Many people in Omaha enjoy riding bicycles, and the city has miles of bike trails for cyclists to use. However, bicycle trails don’t go everywhere in Omaha, and many bicyclists must resort to using public streets and roads.
Sharing the roads with motor vehicles places bicyclists at risk since a bicycle doesn’t offer protection in a collision. All too often, bicyclists suffer severe, catastrophic injuries in bicycle accidents in Omaha.
If a negligent motorist caused a bicycle accident that seriously injured you or someone you love, you may qualify for compensation. However, you need an experienced Omaha bicycle accident lawyer to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
At Steffens Law Offices, we have decades of collective experience handling bicycle accident claims throughout Omaha and the surrounding areas.
Contact us today for a free consultation about your claim and learn how we can help you receive a financial recovery to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses stemming from the accident.
Why You Need an Omaha Bicycle Accident Attorney from Steffens Law Offices
If you suffered injuries in a bicycle accident in Omaha, hire a bicycle accident attorney from Steffens Law Offices for several reasons:
- Legal Knowledge and Experience: Bicycle accident cases involve a combination of traffic laws, personal injury laws, and insurance regulations. A skilled attorney from our law firm with experience handling bicycle accident claims will have the legal knowledge and resources to navigate these complex issues and help you build a strong case.
- Investigation: A bicycle accident lawyer from Steffens Law Offices can conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. This may involve gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, obtaining police reports, and consulting with accident reconstruction experts to establish liability.
- Determining Fault: In many cases, determining fault in a bicycle accident can be challenging. An experienced attorney from our firm can analyze the facts, review the evidence, and establish who was at fault. This is crucial for determining liability and pursuing compensation.
- Dealing with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies may try to minimize their payouts or deny claims altogether. One of our Omaha bicycle accident lawyers can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, ensuring that you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Understanding Damages: A bicycle accident attorney from Steffens Law Offices can help you understand the full extent of damages you may be entitled to, including medical bills, future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
- Navigating the Legal Process: The legal process can be complex, involving paperwork, court filings, and legal deadlines. Our attorneys can guide you through the entire legal process, ensuring that all necessary documents are filed correctly and on time.
- Negotiating Settlements: Our Omaha bicycle accident lawyers have extensive experience negotiating favorable settlements for our injured clients. We can negotiate with the at-fault party's insurance company to reach a fair settlement that compensates you for your losses without the need for a lengthy court battle.
- Litigation Representation: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your attorney from Steffens Law Offices can represent you in court. We will present your case, cross-examine witnesses, and argue on your behalf to seek the maximum compensation.
- Protecting Your Rights: You can rely on a bicycle accident attorney from our law office to protect your rights throughout the legal process. We can advise you on what to say and do, ensuring that you don't inadvertently harm your case.
- Peace of Mind: Dealing with the aftermath of a bicycle accident can be stressful. Having a knowledgeable attorney by your side can provide peace of mind. You can rest easy knowing that you have someone advocating for your rights and working to secure the compensation you deserve.
An Omaha bicycle accident attorney from Steffens Law Offices can be a valuable ally in helping you navigate the legal complexities of your claim while protecting your rights. You can trust us to pursue fair compensation for the damages you've suffered due to the accident and fight hard for you throughout the process.
What Causes Bicycle Accidents in Omaha?
Bicycle accidents can occur for various reasons, and one of the leading causes of bicycle accidents in Omaha is motor vehicle collisions.
Negligent drivers can cause serious bicycle accidents for any of the following reasons:
- Distracted Driving: Drivers who are distracted by texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, or engaging in other distracting activities may not be fully aware of their surroundings, increasing the risk of colliding with cyclists.
- Intersection Accidents: Bike accidents often occur at intersections where the paths of cyclists and motor vehicles intersect. Drivers may fail to yield the right of way, run red lights, or make turns without checking for cyclists.
- Unsafe Lane Changes: Drivers who make sudden or unsafe lane changes without checking for cyclists in their blind spots can cause collisions with bicycles.
- Failure to Obey Traffic Signals and Signs: If drivers fail to follow traffic signals and signs, they can cause serious bicycle accidents.
- Aggressive or Reckless Driving: Drivers who drive aggressively or recklessly can cause bicycle accidents. This may include speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, or other unsafe maneuvers.
- Impaired Driving: Motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs can significantly increase the risk of accidents.
Other causes of bicycle accidents in the Omaha area include:
- Dooring: Cyclists can be injured when a parked car occupant opens a car door without checking for oncoming bicycles. This type of collision, known as "dooring," can result in serious injuries if the cyclist is unable to avoid the suddenly opened door.
- Poor Road Conditions: Uneven road surfaces, potholes, gravel, and other poor road conditions can pose hazards to cyclists. These conditions may cause cyclists to lose control or be thrown off their bikes.
- Inadequate Lighting: Poor visibility, especially during low-light conditions or at night, can contribute to accidents.
- Lack of Bicycle Infrastructure: Areas with insufficient or poorly designed bicycle infrastructure, such as bike lanes or safe crossings, can increase the risk of accidents. Lack of proper infrastructure may force cyclists to share busy roads with motor vehicles, heightening the potential for collisions.
Motorists must remain vigilant and follow all traffic laws to reduce the risk of bicycle accidents on Omaha’s roads. If you sustained injuries or lost a close family member due to a bicycle accident that was not your fault in Omaha, you must consult an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options for pursuing compensation.
What Are Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Omaha?
Bicycle accidents can result in a wide range of injuries. Many times, the injuries cyclists sustain in bicycle accidents are severe since cars are so much heavier than bicycles, and a bicycle does not have doors, side panels, and other enclosures to protect riders in a crash.
Common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Head Injuries: Head injuries are a significant concern in bicycle accidents. Even if a cyclist is wearing a helmet, they can still suffer concussions, skull fractures, or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) if their head makes direct contact with the ground or a vehicle.
- Facial Injuries: Cyclists may sustain facial injuries, including fractures, cuts, and bruises.
- Neck and Spinal Injuries: The impact of a bicycle accident can lead to neck and spinal injuries. These injuries may range from whiplash to more severe conditions such as herniated discs, spinal fractures, or paralysis.
- Fractures and Dislocations: Broken bones are common in bicycle accidents. Cyclists may experience fractures in the arms, legs, wrists, hands, or collarbones. Dislocations can also occur, especially in joints like shoulders and elbows.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, and contusions, are common in bicycle accidents. These injuries can affect muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
- Road Rash: When a cyclist is thrown onto the road or pavement, they may suffer abrasions and lacerations, commonly referred to as road rash. These injuries can vary in severity depending on the speed of the accident and whether the cyclist was wearing protective clothing.
- Internal Injuries: The force of impact in a bicycle accident can cause internal injuries, such as damage to organs, internal bleeding, or injuries to the chest or abdomen.
- Nerve Damage: Trauma from a bicycle accident can lead to nerve damage, resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in affected areas.
- Emotional and Psychological Injuries: In addition to physical injuries, individuals involved in bicycle accidents may experience emotional and psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression.
- Fatal Injuries: Unfortunately, some bicycle accidents result in fatalities, especially in cases of severe collisions with motor vehicles.
Individuals involved in bicycle accidents need to seek prompt medical attention, even if injuries initially appear minor. Some injuries may not manifest symptoms immediately, and early intervention can prevent complications.
Furthermore, you must have documented proof that you suffered an injury and received treatment to file a bicycle accident injury claim in Omaha.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive from an Omaha Bicycle Accident Claim?
If another party caused a bicycle accident in Omaha that injured you or killed a loved one, you may be eligible for various types of compensation. The specific damages you can recover will depend on the circumstances of the accident and the extent of your injuries.
Common types of compensation in an Omaha bicycle accident claim include:
- Medical Expenses: You can seek compensation for all medical costs associated with the accident, including emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor's appointments, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and any future medical treatments related to the injuries.
- Disability and Disfigurement: You can pursue compensation for disability or disfigurement that significantly impacts your quality of life.
- Lost Income: If your injuries result in missed workdays or a temporary or permanent inability to work, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. This can include compensation for loss of future earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: You could obtain non-economic damages, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish. Calculating pain and suffering damages often involves subjective factors and can vary based on the severity of injuries.
- Property Damage: You may receive compensation for the repair or replacement of your damaged bicycle and any other personal property that was damaged in the accident.
- Loss of Consortium: In some cases, bicycle accident injuries may have a significant impact on your relationship with a spouse or family member. In this case, you may be eligible for compensation for the loss of consortium or companionship.
- Wrongful Death Damages: In the unfortunate event of a fatal bicycle accident, surviving family members may be entitled to wrongful death damages. This can include compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses: You may receive compensation for any other out-of-pocket expenses you incurred because of the accident. This can include transportation costs to medical appointments or home modifications necessitated by your injuries.
To pursue compensation, it's crucial to document all expenses related to the accident, keep records of medical treatments, and consult a personal injury attorney with experience handling bicycle accident claims.
An attorney from Steffens Law Offices can help assess the value of your claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if necessary, file a lawsuit on your behalf to seek the compensation you deserve.
How Long Will It Take to Recover Compensation From an Omaha Bicycle Accident Claim?
The timeline for recovering compensation from a bicycle accident claim in Omaha can vary widely based on several factors. Be patient and allow the necessary time for a thorough investigation, proper medical treatment, and fair negotiations.
Here are some factors that can affect the timeline for your receiving compensation from an Omaha bicycle accident claim:
- Severity of Injuries: The extent of your injuries can significantly impact the length of your recovery and the overall timeline of your claim. More severe injuries may require longer periods of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery.
- Liability Disputes: If there is a dispute over who is at fault for the accident, the resolution of liability issues can prolong the claims process. Investigations, witness statements, and evidence collection may be necessary to establish fault.
- Insurance Company Cooperation: The cooperation of insurance companies involved in the claim process can influence the timeline. Delays may occur if there are difficulties in communication, disputes over coverage, or challenges in reaching a settlement.
- Negotiations: The negotiation process with the at-fault party's insurance company can take time. Both parties may need to engage in back-and-forth discussions to reach a fair settlement. The complexity of the case and the willingness of the insurance company to negotiate can affect the duration.
- Medical Treatment and Recovery: It's crucial to reach a point of maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling a claim. This ensures that the full extent of your injuries and long-term effects are known. Rushing the process before the complete assessment of your medical condition may result in inadequate compensation.
- Legal Proceedings: If your attorney must file a bicycle accident lawsuit against the at-fault party, it can add significant time to the overall timeline.
- Court Schedules: If your case goes to court, the availability of court dates and the court's schedule can affect how long it takes for the case to be heard and resolved.
Working with an experienced bicycle accident attorney can help streamline the process, as they can navigate legal complexities, negotiate on your behalf, and ensure that your rights are protected. Keep in mind that the priority should be obtaining fair compensation rather than rushing through the process at the expense of your long-term well-being.
How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Omaha?
In Omaha and the rest of Nebraska, you typically have four years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit in civil court, seeking damages. If you fail to have an attorney file a lawsuit for you within that time, you risk the court dismissing your case and losing your right to pursue compensation.
While four years may seem like more than enough time, you must remember that gathering evidence, conducting investigations, and negotiating with insurance companies can take a while.
Therefore, you need to initiate the legal process well before the expiration of the statute of limitations and reach out to an attorney as soon as you can. Doing so will help you and your lawyer develop a well-prepared case, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Contact an Experienced Omaha Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
The experienced Omaha bicycle accident lawyers at Steffens Law Offices are here for you and your family during this difficult time. We have handled numerous bicycle accident claims for clients, recovering substantial compensation through insurance settlements and court awards.
Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay us anything upfront to represent you. We will only accept a fee if we obtain compensation for you. Otherwise, you owe us nothing.Contact our law office today at (402) 414-4896 or contact us online for your free consultation.