Connecticut Bicycle Accident Attorney
Handling Complex Bike Accident Claims
Whether you ride your bike to work, participate in races, or simply enjoying getting outside and riding around, you know the importance of staying safe while sharing the road with fellow cyclists and motorists. Unfortunately, this level of care is not always reciprocated. All too often, drivers are incredibly careless—or even downright reckless—when driving near bicyclists. This can have disastrous, or even deadly, results.
If you or someone you love was involved in a bicycle accident, and you believe someone else’s negligence was to blame, reach out to the team at Carter Mario Law Firm. Since 1989, our Connecticut bicycle accident lawyers have been fighting for the rights of injured individuals, as well as the families of those wrongfully killed throughout the state. We understand the challenges you are facing, and we know how to help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Give us a call at (203) 403-2341 or contact us online today to request a free, no-obligation consultation. Hablamos español.
Connecticut Bicycle Laws: What You Need to Know
Anyone who rides a bicycle in the state of Connecticut should know and follow all applicable laws. Here, we’ve provided a brief overview of the state’s bicycle laws, but we also encourage you to research specific laws in your city or municipality, as they may differ from the state’s.
Here are some Connecticut bicycle laws that you should know:
- All children under the age of 16 must wear an approved bicycle helmet when riding a bike, skateboard, or non-motorized scooter or while roller skating or rollerblading
- Any bicyclist traveling on a roadway has all the same rights and responsibilities as anyone operating a car, truck, or another type of motor vehicle
- When sharing the road, bicyclists must ride with the flow of traffic; they should use bike lanes when available and ride as far to the right as possible, but they may use the full lane
- Two bicyclists are permitted to ride abreast (side by side), but no more than two bicyclists may do so
- Bicyclists must come to a full and complete stop at all red lights and stop signs; when riding lawfully on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, bicyclists must obey “walk/do not walk” signals
- When riding at night or when there is poor visibility, cyclists must equip their bikes with the proper front lights and rear reflectors/lights and materials
It’s also important to note that motorists are required to leave a minimum of three feet between their vehicles and bicyclists when passing bicyclists, and they must leave at least three feet of passing area around bicyclists when they are entering or exiting driveways and alleyways.
Proving Fault in a Bicycle Accident Case
Even when bicyclists follow all applicable laws and utilize caution, they cannot always predict what other cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists will do. Because of this, they can’t always prevent accidents.
The most common cause of bicycle accidents is negligence, whether it’s the negligence of a motorist, a pedestrian, or even the bicyclist. This means that most bicycle accidents are entirely preventable. If you believe your accident was the result of someone else’s negligence, you could have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Some common examples of how negligence leads to bicycle accidents include:
- A distracted driver veering into a bicycle lane
- A motorist failing to look for oncoming bicyclists before making an unprotected left turn
- A drunk driver failing to see a bicyclist riding at night
- A pedestrian crossing on a “do not walk” sign across the path of an oncoming cyclist
- An automobile passenger carelessly opening a car door into a bike path
- Another cyclist failing to stop at a stop sign
- A motorist failing to yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist
Individuals are not the only ones who can be negligent or at-fault for a bicycle accident. If a cyclist is injured in an accident due to defective road conditions (such as potholes, missing bike lanes, etc.), defective bike parts or safety gear, or additional outside factors, he or she may have a claim against a liable third party.
Proving fault in your bicycle accident claim is important, as you can only file a personal injury claim if you can prove that someone else is legally liable for your damages. Because Connecticut follows a rule of modified comparative negligence, you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident, but only if you were less than 50% to blame. Even then, your total recovery will be reduced by your at-fault percentage, so it is important that you work with an attorney who can help you prove the other party’s negligence and fight back against insurance company tactics to pin the blame on you.
Common Injuries & Damages
Even when wearing the proper safety gear, bicyclists simply don’t have the same protections as a person in a motor vehicle. As a result, they are highly likely to sustain severe, catastrophic injuries in the event of a crash. Tragically, many bicycle accident victims die due to their injuries.
Common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Accidental amputation
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones/fractures
- Facial injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Lacerations
- Paralysis
- Road rash
- Soft tissue damage
- Spine injuries
These and other similarly severe injuries can lead to lifelong consequences for victims, including chronic pain and permanent disability. The cost of treating such injuries, including the costs associated with missed work, is enormous.
At Carter Mario Law Firm, our Connecticut bicycle accident lawyers help injured cyclists fight to recover compensation for all of their damages, including but not limited to:
- Emergency medical care costs
- Ambulance/hospital fees
- Surgeries, rehabilitation therapy, and other treatments
- Projected future medical expenses
- Lost wages/income, including future lost earnings
- Lost earning capacity/disability
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
- Anxiety, depression, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Counseling services
Our goal is to serve as your voice throughout the legal process while fighting aggressively to secure the financial resources you need to get back on your feet.
Request a Free Consultation
Our team at Carter Mario Law Firm is ready to answer your questions and guide you through the next steps. We prioritize client service and will do everything possible to ensure you feel comfortable and cared for when you turn to our firm. We answer our phones 24/7 and provide clients with online access to their files. Your team of four dedicated legal professionals will be there for you every step of the way, providing the guidance and support you need.
We offer a No-Fee Warranty, meaning you do not owe any attorneys’ fees whatsoever unless we recover compensation for you. You will always get more money than your attorney. We provide legal services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and can travel to meet you at your home or in the hospital is necessary.
