Get a Top Rated Gainesville Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Everyone, whether they’re driving a car or riding a bike, has the right to the road. They also must do everything possible to keep others safe and prevent accidents from happening. Yet, bicycle accidents are unfortunately common in Gainesville, with 110 collisions in a recent calendar year, according to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Did you suffer injuries in a bicycle accident? You don’t have to spend another second feeling uncertain about your options. Meldon Law offers tireless advocacy to bicycle accident claimants and their loved ones. A Gainesville bicycle accident lawyer can build your case and pursue the highest possible settlement.
We Recommend Prompt Action After a Bicycle Accident
With the passage of HB 837, Florida now has a shorter statutory deadline. You now have two years to file your case as opposed to four. This is a short period for gathering evidence, notifying the insurer, and pursuing damages. To give your personal injury lawyer ample time to build a compelling case, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible. We’re eager to learn your story and start advocating for what you deserve.
Why Entrust Your Case to the Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Meldon Law?
We’re not like the other law firms in and around Gainesville. For starters, we have more than 50 years of experience serving injured people in Alachua County. We’ve also recovered millions for traffic accident claimants, giving them the funds they need to rebuild and move on with their lives.
We intend to support your case by:
- Investigating the accident and gathering evidence
- Identifying the responsible party and proving their liability
- Evaluating your losses and drafting a persuasive demand letter
- Consulting with expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction specialists
- Negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to trial, if necessary
At Meldon Law, we are proud to take bicycle accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you will not have to pay anything unless we obtain a settlement or judgment on your behalf. As noted, your first consultation is completely free; you have nothing to lose and never have to pay upfront to learn whether you want to hire our legal team.
We Use Evidence to Determine Your Bicycle Accident’s Cause
Our lawyers review the police report, accident reconstruction data, and traffic camera footage to learn how accidents happen. Learning how your accident happened allows us to determine fault and liability for your damages. We may learn one or more of the following contributed to your accident:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Failing to yield
- Tailgating
- Not looking before opening a car door (dooring accidents)
- Speeding
- Improper passing
Most bicycle accidents result from driver error. Yet, we may find that a defective bicycle or poorly constructed roadway led to your accident. If so, we could hold another party accountable for your losses, such as a product manufacturer or government agency.
We Prove That Negligence Led to Your Gainesville Bicycle Accident
Your lawyer has many obligations during your case’s progression, from complying with the state’s deadlines to gathering evidence. Yet, among their tasks involves proving negligence. This requires showing that the other driver:
- Had a duty of care: We must show that the responsible party had a duty to drive safely and act in ways that would not result in harm to others. All drivers have this obligation to others who share the road, including cyclists.
- Breached their duty: Next, we must show that the other driver breached their duty of care by acting carelessly or recklessly. For example, if a driver speeds, this would be considered a breach of duty of care.
- Caused your accident: The driver’s breach of duty must have been the direct or proximate cause of the accident and your injuries. This means that you would not have suffered injuries “but for” the driver’s breach.
- Caused you to incur damages: Your accident and injuries resulted in losses, which can include medical bills and lost income.
Sound confusing? Don’t worry. As noted, our lawyers have decades of experience. This experience allows us to navigate even the toughest legal issues, all while minimizing the stress you feel.
Compensation After a Bicycle Accident in Gainesville
The losses from a bicycle crash-related injury can add up quickly. You shouldn’t have to pay a dime out of pocket for an accident that someone else caused. Rather, through a settlement or court award, you could receive reimbursement for:
- Medical expenses for emergency treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitative therapy, and ongoing care costs
- Lost income, tips, bonuses, benefits, contracts, and commissions
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, disability, scarring, disfigurement, and loss of consortium
- Anything you spent out of pocket on childcare costs or transportation fees
We can’t estimate the value of your losses without first reviewing your case. Yet, we take many factors into consideration when learning what you’re owed, including the injury’s effect on your life. We encourage you to take a look at some of our previous case results. While the outcomes of these cases may not reflect your own, we hope that they instill confidence in our abilities.
We Advocate for Wrongful Death Claimants
Losing a loved one is never easy. Losing a loved one to a bicycle accident can feel insurmountable. We offer a shoulder to cry on during this challenging time. We offer comfort by pursuing the cost of your wrongful death-related damages, which may include:
- Funeral, cremation, and burial expenses
- Final medical bills
- Loss of the decedent’s support and services
- Loss of the decedent’s income
- Loss of the decedent’s guidance and support
Consult a Gainesville Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
At Meldon Law, we help cyclists seek compensation for their injuries and losses in the Gainesville area. We will take on your fight for compensation like it was our own. Our legal team is a force to be reckoned with both inside and outside the courtroom. Contact us today to learn about the advocacy we offer.