Lincoln Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle accidents in Lincoln can leave cyclists facing devastating injuries, mounting medical bills, and complex insurance battles. Lincoln bicycle accident victims often struggle with insurance companies that attempt to minimize compensation while dealing with serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord damage.

The bicycle accident attorneys at Knowles Law Firm understand how difficult it is to recover from a traumatic bicycle accident. Our Lincoln injury lawyers will be here for you throughout the legal process, guiding you forward with personalized legal services and attention to detail. Contact us today for a free case consultation.

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle crash throughout the Lincoln area, our experienced personal injury attorneys can help you navigate the complex legal process and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Why Choose Our Lincoln Bicycle Accident Law Firm?

• Our lawyers have handled bicycle accident cases for victims in Nebraska for decades. Brothers and partner attorneys Jim and Bob Knowles each have more than 30 years of experience representing injured cyclists.

• We have obtained millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including many traffic accident cases where clients received seven-figure awards.
• As the Best Car and Truck Accident Lawyers in Lincoln, recognized by Expertise.com, and an AV-rated firm, we are dedicated to securing the best outcomes for our clients.

• We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees are charged for our legal services unless you win your bicycle accident case and recover financial compensation for your losses.

How Can a Lincoln Bicycle Accident Attorney Help You?

Hiring a bicycle accident lawyer significantly improves your chances of securing fair compensation while you focus on recovery. Your Lincoln personal injury lawyer will understand Nebraska’s bicycle accident laws and how to apply them to your specific case.

Hiring a bicycle accident attorney in Lincoln can come with numerous benefits, including:

• Legal advice and guidance that you can trust.
• A tailored legal strategy for pursuing compensation.
• Assistance with confusing legal paperwork.
• Bicycle accident investigation and evidence collection.
• Hiring highly qualified experts to testify.
• Negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf.
• Litigation during a personal injury trial, if necessary.

An attorney will not be intimidated by car insurance companies or the tactics they often use to underpay claimants. You can trust your lawyer to use aggressive legal strategies against insurance claims adjusters to achieve optimal case results on your behalf. Meanwhile, you can focus your time and energy on healing from your bicycle accident injuries.

What Are the Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Lincoln?

Most bicycle accidents in Lincoln result from driver negligence, or the failure to exercise the degree of care a reasonable person would in the same circumstances. When negligence results in injury or harm to someone else, the negligent party can face liability, or financial responsibility, for the victim’s losses.

Many bicycle accidents in Lincoln are caused by driver errors that risk the safety of others, such as:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Texting while driving
• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Following too closely
• Unsafe passing
• Illegal turns
• Road rage or reckless driving
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol
• Driving or parking in bicycle lanes
• Dooring

In other cases, bicycle accidents are caused by poor weather and road conditions. If a road in Lincoln is poorly maintained by the local government and contains dangerous potholes, uneven road surfaces or other defects, this increases the risk of bicycle accidents.

For help pursuing compensation after a bike crash, contact the best Lincoln car accident attorney to ensure your case is handled with the care and expertise it deserves.

Who Is Liable in a Lincoln Bicycle Accident?

Nebraska is a fault-based car insurance state, meaning the person or party responsible for causing a crash must pay for the victim’s medical bills and property damage. After a bicycle collision, the at-fault driver could be held liable for the bicyclist’s injuries and related losses.

All motor vehicle operators in Nebraska are required to carry the following amounts of liability insurance to pay for accidents:

• $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage
• $25,000 in property damage coverage
• $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage

If a third party – such as a bicycle manufacturing company or the government responsible for maintaining a safe roadway – is found to be at fault for an accident, this party may be held liable instead of or in addition to a motor vehicle driver. An attorney at Knowles Law Firm can investigate your bicycle accident to identify all liable parties.

What Is Nebraska’s Comparative Negligence Law?

Nebraska Revised Statute 25-21,185.09, the state’s modified comparative negligence law, states: “Any contributory negligence chargeable to the claimant shall diminish proportionately the amount awarded as damages for an injury attributable to the claimant’s contributory negligence but shall not bar recovery, except that if the contributory negligence of the claimant is equal to or greater than the total negligence of all persons against whom recovery is sought, the claimant shall be totally barred from recovery.”

Under this rule, an injured bicyclist can recover financial compensation from all parties that are found to be 50 percent or more at fault for causing the crash. If the victim is allocated a percentage of fault, his or her financial recovery will be reduced by a proportionate amount. 

For example, if you are assigned 15 percent of the fault for a bike accident for inattention but the driver who hit you is given 85 percent for running a red light, your financial recovery would be reduced by 15 percent. A $100,000 award in this case would be reduced by $15,000 for a total recovery of $85,000 from the driver.

As long as you are found to be less than 50 percent responsible for your bicycle accident in Lincoln, you will still be eligible for damages. If you are allocated more than the majority share of fault for the crash, your ability to recover compensation will be barred.

What Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries Can Occur?

Bicyclists are vulnerable road users with the highest risk of suffering fatal injuries in traffic accidents. According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, 174 cyclists were injured and 1 died in 2020. Many bicyclists’ lives are never the same after getting involved in accidents.

Types of injuries often suffered in bike accidents include:

• Broken bones
• Fractured skulls and head trauma
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Permanent paralysis
• Lower extremity injuries
• Internal injuries and organ damage
• Lacerations
• Road rash
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Amputations
• Wrongful death

At Knowles Law Firm, we can use our knowledge of the law to help bicycle accident victims who have suffered all types of physical and emotional injuries. We will help you get the medical care you need and pursue just compensation for weeks, months or a lifetime of related medical costs.

What Types of Damages Can You Recover After a Bicycle Accident?

While no amount of money can reverse bicycle accident harm, the civil justice system provides compensation to help victims rebuild their lives. Collecting financial compensation by holding someone accountable can make it easier to move forward.

Two main categories of damages are available in a personal injury claim in Nebraska:

1. Economic damages: financial losses sustained by the victim due to the bicycle accident, such as past and future medical bills, bicycle repairs or replacement, lost wages, disability costs, and lost capacity to earn.

2. Non-economic damages: any losses that are not monetary in nature, also known as pain and suffering. These may include physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, psychological trauma and loss of enjoyment of life.

The specific damages you could be eligible to recover can vary depending on the case. For example, if you need to file a wrongful death claim for a fatal bicycle accident in Lincoln, your family may be eligible to recover the cost of your loved one’s funeral and burial. 

Is There a Time Limit on Filing a Bicycle Accident Claim?

Yes, Nebraska’s statute of limitations gives bicycle accident victims four years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under state law, most victims are given four years from the date of the accident or discovery of injuries to file a lawsuit. Nebraska Revised Statute (NRS) 25-207 states:

“The following actions can only be brought within four years: (1) An action for trespass upon real property; (2) an action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property; (3) an action for an injury to the rights of the plaintiff, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated; and (4) an action for relief on the ground of fraud, but the cause of action in such case shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery of the fraud, except as provided in sections 30-2206 and 76-288 to 76-298.”

It is important to file a bicycle accident injury claim in Lincoln sooner rather than later. Certain circumstances can lengthen or shorten the filing deadline. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible can help ensure you meet your legal time limit. Note that the statute of limitations only applies to a personal injury lawsuit; it does not apply to insurance claims, which should be filed much sooner.

What Are Nebraska’s Bicycle Laws?

Nebraska has numerous bicycle laws to help improve the safety of cyclists. All motor vehicle drivers must respect these laws and abide by them when driving near and around bicyclists. Violating one of these bicycle laws could result in a devastating collision. 

Bicyclists also have laws they must obey to avoid accidents. For example, NRS 60-6,317 states: (1)(a) Any person who operates a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under conditions then existing shall ride as near to the right-hand curb or right-hand edge of the roadway as practicable except when:

• (i) Overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

• (ii) Preparing for a left turn onto a private road or driveway or at an intersection;

• (iii) Reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or right-hand edge of the roadway, including fixed or moving objects, stopped or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, or surface hazards;

• (iv) Riding upon a lane of substandard width which is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane; or

• (v) Lawfully operating a bicycle on the paved shoulders of a highway included in the state highway system as provided in section 60-6,142.

Bicyclists must abide by the same traffic rules and regulations as motor vehicle drivers. As a bicyclist in Lincoln, you can reduce your risk of getting into an accident by using bike lanes wherever available, paying attention to your surroundings, and wearing brightly colored clothing. This can make you more visible and your movements more predictable to surrounding drivers.

Contact Our Lincoln Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Knowles Law Firm

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Lincoln, you do not have to deal with the repercussions alone. The bicycle accident lawyers at Knowles Law Firm are here to help you hold someone accountable and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Brothers Jim and Bob Knowles have each represented injured cyclists for more than 30 years, securing millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for clients throughout Nebraska. As an AV-rated firm and recognized Best Car and Truck Accident Lawyers in Lincoln, we are dedicated to achieving optimal results for every case. For more information about how we can help you, contact us to schedule a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Filing Bicycle Accident Claims In Lincoln, NE

Bicycle crash victims are often left with questions regarding their financial recovery options and what to do next. We hope these frequently asked questions can give you greater insights into your legal rights.

Who Is Responsible for Paying for My Bicycle Accident?

The answer depends on who or what caused the crash. The liable party could be a negligent motor vehicle driver, the manufacturer or distributor of a defective bicycle part, a government agency for a dangerous road hazard, a third party, or a combination of multiple parties.

What if I Was Not Wearing a Bicycle Helmet at the Time of the Crash?

Not wearing a helmet will not make you at fault for the accident. If someone else caused the crash, that person or party will still be responsible for your losses. In addition, since Nebraska law does not require cyclists to wear helmets, failing to do so is generally not a usable defense against liability for a bicyclist’s injuries.

When Should I Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Lincoln?

You should hire an attorney without delay. A lawyer can use years of experience and an extensive knowledge of the law to build a strong legal strategy from the very beginning of your case, improving your odds of case success.

For answers to additional questions and legal advice tailored to your specific case, contact Knowles Law Firm to request a free consultation with our experienced Lincoln bicycle accident attorney.