British Columbia Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable road-users in British Columbia. Each year, the province sees thousands of serious bicycle accidents that result in property damage, physical injuries, or deaths.
Although it is mandatory for all bicycle riders in the province to wear a safety helmet, cyclists are still relatively unprotected from the dangers of the road. Unlike the drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, cyclists are entirely exposed to the elements. As a result, collisions with cars and other vehicles are often fatal.
In the blink of an eye, a commuter on their way to work, a teenager enjoying a recreational ride through their neighbourhood, a nature enthusiast enjoying the scenery from behind their handlebars, and other community members who choose to cycle can lose their lives in senseless, sudden, and violent accidents.
Cyclists who are lucky enough to survive collisions with motor vehicles often sustain severe or catastrophic injuries. Catastrophically injured cyclists could lose their mobility, their extremities’ full range of motion, their abilities to live independently, their access to their regular income, their future earning potential, and the overall quality of life to which they had become accustomed.
Recently, the province’s sole auto insurer, ICBC, switched to an “Enhanced Care” or no-fault insurance model in an attempt to reduce drivers’ insurance premiums. However, doing so has made life even harder for countless survivors of motor vehicle collisions. This is especially true for the province’s most vulnerable road-users– like cyclists– who have sustained severe injuries as the result of a negligent driver’s wrongdoings on the road.
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, our clients’ best interests are our top priority. Our British Columbia bicycle accident lawyers are committed to fighting against the unfair decisions often made by ICBC against the injured survivors of serious collisions. We endeavour to help the clients we represent recover the maximum amount of compensation to which they should be rightfully entitled.
If you were injured in a bicycle accident and are having difficulty navigating the ICBC claims process or have questions about the compensation you might be owed, contact our bicycle accident lawyers serving British Columbia today. For a free initial consultation on your case, call 1-800-JUSTICE.
Common Injuries Sustained in British Columbia Bicycle Accidents
When negligent drivers coast through stop signs, drift into bike lanes, change lanes without signaling, or otherwise violate the rules of the road, they put the very lives of cyclists at risk. On average, 73 Canadians are killed each year as the result of a bicycle accident.
For the people who survive a collision with a motor vehicle while riding their bikes, the road to recovery could be exhausting and expensive. Injuries commonly sustained in British Columbia bicycle accidents often require long periods of hospitalization, extended physiotherapy treatments, and drastic adjustments to one’s lifestyle. These injuries often include:
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Chronic pain
- Broken or fractured bones
- Cuts, lacerations
- Friction wounds (e.g. “road rash”)
- Facial and dental injuries
- Internal organ damages
- And more
As a result of the injuries they have sustained, bicycle accident survivors may be required to take time away from their jobs to physically recuperate. In addition to being isolating and demoralizing, the recovery process can cause an injured bicycle accident survivor to incur substantial financial losses related to:
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capability
- Mileage to and from medical appointments
- Medical equipment
- Prescription drugs
- Medical expenses
- Physiotherapy costs
- Psychological treatment
- Home renovations to accommodate new disabilities
- And more
Unfortunately, the new changes to ICBC’s insurance model can make it very difficult for injured cyclists to recover the compensation they should be owed. During the first year of ICBC’s no-fault model adoption, injured bicycle accident survivors could be automatically considered to be 50% responsible for the collision in which they were injured purely because their bikes were determined to be “uninsured vehicles,” or insufficient evidence of the driver’s total fault existed. Although this extremely unfair policy has been recently rescinded, the new policies mandated by the provincial government’s Crown corporation still favours negligent drivers– who are less likely to sustain injuries when they strike a cyclist– over vulnerable road-users like bicycle riders.
How a British Columbia Bicycle Accident Lawyer May Be Able to Help
Under ICBC’s no-fault insurance system, injured survivors of bicycle accidents have limited access to the courts to independently determine the amount of damages to which they should be entitled. Instead, everyone involved in an accident– even the at-fault driver whose negligence caused the collision to occur– are able to access basic medical coverage equally.
Unfortunately, ICBC’s assessments of injured accident victims’ needs are rarely aligned with the income they truly require in order to recover from the traumatic incident and rebuild their lives with dignity and financial security. If a cyclist is injured catastrophically, the basic medical coverage to which they might be entitled will likely be far less than what they really need.
If you have received an unfair ICBC settlement that does not take the full severity and financial impact of your injuries into account, our bicycle accident lawyers serving British Columbia may be able to assist you. At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience taking on ICBC and helping our clients recover fair settlements from the ubiquitous insurance provider.
To learn about options that might be available to you, contact our British Columbia bicycle accident lawyers today.
Call 1-800-JUSTICE for Your Free Initial Consultation
Riding a bicycle can be an enjoyable activity, an environmentally-friendly way to commute, and a recreational pastime for families to engage in together. Riding a bicycle should never end in tragedy. However, because of the wrongful conduct of negligent drivers, lives can be lost, severe injuries can be sustained, and accident victims can spend sleepless nights worrying about their finances after receiving an unfair insurance settlement from ICBC.
If you are struggling in the wake of an injurious bicycle accident, Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to offer you legal advice and support. To discuss your case with our bicycle accident lawyers serving British Columbia and receive a cost-free, no-obligation initial consultation, call us at 1-800-JUSTICE.
