Chattanooga Bicycle Accidents
Bike Crash Attorneys Serving Residents of Chattanooga
Have you been injured while riding your bicycle in Chattanooga? Was your accident caused by a careless car or truck driver? If so, you may be able to assert a claim for negligence to obtain compensation for medical bills and lost income due to being hurt in the wreck. Many times, bicycle accidents lead to severe injuries or disability because of the limited safety mechanisms that cyclists have at their disposal. Our Chattanooga bicycle accident attorneys know that cyclists face many dangers while riding their bikes and understand the unique legal issues that can arise when someone is injured in a crash. As the largest plaintiff’s personal injury law firm based in Tennessee, Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz has the resources necessary to handle your case and provide you with the much needed attention you deserve at this time of need.
Proving Liability After a Bicycle Accident in the Chattanooga Area
Accidents often occur when careless drivers fail to look out for cyclists on the road. Many people do not know that that under Tennessee law, bicycles can have many of the same rights to Chattanooga roadways as vehicles do. In order to recover compensation after a bicycle crash, the injured cyclist must prove that the defendant driver was negligent. To do this, the cyclist must show that the driver owed him a duty to drive safely, the driver breached that duty, and the breach of that duty caused the accident and resulted in injuries to the cyclist. For example, if a driver ran a red light on Market Street in downtown Chattanooga and collided with a bicyclist, the driver could be considered liable for the accident and any resulting damages.
Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault scheme. Under a modified comparative fault scheme, the defendant can claim the cyclist contributed to the accident, but as long as the cyclist’s fault is less than 50%, he still has a chance of recovery. However, it is important to note that any percentage of negligence attributed to the cyclist will negatively affect the damages awarded to him. For instance, if a judge or jury finds the cyclist to be 15% responsible for the crash, then the cyclist can recover 85% of the overall damages award.
If the cyclist is allowed to recover damages, he may recover both economic and non-economic damages, provided they were caused by the wreck. Under Tennessee law, economic damages generally are a victim’s lost wages and medical bills, while non-economic damages are more subjective in nature and cover pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish. You should consult with an experienced lawyer who handles Chattanooga bicycle accident cases who understands the importance of working as expeditiously as possible but with the attention to detail that is needed to assert a successful claim.
Call Our Experienced Chattanooga Bicycle Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved has been injured while riding a bike in Chattanooga, contact our firm immediately so our attorneys can start evaluating your case. We can discuss your legal rights and formulate a plan of recovery for you. With 33 lawyers and more than 120 support staff members, Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz represents people injured across Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, including in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo, Columbus, Grenada, Starkville, Oxford, Hayti, and Caruthersville. For more than 30 years, our firm has recovered over $1.5 billion in compensation for clients through our detailed preparation and passionate approach to each case that we handle. Call our office toll-free at 800-529-4004 or complete our online form to arrange a free consultation with an injury attorney. NST is the way to go for people seeking a bicycle accident attorney in the Chattanooga area.