Bikes and cars don’t mix gracefully and often there is a dangerous (and at times, lethal) crossover where the cyclist or motorcycle rider sustains serious bodily harm or even death.

Unfortunately, cars and bikes – whether they are bicycles or motorcycles – don’t get much respect from car drivers. That may be for a variety of reasons, largely due to the fact they are hard to see in some areas around the car, especially in the blind spots. In addition, defensive driving aside, a lot of people (who will shoulder check for another vehicle) don’t bother to check for bike riders.

If you have gotten into a tangle with a car, then you need to speak with a bicycle and motorcycle accident attorney who specializes in this area. While you might think, “big deal, a bicycle accident, nothing to it,” you could not be more wrong. This is a rather extensive and somewhat complex area of the law, and any attorney practicing in this area is worth their weight in gold.

If you have been in an accident with a car, immediately call a bicycle and motorcycle accident attorney. In most instances, it is usually the motorists who are at fault for any accidents. They just don’t seem to “get” how to share the road. This, of course, puts the cyclist in a serious situation as they do not have much in the way of protection.

Is this a huge issue? Take a peek at some National Transportation Safety Board stats that state roughly 540,000 bicyclists show up in emergency rooms with injuries every year. Approximately 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 are injured badly enough to be hospitalized. That’s not all. At least 700 bicyclists died on U.S. roads in 2007 and over 90{e567d5ec54745fd9bde8665c28b231f91ee2028ed6aa034480ac91952ee72ee9} died in fatal crashes with motor vehicles.

This is where a good bicycle attorney will earn his or her keep. They know precisely what types of injuries result from a “bike meeting a car” accident. They know about the pain and suffering of injuries, the long-term recoveries, the medical bills, the loss of wages, and how long it will take to recover from things such as traumatic brain injury, serious road rash, and a broken arm or leg. They know how to aggressively litigate to get you the damage award you need to recover and not have to suffer without proper care due to lack of funds.

Something else you might not know is, typically, insurance companies offer pitiful settlements; settlements that if applied to a motorist would be up to 40{e567d5ec54745fd9bde8665c28b231f91ee2028ed6aa034480ac91952ee72ee9} higher. There is no equity in that equation, and this is why contacting a bicycle attorney will mean having someone in your corner to fight for your rights and keep you from getting stiffed by the insurance company.

Lance Sharp of The Sharp Firm is an Austin personal injury lawyer specializing in personal injury and accident law in Austin Texas. The lawyers at The Sharp Firm have a collective 40 years experience in being Austin injury lawyers. To learn more visit http://www.sharpfirm.com.

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