Gulfport Bike Accident Attorney

Have you suffered injuries in an accident on your bike in Gulfport, MS? When a careless or reckless driver hits you, you deserve to seek compensation and accountability for your injuries and losses. However, recovering the money you need from liable parties and insurance companies can be challenging. Turn to a Gulfport bike accident attorney from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, for help standing up to insurers and pursuing the maximum compensation. 

With decades of combined experience in personal injury law on the Gulf Coast, our attorneys have a strong track record of successfully resolving bicycle accident claims in Gulfport. We understand how accident injuries can result in financial instability. When you hire us, you can expect personalized, compassionate service and an aggressive advocate. 

If you were hurt in an accident on your bicycle due to somebody else’s negligence or recklessness, get legal help to pursue financial relief for your harm and loss. Contact Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, for a free initial case review with a Gulfport bike accident attorney. 

What Are Mississippi’s Bicycle Laws?

Mississippi state laws keep bicyclists safe on the roads they share with motorists. Some of the critical bicycle laws that bicyclists and motorists in Mississippi should know include:

• Motorists must leave at least three feet between their vehicle and a cyclist when passing a bicycle on a roadway and maintain that distance until safely past the bicycle.
• No one may harass, taunt, or throw an object at a person riding a bicycle.
• Bicyclists must follow all traffic laws applicable to drivers of motor vehicles, except those rules that, by their nature, have no applicability to bicycles.
• Cyclists may not ride more than two abreast on roadways except for paths or parts of roadways designated exclusively for bicycles. Bicyclists riding two abreast may not impede the reasonable movement of traffic, and on a multilane road, must ride within a single lane. 
• Bicycles must have a front white lamp visible from at least 500 feet and a rear red lamp or reflector visible from at least 500 feet.
• Bicycles or bicyclists may not have or use a siren or whistle.
• Bicyclists traveling slower than the speed of traffic should ride as close to the right-hand edge of the road unless unsafe to do so when overtaking another bicycle or vehicle, when traveling straight on a road with a right-hand turn lane, or when avoiding hazards on the right-hand portion of the road.
• Drivers may only turn right after passing a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction if it is safe.
• Bicyclists must give hand signals when turning, slowing down, or stopping.

What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Gulfport?

Many bike crashes occur due to the negligent or reckless actions of motorists. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in Gulfport include:

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Tailgating or following too closely
• Passing too closely to a bicycle
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Turning or changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors
• Opening the door of a street-parked vehicle while a cyclist passes 
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Reckless driving, such as excessive speeding or swerving through traffic
• Aggressive driving and road rage
• Backing up or pulling out of a driveway or parking spot without checking mirrors or looking behind

What Should I Do After a Bike Accident?

After an accident on your bicycle due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you can protect your rights and interests and put yourself in a better position to pursue compensation against those at fault for your injuries and losses. First, you should seek immediate medical attention after a bike accident and follow through on your doctor’s treatment recommendations and recovery instructions. Then, do the following: 

• Report the crash to your car insurance provider if you have a policy, and check whether you have coverage that can compensate you for expenses you incur, such as medical treatment and rehabilitation.
• Remember to request a copy of the police crash report if law enforcement responded to the accident.
• Keep copies of all bills, invoices, and receipts of expenses from the accident, including for the repair or replacement of your bicycle, medical care, or home health care and housekeeping services.

Finally, contact a Gulfport bike accident lawyer from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, as soon as possible after the crash. Our attorneys can review the facts of your case and answer your questions. We will help you understand your legal options for pursuing financial recovery and accountability from a negligent driver who hit you or another party responsible for the crash.

What Are Common Types of Injuries from Bicycle Accidents?

Bicycle riders have almost no protection from injury in an accident, save for bicycle helmets and joint pads. As a result, bicycle accidents frequently cause severe, life-altering injuries. Some of the most common examples of bicycle accident injuries and damages include:

• Lacerations
• Abrasions and road rash
• Degloving injury (skin torn away from muscle and bone)
• Burns
• Dislocated joints
• Broken bones
• Ligament sprains and tears
• Muscle and tendon strains and tears
• Whiplash
• Nerve damage
• Herniated spinal discs
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Internal organ injuries and bleeding
• Facial injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic amputation or limb loss

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Mississippi?

The statute of limitations for bike accidents in Mississippi imposes a strict deadline for filing such lawsuits. Typically, a plaintiff has three years after a bike crash to file suit against those liable for their injuries and losses. 

Although three years may sound like plenty of time to file your bicycle accident claim, you should speak with a bike accident attorney from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, as soon as possible after an accident to ensure your case gets filed before the deadline. If you file suit after the deadline, the trial court can dismiss your case, and you might lose your right to pursue financial recovery in a civil lawsuit. 

What Compensation Could I Recover in a Gulfport Bicycle Accident Lawsuit?

After getting hurt in a bike crash in Gulfport, you may have the right to seek financial recovery for your expenses or losses through a bicycle accident lawsuit. Compensation for bicycle accident victims can include money for:

• Repair or replacement of a damaged or destroyed bicycle or bike helmet
• Medical treatment and rehabilitation, including EMS/emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, prescriptions, orthopedic equipment, and physical or occupational therapy
• Long-term care and support after suffering prolonged or permanent disabilities from accident injuries
• Loss of wages or income from missed work or reduced earnings in a part-time/light-duty position
• Loss of future earning capacity or job benefits after becoming permanently disabled from working
• Pain and suffering
• Lost quality of life because of permanent disabilities or scarring and disfigurement

Why You Need a Gulfport Bicycle Accident Attorney

Even when a driver is clearly to blame for hitting a bicyclist, their insurance company will do whatever it can to avoid paying the injured cyclist what they deserve. As a result, proving liability in bike accidents and seeking financial relief can be time-consuming and complex.

You deserve to focus on healing from your injuries without the stress of pursuing a compensation claim. At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, we are highly experienced in Mississippi bicycle injury lawsuits, and we can help you by handling all the details of your case, giving you time and space to recover fully. When you hire our firm to represent you, you can rest assured that we will: 

• Thoroughly investigate the accident to secure evidence for your claim, such as police crash reports, surveillance/traffic camera or dashcam/helmet cam footage, and eyewitness testimony
• Review the evidence and work with experts to determine what happened in the crash, identify the driver or other parties at fault for your injuries, and prepare a case that can win at trial
• Evaluate your legal options for seeking compensation, including identifying applicable insurance coverage
• Document your injuries and losses to calculate the compensation you deserve to recover in your case
• Prepare and file insurance claims and demand letters and communicate with insurance adjusters or defense law firms on your behalf
• Aggressively pursue maximum financial recovery for you, whether through a settlement of your claim or by taking your case to trial to demand accountability and compensation for your harm and loss

Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Gulfport Today

If you’ve suffered injuries in a bike crash due to a driver’s or another party’s negligence, you deserve to seek financial compensation for your harm and loss. Contact Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, today for help pursuing the financial relief and accountability you need to move forward. We have a strong track record of securing monetary awards through verdicts and settlements. 

Don’t face the insurance companies alone. Contact our office today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer for bicyclists. We look forward to discussing your legal options for seeking compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.