Roanoke has earned a reputation as much more bike-friendly than many other cities in Virginia. Still, the city has its share of dangers. Cyclists must face them every time they head out for a ride, especially when they are at a busy intersection on Route 11 or on a downtown street. Unfortunately, negligent motorists pose the most significant risk to people riding bikes.

If you suffered injuries in a cycling accident, contact Marks & Harrison for a free consultation with an experienced Roanoke bicycle accident attorney. We’ll explain Virginia’s bicycle laws and your options for seeking compensation, including pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.

How Can a Roanoke Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help My Case?

Working with a bicycle accident attorney at our conveniently located Roanoke office can benefit you in many ways in your personal injury claim. For instance, one of our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys can:

  • Draw on their legal education, training, and experience to provide legal advice
  • Collect evidence to support your claim, which may include accident scene photographs, eyewitness testimony, and footage from surveillance, traffic, or dashboard cameras.
  • Deal with the insurance companies and protect your rights at every stage.

When you work with Marks & Harrison, we can build a strong case and seek fair compensation through negotiations or trial, while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery.

What Should You Do If You Have Been in a Bicycle Accident?

If you have been in a bicycle accident in Roanoke, VA, the first thing to do is seek medical treatment for your injuries until you fully recover. Treating your injuries benefits your health. It will also strengthen your case when dealing with the insurance companies.

Additionally, you should keep track of your recovery. Photograph any visible injuries and document how your injuries affect your daily life. If you experience ongoing pain due to your injuries or if they make it difficult to perform routine tasks, note it in a daily journal.

You should also speak with a lawyer at Marks & Harrison as soon as possible after a bicycle crash. We can help you make informed decisions and guide you on the following steps to pursue full and fair compensation after your bike accident.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Roanoke Bicycle Accidents?

The most common causes of Roanoke bicycle accidents are:

  • Doorings – A motorist opens a vehicle door into a cyclist’s path
  • Right-hook accidents  – A motorist passes a cyclist and then turns right in front of them
  • Left-cross accidents – A motorist turning left fails to yield to an oncoming cyclist
  • Rear-end accidents – A motorist follows a cyclist too closely and collides with them
  • Pedestrian accidents – A pedestrian steps into the path of a cyclist.

What Injuries Occur from a Bicycle Accident in Roanoke?

Bike accident injuries range in severity from mild to life-altering. Some of the common injuries that these accidents cause include:

  • Head and brain injuries (specifically traumatic brain injury, or TBI)
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Road rash
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Does Roanoke Have Specific Rules for Bicyclists?

Under Virginia law, cyclists can ride on sidewalks or on the road. When riding on the road, they must obey all road laws, traffic signs, and traffic signals.

Virginia has no universal helmet law for bike riders. Local ordinances may require cyclists under 14 to wear helmets. Roanoke County is one of many counties across Virginia with such a law.

All laws that apply to bicycles in Virginia apply to electric bikes, or e-bikes. The state treats e-bikes the same as other bicycles. A bike accident attorney can explain how these laws may impact your claim.

Who Could Be Held At Fault for a Roanoke Bicycle Accident?

Depending on how the accident occurred, several parties could be liable after a bicycle crash in Roanoke, such as:

  • A motorist who struck you after running a stop sign
  • A pedestrian jogger who ran into your path
  • A bicycle manufacturer who sold a defective product
  • A bike helmet manufacturer whose product failed to provide adequate protection
  • A government entity that failed to maintain the roads.

Your lawyer at Marks & Harrison will thoroughly investigate your case to determine which parties are at fault based on the available evidence.

Can You Seek Compensation for Your Bicycle Accident Injuries?

You may be eligible to recover compensation for your bicycle accident injuries, including compensation that includes:

  • Past medical expenses and future medical bills
  • Lost wages and impact on your future earning ability
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress.

When a car driver negligently collides with a bicyclist, causing the bicyclist to suffer severe injuries, they typically seek compensation through the motorist’s liability insurance. They may have other sources of compensation available, depending on the parties involved.

Will My Compensation Be Affected If I Did Not Wear a Helmet?

Whether you wear a helmet while biking could affect your safety and your potential compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. For instance, if you failed to wear a helmet, a jury may not hold that fact alone against you. After all, you may have the legal right to do so.

Still, the jury may consider whether you could have reduced or prevented your injuries if you had taken that safety precaution. Additionally, failure to wear a helmet could affect dealings with the at-fault party’s insurance provider and the settlement they are willing to offer.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Virginia?

Under Virginia’s statute of limitations, victims have two years from their injury date to file a personal injury claim. The deadline is a strict one. Missing it could keep you from recovering any compensation in your bicycle accident case. The best way to make sure you don’t miss the filing deadline is to hire an experienced lawyer to handle it for you.

Contact a Roanoke Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

Were you injured in a Roanoke bicycle accident? Contact Marks & Harrison for a free consultation about your case with a highly qualified, experienced bicycle accident lawyer.

Our firm has fought for injured individuals and their families throughout Virginia since 1911, and we have a record of success in some of the most significant cases in the state’s history. We also boast a team of 32 personal injury attorneys and over 130 support personnel, including dedicated research attorneys, in-house investigators, and former insurance company lawyers. Let us put our experience to work for you.