Bicycle Accident Attorney in Norwalk, CT
Bicycle accidents can result in serious injuries, even in cities like Norwalk with relatively safe cycling records. If you’ve been hurt in a collision caused by a negligent driver, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge today for a free consultation with an experienced Norwalk bicycle accident attorney, and let us help you fight for the justice and financial recovery you deserve.
Norwalk, CT, has a relatively good record for bicycle safety. According to the state’s Crash Data Repository, the city had 17 collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles in 2023. These bicycle accidents caused zero fatalities. However, all 17 cyclists suffered injuries. In other words, 100% of bicycle collisions in 2023 resulted in some form of injury.
Bicycle crash victims have the right to pursue injury compensation from negligent drivers. A Norwalk bicycle accident lawyer from Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge stands up to at-fault drivers and their insurers after you get injured in a collision.
Our Connecticut personal injury firm was founded over 30 years ago to serve injured clients in Norwalk. Over that time, we have recovered millions of dollars for accident victims. Contact us for a free consultation to learn about your right to pursue bike accident compensation in Connecticut.
How a Norwalk Bicycle Accident Lawyer Helps
Our first task is to listen to you during your free consultation. To advise you, we must understand how your injuries happened and how they affected your health and finances. We will also discuss your goals for your injury claim. We use this information to assess your case and outline your options for pursuing compensation.
We provide free consultations without any obligation to hire us. Our goal is to ensure your ability to make informed decisions about your case even if you do not hire us to handle your insurance claim or bicycle accident lawsuit. However, we provide decades of experience to assist you if you hire us.
File Your Insurance Claim
Bicycle cases begin with insurance claims. Connecticut requires vehicle owners to buy liability insurance. A liability insurer pays people injured due to negligence by the covered driver. An auto policy covers all road users, including bicyclists.
An insurance claim describes how your crash occurred and who caused it. We can include a copy of the crash report and your medical records. We will also attach proof of your losses, such as medical bills and pay stubs.
An insurance claims adjuster investigates your claim. The adjuster works for the insurer and protects it from paying unfounded claims. But overzealous adjusters fight against all claims, including legitimate ones.
An insurance adjuster can deny your claim for many reasons, including:
- The covered driver did not cause the crash
- They did not act negligently
- The crash did not cause your injuries
- Your treatment was not reasonable and necessary
When the adjuster denies your claim, we will respond with evidence or arguments. We will also remind the adjuster of the insurer’s legal duty to act in good faith. Just having a Connecticut bicycle lawyer on your side will stop the insurer from using common insurance company tactics like delays and denials to frustrate you into giving up.
The adjuster could also accept your claim and offer a settlement. This offer will probably be low. We will negotiate with the adjuster to try to reach a fair resolution of your claims.
Filing a Lawsuit
Many bike crash claims are settled without filing a lawsuit. But in some cases, we may recommend suing the at-fault party. We might make this recommendation because you run out of time to file under the statute of limitations.
In many cases, the decision to file a lawsuit is strategic. The insurer might refuse to withdraw an improper claim denial or fail to negotiate a settlement in good faith.
Regardless of the reason, we commence a lawsuit by preparing and filing a complaint. This pleading describes what happened and why the driver was at fault. It also requests monetary compensation for your losses.
We will continue to try to settle the case after filing a lawsuit. The insurer might be more motivated to settle when facing the time and expense of fighting in court.
If your case goes to trial, we will present your evidence and challenge the driver’s evidence. We will also fight for a full and just damage award to compensate you for your injuries.
John Kennedy Jr.
Founding Partner
John J. Kennedy, Jr., is the founding partner of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C. In 1988, John formed Kennedy & Johnson, along with David Johnson. John is an accomplished trial attorney, spending most of his more than 42 years practicing in Connecticut, representing injured clients before juries.
Proving Liability for Bicycle Crashes
You can pursue legal claims for injuries caused by a driver’s intentional or negligent driving. However, intentional harm is rare. Most cases hinge on proving negligence. In these cases, we must prove four elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Damages
- Causation
All road users owe a duty of care to other road users. Drivers can breach the duty of care owed to bicyclists by violating traffic laws.
For example, Connecticut has a “three-foot” law that requires drivers to leave at least three feet of space when passing cyclists. If your crash happened when a driver crowded you while overtaking, you may have a negligence claim.
Drivers can also breach the duty of care while doing something legal. If the driver created an unreasonable risk of injury or death, they may have breached the duty even if their action was legal. Thus, a driver who hits you while reaching for a dropped object probably breached their duty of care.
Your damages arise from your injuries. Medical bills, wage losses, and pain and suffering can constitute your damages.
The damages must have a causal link to the breach. We prove causation by showing the accident was foreseeable in view of the driver’s actions.
Compensation You Can Recover for Bicycle Accident Injuries
After proving liability, we can present evidence of your losses. Your bike accident claim can secure compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses cover the financial impact of your injuries. Examples include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost past income
- Diminished future earnings
- Reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket costs
We use financial records to prove your financial losses. Medical bills, bank statements, and receipts can prove the costs of your injuries. We can also use an expert witness to estimate the losses you will suffer in the future.
Non-economic losses include all the ways your injuries diminished your quality of life. These losses represent the human costs of your injuries that have no monetary value. Non-economic losses include the following:
- Pain
- Mental anguish
- Disability for physical or mental losses
- Dismemberment for lost body parts
- Disfigurement for injuries that alter your appearance
These losses are tied to the severity of your injuries and how they affected your life. We often use testimony from you, your family, and your co-workers to help us prove the non-economic losses you suffered.
Searching for a Bicycle Accident Attorney Near Me
Your Norwalk bicycle accident attorney will use their knowledge and experience to craft your legal strategy. The personal injury attorneys at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge have helped people injured in bicycle crashes for over 30 years.
You can use free consultations to interview lawyers for your bicycle accident case. Our free consultation allows us to learn about your crash and assess the strength and value of your case. This also allows you to learn about us and our history of success. You should ask questions so you feel comfortable hiring us to represent you.
Contingency Fees
At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C., we handle all Bicycle Accidents cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not get paid unless and until you receive a settlement or a jury award.
Schedule a free, confidential consultation with a skilled Connecticut personal injury lawyer today. Contact us online or call our Norwalk law firm directly at 203-354-4559.
Bicycle Accidents FAQs
Who Is Usually at Fault if a Bicycle Is Involved in an Accident?
The fault for a bicycle crash usually depends on negligence. Drivers are liable for crashes that result from their dangerous driving behaviors that create an unreasonable risk of injury or death for cyclists. Common examples of negligent behaviors include speeding, distracted driving, and failing to leave enough space when passing bicycles.
Can You File a Claim for a Bicycle Accident?
Yes, cyclists are covered by auto liability policies. When a driver negligently hits a bike, the injured rider can file an insurance claim against their policy. The claim covers the rider’s losses up to the policy limit.
What Should I Do After a Cycling Accident?
After a driver hits your bicycle, you should stop at the accident scene. You should report the crash to the police and ask for paramedics or an ambulance if you need emergency medical care. You should cooperate with the crash investigation and seek diagnosis and treatment of your injuries after leaving the crash scene.
Contact a Norwalk Bicycle Accident Law Firm Today
Bicycle accident injuries can threaten your physical, mental, and financial health. Contact Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge for a free consultation to discuss your legal options with an experienced Connecticut bicycle accident lawyer.
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15 N. Main Street #100 Suite 217
West Hartford, CT 06107
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