Putting your life back together after a bicycle accident isn’t easy. Car-on-bike collisions tend to cause severe, life-threatening injuries since bicycles offer almost no protection and bike helmets only reduce the odds of severe head injury.
If you were hit by a car while riding a bike in Utah, you face an uphill battle in terms of recovery. You need our Utah bicycle accident lawyer, we can take the legal burden off of your shoulders so that you can focus on moving forward, especially on your recovery.
At Parker & McConkie, our Utah Bicycle accident attorney has decades of experience helping injured cyclists get the compensation they need.
We don’t let an insurance company lowball our clients, and you can trust our Utah bicycle accident attorneys to fight for the best possible case outcome.
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Parker & McConkie, a Utah Bicycle Accident Lawyer, can help you with your bicycle accident claim. The following are the ways we use to help our injured clients:
• We will discuss your legal options.
• We will make a recommendation for a course of action.
• We will assist you throughout the process.
• We will do whatever it takes to get a favorable outcome for your case.
• We provide a free consultation.
• We work on a contingent fee agreement, so you pay nothing unless we win.
• We will help you obtain medical attention.
• We will negotiate with insurance companies.
Parker & McConkie strives hard to remove as much stress from your life as possible so you can focus solely on healing. We will not stop until you have been fairly compensated for your damages.
Most cyclists in Utah attempt to settle claims with insurance companies following an accident, and the results aren’t always favorable to their side. That is why multiple insurance adjusters are present to do a task to lower the value of your claim as much as possible. It would be best if you weren’t in such a position.
Parker & McConkie’s bicycle accident attorneys are well-versed in the unscrupulous practices insurance adjusters use to undervalue cycling accident cases. We think that no biker should have to pay the price for someone else’s carelessness.
When bicycling in Utah, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and responsibilities. Here’s an overview of Utah’s Bicycle Laws:
A. General Rights and Responsibilities
B. Sidewalks, Paths, Trails, and Crosswalks: Rights and Duties
C. Restrictions
D. Where Should I Ride?
Almost 90% of bicyclists hit by cars in Utah were injured in the past years. Vehicles failing to provide the right of way to bicyclists is the most common cause of bicycle accidents. As per California Highway Patrol, these are the common causes of bicycle incidents in Utah:
The majority of bicycle accidents happen at night. Fortunately, most incidents occur when cars move at slower speeds, between 1 and 9 mph; nevertheless, around 40% of bicycle accidents occur when motor vehicles travel between 10 and 39 mph. A bicyclist can receive life-changing injuries or perhaps die due to crashes at very high speeds.
Some common bike accident injuries can overshadow the fun and satisfaction of riding a bike. Identifying and avoiding these injuries can significantly help riders who want to enjoy their sport as much as they enjoy moving freely and unhindered on the bike.
Common injuries caused by bicycle accidents include:
• Road rash
• Clavicle fracture
• Arm and leg fractures
• Brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Fatal injuries
You might have reasons to file an insurance claim against the at-fault party. Parker & McConkie’s Utah bicycle accident lawyer is prepared to pursue a full financial recovery. And depending on your specific situation, we can assist you throughout the entire process of receiving money.
You may be entitled to recover the following damages:
Our dedicated bicycle accident lawyers understand what insurance companies look for and can develop a solid case backed up by proof. Allow us to handle your claim, and we’ll do everything we can to obtain you the maximum monetary compensation.
In most cases, liability for bicycle accident injuries is determined by whether another party’s fault caused the incident. However, any negligence on the cyclist is also considered, as both bike riders and car drivers in Utah must follow the road rules. To recover damages, you’ll need evidence that proves your claim, not just your word.
Turn to Parker & McConkie’s bicycle accident lawyer, and you can put any worries about liability to rest. For over 30 years now, our bicycle accident attorneys represent injured cyclists. We understand what it takes to prove negligence and liability. Our bicycle accident lawyers have the resources to investigate your car-on-bike accidents and obtain the necessary evidence to fully substantiate your claim. Our legal team will help you hold the at-fault party accountable for all of your losses.
If you are involved in a bicycle accident, you should take the following actions:
Reacting swiftly and accurately can expedite and simplify your claim, allowing you to obtain the desired outcome. The sooner you hire a Utah Bicycle injury lawyer, the sooner you’ll have an experienced team guiding you through each procedure stage.
As a bicyclist, remember to follow all traffic signals and signs. Never assume that someone driving a vehicle sees you or is even paying attention. Cell phone use while driving continues to be a major problem, especially for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists, which are no match for a car or truck.
Yes, you as a bicyclist have all the same rights to the road as a motor vehicle, but you still lose when a car hits you. Even though you aren’t at fault for the accident, you are the one that must deal with the injuries that you will almost certainly receive.
While there are many laws that regulate bicyclists, there are two rules that seem to come up more regularly. First, when traveling on the roadway, make sure you are in the lane with traffic, i.e., on the right-hand lane. You want to stay over as far as practicable. Second, when riding on a sidewalk, ride at safe speeds and yield to pedestrians. It goes without saying, then, that you are allowed to ride your bicycle on a sidewalk, except in some small, designated areas.
Cycling has seen some fascinating shifts over the previous few decades. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), cycling has climbed in the United States over the previous ten years, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the population. On the other hand, bicycles are only utilized around 1% of the time as a mode of transportation.
A. Fatal Bicycle Accidents in Utah
In 2016, five bikers were killed on the road in Utah. They are included in the lethal statistics that focus on the number of individuals killed while commuting. According to the Department of Public Safety Highway Safety Office, the state had 281 fatal accidents last year, with bicycle-related deaths accounting for 1.8 percent of the total.
B. Yearly Statistics in Utah for Bicycle Accidents
2014: 256
2015: 278
2016: 281
2020: 600
This figure represents two percent of all fatal crashes in the state. In 2015, incidents between two motor vehicles resulted in 114 fatalities.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Utah bicycle accidents in Utah:
At least two cyclists may ride side by side at any given time. They must follow single-track rules if traffic is restricted.
Even while passing, a motorist on a moving bicycle should keep a distance of around 3 feet. When passing a bike, the car could, if required, cross the center line to give the cyclist more room. Passing is banned within 100 feet of an intersection or when approaching a curve in the road that obstructs the motorist’s view.
At an intersection in Utah, a bicycle and any other vehicle have the same rights and obligations. The following are the rules that should apply to both motorists and cyclists:
The percentage of fault you share in the accident will affect your reimbursement. You will be banned from receiving compensation if you are 50 percent or more liable for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced if your fault is less than 50%. For example, if you share 30% of the fault and your compensation is $200,000, then you will only receive $140,000.
You should bear in mind that you have four years from the date of the bicycle accident to file a claim or settle it in civil court, and waiting to file a claim will not assist you. Evidence and witness statements are usually crucial in a bicycle accident case.
If you wait three years to file your claim, your witnesses’ memories may get hazy. And if you haven’t done real-time evidence gathering for the case, the time you delay can make it extremely difficult to create a strong case.
Bicyclists must follow all traffic signals, stop and yield signs, and pedestrians at a nearby crosswalk must cede the right-of-way.
If a biker aged 16 or older comes to a stop at a red light and the traffic signal does not detect their presence after 90 seconds or more, the cyclist may proceed cautiously through the intersection, provided no other vehicles or pedestrians with the right-of-way are present in or near the intersection.
When you hire a Utah bike accident attorney from Parker and McConkie, you are hiring a team of experienced bicycle accident attorneys whose credentials ensure that you will receive the best legal counsel possible, regardless of the type of bicycle crash you may have experienced.
Parker and McConkie’s Utah bicycle accident lawyer is familiar with the court and knows how to apply the laws, rules, and processes to achieve the best possible results for our clients.
We fight aggressively for our clients, but we never lose sight of the fact that our primary purpose is to secure the best results for them, whether that means waging procedural fights or representing them in front of a court or jury. We put forth much effort on behalf of our customers, outlining their alternatives, and keeping them informed about the progress of their cases.
Our Utah law office gives free consultation to our clients. In other words, we only charge legal fees if and when we obtain compensation. As a result, we have a solid motivation to win your case and obtain the highest amount of compensation for you.
Contact us today at (801) 845-0440 to schedule a free consultation!
Call 801-845-0440 to get in touch with a member of our firm after your accident. We can review your case for free!