Ocean Springs Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Were you injured by a careless driver while riding your bicycle in Ocean Springs? You deserve to hold the driver who hit you accountable for the harm you’ve suffered. However, auto insurers frequently make it challenging for injured cyclists to recover the compensation they need, denying liability to avoid full and fair payouts. An Ocean Springs bicycle accident attorney from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, can advocate for your rights and seek financial relief for your injuries and losses.

With over two decades of experience in accident injury cases, our attorneys protect the rights and interests of injury victims facing legal challenges across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our firm has earned a reputation for taking on difficult cases and working tirelessly to get the best results. Even when an accident case is complex, we never settle for less than fair and full economic recovery for a client’s injuries. We have a successful track record, including millions of dollars recovered for our deserving clients. 

When you choose us to help you after a bike crash, you can expect our honest and reliable attorneys to stand by your side throughout the legal process. We will take the time to listen to your story and develop a legal strategy that accounts for your goals and wishes. 

When you’ve sustained injuries in a crash on your bike, you may have the right to recover compensation for your harm and loss. Contact us at (228) 872-8752 or complete our online form for a free initial case review to learn how a bike injury lawyer in Ocean Springs, MS, can help you seek financial recovery for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering after a life-altering bicycle accident.

Why You Need an Ocean Springs Bicycle Accident Attorney?

After suffering injuries in a bike accident, you deserve to devote your time and energy to healing and getting back to regular life. But you may also need financial relief to pay for medical bills, bike repair costs, and other expenses. Obtaining cyclist accident legal services in Ocean Springs can increase your chances of a successful outcome. 

Having an Ocean Springs road bike accident lawyer in your corner can allow you to focus on your treatment and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, your attorney can fight for the compensation you need and deserve. 

A bicycle-pedestrian accident lawyer in Ocean Springs from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, will pursue your legal claims by:

• Investigating the accident to obtain evidence we can use to build your case, including police accident reports, accident scene photos, surveillance/traffic camera footage, dashcam/helmet cam footage, the driver’s cell phone logs, and eyewitness testimony
• Identifying parties you can hold liable for your injuries and losses and options for financial recovery you may have, including available insurance coverage
• Documenting your ongoing and future anticipated expenses or needs to ensure we pursue the financial resources you need now and in the future
• Preparing your case for trial so we can present a compelling argument for your financial recovery and show insurers that we won’t back down until we’ve secured a favorable outcome for you
• Vigorously pursuing maximum compensation through a total settlement of your claims or, if necessary, by taking your case to court and trial

What Should I Do After a Bike Accident?

After getting hurt in a bike accident, you can take steps to protect your legal options for pursuing compensation for injuries and losses. Things you should do to put yourself in the best position to succeed in your bicycle accident claim include:

• Follow your treatment plan and recovery instructions; do not defer rehabilitation or treatment for accident injuries.
• Report the accident to your car insurance company if you have a policy to check whether you may have coverage for your injuries under your policy.
• Request copies of the police crash report (if law enforcement responded to the accident scene) and medical records of your treatment and rehab.
• Keep any bills, invoices, or receipts of expenses you incur due to the accident, including medical treatment of your injuries or repair or replacement of your bicycle.
• Gather copies of your pay stubs or income statements if you need to take time off work during your recovery or experience a reduction in your earnings after the accident.

Finally, contact an Ocean Springs cycling collision lawyer from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, as soon as possible to discuss your legal options and next steps to pursue compensation for your harm and loss.

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

Under Mississippi’s statute of limitations, injury victims typically have three years after a bicycle accident to file a lawsuit against the driver or party at fault for the crash. Although three years may seem like plenty of time to pursue your claims, you should talk to a bike lane accident lawyer in Ocean Springs as soon as possible to ensure you file your claims on time. If you file a lawsuit after the statutory deadline, you might lose the opportunity to recover compensation for your injuries and losses in civil court.

What Compensation Could I Recover in an Ocean Springs Bicycle Accident Lawsuit?

If you’ve gotten into a crash on your bike and another party is to blame, you may have a claim to financial recovery. Let a cycling accident compensation attorney in Ocean Springs help you seek money for the following:

• Repair or replacement costs for your bicycle and bike helmet
• Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation for the injuries you sustained in the accident
• Long-term care expenses if your injuries result in prolonged and permanent disabilities
• Loss of wages or income from missed work or reduced earning ability due to temporary or permanent disability from work
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment and quality of life caused by physical disabilities or permanent scarring/disfigurement

What Are Mississippi’s Bicycle Laws?

Mississippi laws contain multiple provisions intended to keep cyclists safe on public roads. Cyclists must obey all the same rules and regulations as motorists while on public roads (except for laws that, by their nature, do not apply to bicycles). Some of the most critical Mississippi bicycle laws include:

• §63-3-1305 – Motorists may not block a bicycle lane and must yield to cyclists before entering or crossing a bike lane.
• §63-3-1307 – Cyclists riding on the road slower than the speed of vehicular traffic must ride as close as possible to the right-hand side of the road, except when unsafe to do so, when overtaking another cyclist or vehicle, when preparing for a left turn, when proceeding straight through an intersection with a right-hand turn lane, or when necessary to avoid hazards. Bicycles may not ride more than two abreast on public roads or paths not designated exclusively for bicycles.
• §63-3-1309 – Motorists must leave at least three feet between their vehicle and a cyclist when passing a bicycle. Drivers who pass cyclists may not turn right unless it is safe.
• §63-3-1311 – Cyclists must signal turns and braking.
• §63-3-1313 – No one may harass, taunt, or maliciously throw an object at a cyclist.

The law also requires bicycles to 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 and cyclists may not carry or use a siren or whistle.

What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Ocean Springs?

Many bike accidents in Ocean Springs occur due to negligence or recklessness by drivers who fail to share the road with cyclists. Some of the most common causes of bicycle crashes include:

• Distracted driving, including texting while driving
• Speeding or traveling too fast for conditions
• Tailgating or following too closely
• Passing too closely to a cyclist
• Running red lights and stop signs or disregarding traffic controls
• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Turning or changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors
• Traveling in a bike lane
• Backing out of a parking spot or driveway without looking behind
• Opening a door on a street-parked vehicle in front of an oncoming cyclist
• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driver inexperience

Other factors contributing to bicycle accidents include poor weather, low visibility, adverse road conditions like potholes, and dangerous road or intersection designs.

What Are Common Types of Injuries from Bicycle Accidents?

A bicycle injury claim attorney with Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, can represent Ocean Springs cyclists who have suffered accident injuries such as:

• Severe lacerations and scarring
• Abrasions and road rash
• Burns
• Degloving injuries
• Broken bones
• Dislocated joints
• Ligament sprains and tears
• Muscle and tendon strains and tears
• Herniated spinal disc injuries
• Nerve damages
• Whiplash
• Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic amputation, dismemberment, or limb loss

Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Ocean Springs Today

After getting hurt in an accident on your bicycle caused by a negligent driver, get experienced legal representation to pursue compensation and justice for your injuries. Call now at (228) 872-8752 or complete our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. You’ll meet with a Mississippi bike crash attorney in Ocean Springs to discuss your legal options.