What To Do After A Bike Accident By Lonnie Greenblatt on September 28, 2021

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.7.4" custom_padding="0px||25px||false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row module_class="featured-row" _builder_version="4.6.1" _module_preset="default" width="100%" max_width="2560px" custom_padding="0px||0px||false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.6.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image alt="Bike Accident Lawyer" title_text="Bike Accident Lawyer" align="center" force_fullwidth="on" admin_label="Featured Image" module_class="featured-bg-image" _builder_version="4.10.6" _module_preset="default" background_image="http://www.lonnielawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/bike-accident-lawyer-1.jpg" background_position="bottom_center" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_post_title comments="off" featured_image="off" module_class="post-title" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" title_text_color="#ffffff" meta_text_color="#ffffff" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.6.1" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" custom_padding="54px||||false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.10.6" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"]

At Greenblatt & Veliev, LLC, our personal injury attorneys understand the impact a bike accident can have on our Rockville area clients. Cars can come out of nowhere, leaving you injured, scared, and confused about what to do next. Sometimes another bicyclist isn't driving safely, or a pedestrian gets in the way.

We help bicyclists who have been hurt in an accident throughout the Maryland, DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania areas. Let us help you get the care you need, answer your legal questions, and fight for you to get justice and fair compensation for your claim.

What To Do After A Bike Crash

  1. Call 9-1-1
  2. Document Everything
  3. Listen To Your Medical Team
  4. Contact A Maryland Bike Accident Lawyer

Maryland's Bike Accident Laws

Knowing the specific laws for bicycling in Maryland can affect your case. You should know and follow local safety measures to protect yourself and those sharing the road with you. You also need to know how long you have to file your personal injury claim. An attorney can help you understand how local laws will affect your claim for compensation.

  • Maryland Must Find The Person Who Hurt You At Fault
  • If Both Parties Were Negligent, Neither Can Recover Compensation
  • Bicycles Are Classified As Vehicles — With The Same Rights & Responsibilities
  • You Must Follow The Rules Of The Road
  • You Must Have Brakes, A Rear Reflector & A Front Lamp
  • You Should Not Have Whistles Or Sirens On Your Bike
  • Motorists Must Give Bikers 3 Feet When Passing 
  • Cyclists Must Ride In The Bike Lane If One Is Available
  • You Must Ride With The Flow Of Traffic
  • Bikes Are Not Allowed On Roads With A Speed Limit Of 50mph+
  • You Have 3 Years To File A Claim
  • Children May Have 3 Years From Their 18th Birthday

The Driver Says They Are Not Responsible

It's very common for the driver involved in a car accident to blame the cyclist. Drivers, other bicyclists, pedestrians, pets, and even government agencies can be responsible for bike accident injuries. Having an attorney on your side is the best way to get around false claims and collect evidence showing who's really at fault.

  • A Driver Who Crashes, Pushes, Or "Doors" You
  • A Driver Who Caused Another Car To Crash Into You
  • The Bike Manufacturer Of A Defective Bike
  • Improperly Maintained Premises Owners 
  • Pet Owners With An Animal Loose On The Road
  • A Pedestrian Who Caused You To Lose Control

Do I Have To Wear A Helmet?

You may know that Maryland bicycle helmet laws require you to wear a helmet if you are under 16. Did you know that Sykesville requires adults to wear helmets too, and that Montgomery County lowers the age to 18? 

There are three main sets of helmet standards in our state, SNELL, ANSI, and ASTM. You must choose one of these types to comply with the law. 

Whether you or a child injured in a bike accident was following helmet laws may affect your case, especially if you've experienced some type of head trauma. Our personal injury lawyers can help you understand the potential effects of these local laws on your claim.

What Causes Bicycle Accidents

As you've seen, pets, people, and even other cyclists can cause you to crash. When a car hits a bicyclist, the damages are usually way worse. Skin and bones are not much protection against tons of steel and glass coming at you at high speed. 

If you've been hurt drastically, it's probably due to one of these common causes for bike vs. car collisions.

  • Distracted Driving
  • Passing Too Closely
  • Speeding Cars
  • Drunk Driving
  • Cutting Off Cyclists On The Right "Right Hook"
  • Defective Cars Or Trucks
  • Turning With A Bike In The Blind Spot
  • Pulling Out Of Parking Spaces Or Driveways
  • "Dooring" A Bicyclist While Parked

Common Bike Crash Injuries

You can be forced into traffic, pushed off the road, hit by a parked vehicle, backed into, or knocked over. Because bike accidents can happen in so many ways, you are vulnerable to a wide range of injuries. From broken bones to paralysis, your accident injury attorney can help you get a fair settlement so you can heal and move on with your life.

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Fractures & Broken Bones
  • Headaches, Nausea & Speech Problems
  • Back Injuries
  • Neck Injuries
  • Face Injuries
  • Burns

How Much Compensation Can I Get?

The amount of compensation you will qualify for will depend on many factors related to your accident. An attorney can go over your potential types of compensation and show you how each factor increases or decreases your damages. 

  • How bad is your injury?
  • How much care will you need going forward?
  • Have you had to miss work?
  • Can you still do your job?
  • Were you following Maryland bike laws?
  • Where did your accident happen?

Potential Injury Compensation For Bicycle Accidents

Having a personal injury law firm working for you means having a team of professionals putting together a case that shows the big picture surrounding your case. We want to consider all aspects of how this event has or will affect your life and lifestyle before we agree on any type of settlement.

  • Medical Bills — Past, Present & Future
  • Lost Wages & Earning Capacity
  • Emotional Distress
  • Pain & Suffering
  • Loss Of Consortium
  • Costs To Repair Or Replace Your Bike
  • Funeral Expenses

Helping You Win Your Case

A Maryland bike accident lawyer takes care of all the little things, so you can focus on what's truly important — getting better. You don't have to deal with aggressive insurance agents or take care of collecting all the evidence on your own.

We are here to advocate and negotiate on your behalf. Instead of feeling like a victim who has to prove how injured you are or how negligent the other party was, you can feel empowered.

Get Help In Maryland — Call Now

If you've been involved in a Maryland bike crash, contact the personal injury team at Greenblatt & Veliev, LLC in Rockville. We are standing by with a free case evaluation for you. Call today.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text admin_label="Social Share" _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_social_share_custom][/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_4,3_4" admin_label="Authors Bio" _builder_version="4.8.1" _module_preset="default" background_color="#e8e7ec" custom_margin="||50px||false|false" custom_padding="|35px||35px|false|false" border_width_top="10px" border_color_top="#0d3970" global_colors_info="{}" global_module="5417" saved_tabs="all"][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lonnielawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Virginia_2021_web-1.jpg" alt="Virginia Tehrani" title_text="Virginia_2021_web" url="/our-lawyers/virginia-tehrani/" _builder_version="4.14.2" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_button button_url="/our-lawyers/virginia-tehrani/" button_text="visit bio page" button_alignment="center" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_size="15px" button_text_color="#ffffff" button_bg_color="#0d3970" button_border_color="#0d3970" button_border_radius="0px" button_icon_color="#ffffff" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="3_4" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]

Virginia Vile Tehrani

is an Associate Attorney with Greenblatt & Veliev, LLC, which is a litigation law firm based in Rockville, Maryland that provides services to individuals for personal injury, workers’ compensation, and criminal and traffic defense cases. You may reach her at 301-251-8776 or by email at tehrani@gandvlaw.com. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color="#999" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not offered as legal advice for any particular situation. The opinions and conclusions in this blog post are solely those of the author. Any links provided by the author in this article are for informational purposes only and by doing so, the author does not adopt or incorporate their contents.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_4,3_4" disabled_on="on|on|on" admin_label="Authors Bio" _builder_version="4.11.0" _module_preset="default" background_color="#e8e7ec" custom_padding="|35px||35px|false|false" border_width_top="10px" border_color_top="#0d3970" disabled="on" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="http://www.lonnielawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Vile.jpg" alt="John R. Vile, Dean Honors College" title_text="Vile, John 02-09" url="/our-lawyers/virginia-tehrani/" align="center" _builder_version="4.9.1" _module_preset="default" max_width_tablet="" max_width_phone="" max_width_last_edited="on|desktop" module_alignment="center" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="3_4" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.8.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]

Dr. John R. Vile

is the Dean of the University Honors College and Professor of Political Science at Middle Tennessee State University. He is also the author of numerous books on the U.S. Constitution and related topics. You may reach him at 615-898-2596 or by email at John.vile@mtsu.edu. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color="#999" _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.7.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not offered as legal advice for any particular situation. The opinions and conclusions in this blog post are solely those of the author. Any links provided by the author in this article are for informational purposes only and by doing so, the author does not adopt or incorporate their contents.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text admin_label="Related posts" _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" header_3_font_size="25px" border_width_bottom="3px" border_color_bottom="#f4881f" global_colors_info="{}"]

Related Posts

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog posts_number="1" include_categories="32" show_more="on" module_class="related-posts" _builder_version="4.7.7" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_blog][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Related to This

Logo Icon

Greenblatt & Veliev, LLC

Greenblatt & Veliev, LLC provides dedicated legal representation to clients in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia. Our attorneys have more than 65 years of combined experience in personal injury cases, and use this knowledge to serve you. Our professional affiliations and memberships include:

  • Maryland State Bar Association
  • The Bar Association of D.C.
  • America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys

Contact our offices for a free consultation online, or by calling: (301) 251-8776

Contact Us Today

Rate, Review & Explore

Social Accounts Sprite