especially important in bicycle accident cases in Mobile.
Alabama law does not require adult cyclists to wear helmets, so not wearing one doesn't automatically prevent you from making a claim. However, the defense might argue that your injuries would have been less severe had you worn a helmet. This argument doesn't necessarily mean you were at fault for the accident itself, but it could affect compensation for head injuries in some cases.
If you're involved in a hit-and-run bicycle accident, you can still pursue compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have it on your auto insurance policy. You should report the accident to police immediately and try to remember details about the vehicle that hit you. Sometimes witnesses or nearby security cameras capture information that helps identify the driver later.
The bicycle accident lawyers at Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers offer free case reviews for injured cyclists in Mobile. Our team listens to your story and explains your options in simple terms. We handle all paperwork and deadlines while you focus on getting better.
Talking with a lawyer soon after your accident helps protect important evidence like traffic camera footage and witness memories. Our Mobile bicycle accident attorneys understand Alabama's strict contributory negligence rules that can affect your case. We work to show the driver was completely at fault so you can receive fair compensation.
You can reach our Mobile bicycle accident lawyers by phone or through our website. Call us today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation about your bicycle accident case. Our office is in Mobile, making it easy to meet in person to discuss your situation.
J.R. is dedicated to providing personalized representation, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. He tailors his strategy to the unique challenges and needs of each client and case, ensuring focused and individualized attention.
His practice mainly covers Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, including car and 18-wheeler accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, defective products, and wrongful death. He also handles commercial disputes on contingency, with experience in contracts, construction, and probate. For any dispute headed toward litigation, J.R. develops an aggressive strategy to maximize your recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or trial.
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