What Happens if You Hit a Cyclist With Your Car?
If you hit a cyclist with your car, it’s a horrible experience for everyone involved. The cyclist could suffer severe injuries, and you may feel guilty. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, it doesn’t mean you’re a horrible person. It doesn’t even mean that you were entirely to blame. Get in touch with a Sand Law attorney immediately to protect your rights. Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling 651-291-7263. Legal Consequences Of Hitting A Cyclist With Your Car According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, eight bicyclists die on average annually due to collisions with passenger vehicles. When a car collides with a cyclist, the legal consequences for the driver can be severe, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Some potential legal ramifications include: Criminal Charges If the driver’s actions are deemed particularly negligent or reckless, criminal charges, such as vehicular manslaughter or reckless driving, may be filed. Criminal charges can result in fines, probation, community service, or imprisonment. Civil Liability The driver may face civil lawsuits from the injured cyclist or their family seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages resulting from the accident. Fines...
How to Pay Your Medical Bills After a Bicycle Accident
A bicycle accident can be terrifying – not only during the event but also long afterward. Victims often have to deal with excruciating pain as well as horrible uncertainty. They have no idea how they’ll be able to afford the extensive medical treatment they need. The skilled bicycle accident attorneys with Sand Law are here for you if you’re in this unfortunate situation through no fault of your own. If someone else caused the accident, we’ll work hard to help you get every penny of compensation you deserve. Just as important, we’ll provide peace of mind. You can rest easy knowing we’ll protect your rights at every turn. Schedule a free case evaluation by contacting us online or calling 651-291-7263. You focus on your recovery, and we’ll handle everything else associated with your case. Minnesota’s No-fault System Minnesota operates under a no-fault insurance system, which has significant implications for individuals involved in bicycle accidents and seeking compensation for their injuries. The no-fault system is designed to provide prompt and efficient coverage for medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. Under this system, if you suffer an injury in a bicycle accident, your auto insurance (if you have it) is...
How Much Will My Bicycle Accident Settlement Be?
If someone suffers an injury due to someone else’s negligence, they’ll naturally want to know how much money they can expect to receive. It really doesn’t matter whether they were in a bicycle accident, car wreck, motorcycle accident, or anything else. It would be nice to know immediately. However, there are a lot of factors that will determine how much your bicycle accident settlement is. The bicycle accident attorneys with Sand Law have some information on those factors. We’re experts in personal injury accident law and have a long track record of helping our clients obtain maximum compensation. Find out what we can do for you by calling 651-291-7263 or contacting us online for a free consultation. Minnesota Bicycle Accident Statistics According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, there were a total of 511 bicycle accidents reported in Minnesota in 2021. Those accidents resulted in 458 severe injuries and 8 fatalities. These statistics illustrate the significance of bicycle accidents and the potential for severe injuries or even loss of life. Average Bicycle Accident Settlement Amounts There’s no fixed average settlement amount for bicycle accident claims, as each case is unique. The settlement amount can vary widely based on the specifics...
Where to Legally Ride and Other Laws that Keep Cyclists Safe
Riding a bicycle should be fun, but there are far too many instances of negligent motorists causing severe injuries and tragic deaths. You deserve compensation if you suffered an injury in this accident or if a motorist hit your child. The attorneys with Sand Law are ready to help you get it. Keep reading to learn about Minnesota laws that keep cyclists safe. Use our online contact form for a free case review, or call 651-291-7263. Where Cyclists Can Legally Ride In Minnesota, bicyclists can ride on all public roads except for limited access highways, such as freeways. Many cities in Minnesota have designated bike lanes on city streets, which are indicated by painted lines and signs. These bike lanes provide a dedicated space for bicyclists to ride, separate from vehicular traffic. Bicyclists are also allowed to ride on sidewalks, except where prohibited by local ordinances. However, they must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing. I Got Into an Accident Because a Motor Vehicle Driver Wasn’t Willing to Share the Road A bicyclist can sue a motorist if they are involved in an accident and the motorist is at fault. In such cases, the bicyclist may...
Do I Need a Bicycle Accident Attorney?
If you want a quick answer to the above question, that answer is “Yes.” But if you’re even thinking about whether or not you should hire a bicycle accident attorney, then you’ll probably need some convincing. If you’ve suffered a severe injury, your child was seriously hurt, or you’ve suffered the tragic loss of a loved one, you’ll need legal help without a doubt. Read on to learn the many reasons why this is the case. The skilled bicycle accident lawyers with Sand Law are ready to tell you much more. We know how to handle cases similar to yours, and we get positive results for our clients on a regular basis. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact us online or call (651) 291-7263 as soon as you can. Reasons You Should Hire A Bicycle Accident Attorney You were simply enjoying a beautiful Minnesota day on a leisurely bike ride when, out of nowhere, a negligent motorist hit you. Now, you’re having to deal with ever-mounting medical expenses, you can’t work, and you really don’t know where to turn. If you’re thinking of trying to obtain the compensation you deserve on your own, please consider...
Neurological Issues After a Personal Injury Accident
Any sort of accident that results in a personal injury can be devastating – especially when it involves the brain. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) will oftentimes lead to a lifetime of debilitation – or even worse. It could happen due to a slip and fall injury, an automobile wreck, or due to any number of various reasons. The attorneys at Sand Law LLC will be ready to help if you or a loved one suffered neurological issues due to a personal injury accident caused by someone else’s negligence. If you would like to learn more, give us a call at 651-291-7263 or use our online contact form. Traumatic Brain Injury and Nerve Damage: What Causes These Injuries? No matter what type of personal injury accident causes a TBI, it’s a horrible injury. You may have been riding a motorcycle and been struck by a motorist who was answering a text. You might have slipped and struck your head because a grocery store employee failed to clean a spill promptly. Whenever someone hits their head, the results can be devastating. Specifically, when a person’s head hits a hard surface, their brain hits the inside of the skull. This, in turn,...
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
When a bicycle crash involving a motor vehicle occurs, most people think that it would be the fault of the bicyclist. In reality, it is more often the fault of the motor vehicle driver. Bicycle accidents can cause severe injuries to the cyclist since they don’t have any protection from the vehicle. Bicycle accidents can caused by a number of different things but by far the most common reason is that the driver just doesn’t see them. In 2018, there were 857 cyclists that died in bicycle accidents in the United States. Bicycle fatalities occur most frequently between the hours of 6pm and 9pm, and they most often take place in urban areas compared to rural ones. Distracted Driving Distracted driving refers to any activity that takes the eyes, ears, or mind off the road. Driving is complex and requires focus. If any part of a driver is distracted, they’re at risk for causing an accident. We often think of texting or talking on the phone as the most common distractions, but there are many more, including: Using a GPS Eating Applying makeup Talking to passenger Reaching for something in the back seat Daydreaming Online browsing Social media use Checking...
Child Bicycle Accidents
Children’s Bicycle Accident Statistics Bicycle accidents among children are incredibly common for a variety of reasons. Children often ride their bikes around their own neighborhoods, however as they grow up they’re often allowed to branch out further, exploring nearby neighborhoods or even venturing into town. Children may not be equipped with the rules of the road enough to keep themselves safe at all times, they may goof off or make mistakes. It’s the utmost importance of drivers to ensure that they’re driving carefully and keeping a safe distance from children on bicycles, even when in small neighborhoods. Each year, approximately 100 children are killed and 254,000 are injured because of bicycle related accidents. The Nationwide Children’s Hospital told CBS news that they often saw “cuts, bruises, fractures, scrapes, and then also traumatic brain injuries” from bicycle accidents. Safety Tips For Biking Children If you’re a parent with a child who bikes, it’s your responsibility to teach them tips to ensure that they’re safe while not under your supervision. It’s also up to you to decide at what age they’re allowed to bike without your direct supervision, and how far from your house they’re allowed to go. Monitor your child and...
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents on the Rise due to COVID-19
Unfortunately, Coronavirus Has Some Expected Consequences Car accidents, overall, aren’t much of a problem anymore. With many people staying inside and social distancing due to COVID-19, car accidents have been decreasing. However, other accidents have been on the rise. Just as an example, during one week in March, there were 80 bicycle injuries in New York City. That’s 43% more than the same week in 2019. One very plausible explanation for this is the COVID-19 lockdowns which has pushed people to find other ways to get out of the house. In Minnesota, the traffic volume has dropped by almost half. While traffic volume has dropped by 47%, traffic fatalities are up. The cars that remain on the road aren’t always following regulations, and people are speeding more than usual. While motor vehicle crashes are decreasing in Minnesota, it’s likely that bicyclists and pedestrians aren’t as safe on the roads anymore. Speeding cars and careless driving aren’t good things for a bicyclist. Why Are More People Riding Bikes? COVID-19 lockdowns began in Minnesota around early March, putting into place certain restrictions like limiting the amount we’re able to interact with each other. Social distancing refers to the act of staying away...
6 Most Common Types of Wrongful Deaths
Wrongful death claims can be brought against someone who has caused the death of another person. This death can be caused by negligence or intentional action. Wrongful death claims allow people to file a lawsuit against whoever was legally liable for the death. Lawsuits for wrongful death are usually filed by a representative of the deceased person’s estate or a surviving family member. Wrongful death claims can be applicable in many situations. When a victim is intentionally killed, the family can sue for wrongful death. Car accidents, medical malpractice, and many other accidents that involve negligence can also result in a wrongful death lawsuit. Car Accidents The most common cause of wrongful death cases is, unsurprisingly, car accidents. There were over 7 million police-reported traffic crashes in 2016. In those crashes, 37,461 people died. In Minnesota, there were 79,215 traffic accidents reported in 2018. Of those accidents, 381 people died. That’s 6% more than in 2017. Of those 381 fatalities, 258 were motorists, 45 were pedestrians, 7 were bicyclists, and 58 were motorcyclists. Common Causes of Auto Accident Wrongful Deaths Auto accidents have a lot of different causes as roads can be a dangerous place. With technology becoming an extension...