Milwaukee Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Milwaukeeans use bicycles every day as a means of transportation, exercise, or even a leisurely activity. This might include using the beautiful Lake Michigan Pathway or checking out the Beerline Trail. However, when riding on public roadways, bicyclists must, unfortunately, put their well-being in the hands of motorists using those same roads. All it takes is one negligent driver to cause an accident and a serious permanent injury.

If you were involved in an accident while riding your bicycle because a driver was speeding, failed to signal a turn, or otherwise behaved negligently, you have the right to obtain compensation. This includes your medical expenses, lost income, and potentially substantial payment for the pain and suffering and loss of quality of life you’ve endured.

Get justice after you were injured in a crash with the help of the knowledgeable Milwaukee bicycle accident lawyers at Wruck Paupore. You can get started on the path to recovery by calling (219) 322-1166 to get a free case evaluation.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Milwaukee

Drivers and bicyclists are responsible for operating reasonably on public roadways to allow for safe coexistence. However, this responsibility primarily affects drivers because of the higher potential for a bicyclist to get injured in an accident than someone in a car. Below are just a few of the types of negligent driver behavior that could lead to an accident on Milwaukee roadways.

Speeding

Cars typically travel at much faster speeds than bicycles. However, the applicable speed limit might be lower in areas where bicycle traffic is more common. Drivers who violate the speed limit may not be able to react in time to a bicyclist making a lawful turn or slowing down ahead.

Failure to Use Turn Signals

Not using turn signals to indicate a shift in direction is perhaps the most common cause of serious bicycle accident injury. Bicycles are often forced to occupy the outermost lane, especially when a designated bike lane is on the road. Without seeing a turn signal, a bicyclist would have no way to know that a vehicle was about to veer into their path.

Blind Spots

Unlike cyclists, drivers do not have a 360-degree view of their surroundings. However, it is not the cyclist’s job to ensure that the driver sees them. Rather, it is the driver’s responsibility to do their best to detect where other parties are and how to avoid them if they need to turn or change lanes.

Tailgating

In Milwaukee, if there is not a designated bike lane, bicyclists must use the regular lanes. Drivers often find this dissatisfying, and they may get frustrated due to the pace of traffic. What they cannot do is tailgate the bicycle to show their frustration or try to get them to move faster. Behaving in this irresponsible manner puts the bicyclist in a precarious position, completely at the mercy of the driver’s reflexes.

Driving Under the Influence

There is no behavior more dangerous than getting behind the wheel while drunk or under the influence of drugs. Drunk drivers are prone to swerving, losing track of their surroundings, and failing to stop when necessary. These problematic behaviors pose a particular threat to bicyclists that share the road with the driver.

Calculating Damages for Bicycle Accidents in Milwaukee

If you can prove that your bicycle accident injuries were the fault of a negligent driver or another cyclist, you can recover damages through a settlement or lawsuit. Monetary damages are how injury victims are compensated for the consequences of the defendant’s harmful behavior in question which can have such a massive impact on your life.

For a Milwaukee bicycle accident, damages can range depending on many factors. They will be calculated to correlate with the victim’s harms, both economic and non-economic in nature. In certain instances, you may be able to recover additional damages that are based on the defendant’s reprehensible conduct.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to the direct financial consequences of the victim’s injuries, both in terms of money spent and income not earned. You can get damages to cover your medical expenses associated with your injuries. Also included will be the money you could have made while you were forced to miss time at work due to your condition. You may also recover the repair or replacement value of your bicycle if it sustained damage, which could be quite significant.

Noneconomic Damages

Your damages will include more than just your expenses and lost wages. You can also be compensated based on the toll that your injuries take on you personally. This may include the onset of chronic pain or limited motion, mental anguish, psychological conditions like depression or anxiety, or damage to personal relationships. Because these harms are difficult to quantify in terms of monetary compensation, we recommend that you work with an experienced Milwaukee bicycle accident attorney to determine the value of your claim.

Punitive Damages

In certain cases, a court may decide to award additional damages based on the egregiousness of the defendant’s behavior. These damages are only available if the defendant acted with a certain level of disregard for the defendant’s well-being. Some common situations where punitive damages might be awarded include an accident resulting from drunk driving or illegal street racing.

Statute of Limitations for a Bicycle Accident in Milwaukee

Milwaukeeans who believe they may have a viable personal injury case after a bicycle accident must file their lawsuit within the allotted time provided by the State of Wisconsin’s statute of limitations. That time period runs for three years from the date of the accident. This time can pass quickly, and your filing may take time to prepare, so give your case the best possible chance by contacting your Milwaukee bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after you receive medical care.

Contact Wruck Paupore's Milwaukee Bicycle Accident Attorneys Today

When you call the seasoned Milwaukee bicycle accident lawyers at Wruck Paupore today, you can get access to a free initial case assessment. We can be reached by phone at (219) 322-1166.