If you were injured in a bicycle accident that was someone else’s fault, you may have grounds for a legal claim. You may be able to get justice for the harm you suffered and obtain financial compensation for your injuries.
Proving negligence in Mankato bicycle accident cases can be challenging, but you do not have to navigate this process alone. Our experienced bike collision attorneys at Maschka Personal Injury have been providing high-quality legal services throughout Southern Minnesota for more than 25 years, and we will vigorously pursue your bike accident claim.
If you make a legal claim after an accident, you must prove that the other party’s negligence was the direct cause of your injuries.
Drivers often contribute to bike accidents by crowding cyclists, turning in front of them, or opening car doors into the path of an oncoming bicycle. Many of these accidents happen because drivers do not notice bicycles on the road. However, drivers have an obligation to be aware of their surroundings, so failing to see a cyclist can be a form of negligence.
Sometimes drivers are drunk, driving recklessly, or using their phones instead of paying attention to the road. These are also forms of negligence that an experienced attorney can help you use to prove the driver’s responsibility in your Mankato bicycle crash case.
To make a civil accident claim, you need to demonstrate it is more likely than not that the driver caused the accident. The evidence you present must be sufficient to show that the driver probably could have avoided the crash if they had used reasonable care.
Sometimes the driver verbally provides the evidence we would need to prove negligence in a bicycle accident case in Mankato. It is common for drivers to apologize for hitting a cyclist or to claim they did not see them. We can use statements like these to hold the driver accountable. Your statements and those of other people who witnessed the accident can also serve as critical evidence.
Video of the crash may be available through a bicycle rider’s bike or helmet camera, a driver’s dash cam, or both. Surveillance cameras at nearby homes or businesses could also provide video evidence for your case.
Insurance companies often try to assert that your conduct caused or contributed to the crash. Even if this is true, you may still be able to collect damages.
Minnesota Revised Statutes § 604.01 allows a plaintiff who is partially at fault, but not primarily responsible, for an accident to collect damages from other parties. If a claim goes to trial, the judge or jury allocates fault among those involved in the accident. For example, if they decide you hold 20 percent of the blame for the crash, you can collect 80 percent of your damages.
A similar allocation of fault can be a factor during settlement negotiations when determining fault in a Mankato bicycle wreck case. Our experienced attorneys can help ensure that any potential negligence on your part does not lead to you bearing more than your fair share of responsibility.
Bicycle accidents can cause very serious injuries, and you may need to bring a legal claim to get fair compensation. To do that, you need to make a strong case that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries.
Our experienced attorneys at Maschka Personal Injury are adept at proving negligence in Mankato bicycle accident cases. We are based in Mankato but serve the surrounding areas. Reach out to us today to set up a free consultation with a compassionate lawyer.
