Were you or a family member injured while riding a bike in Burlington, ON? Bicyclists who are hit by cars often struggle with long-term injuries. If you were injured, contact a Burlington bicycle accident lawyer at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers for help recovering compensation. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Accident victims have trusted our lawyers to protect them since we opened our doors back in 1981. We have over 92 years of combined experience and have recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for our injured clients.
The time after a serious accident can be critical to your future. Call our law offices in Burlington, Ontario, at (866) 643 1489 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Bicycle Accident in Burlington, ON?
You need time to recover after a serious bike accident. You may need help paying your medical bills, covering your living expenses, and taking care of other accident-related costs.
To get that compensation, you’ll have to file an insurance claim or initiate a personal injury lawsuit. Either can be tough to handle from a hospital bed. Our experienced Burlington personal injury lawyers can handle your case from start to finish.
At Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve won the Hamilton Spectator’s “Readers’ Choice Platinum” award for our exceptional legal services. Our lawyers get top results because we’re experienced, dedicated, and genuinely care about our clients.
You can count on our team to:
- Conduct an investigation to learn what happened
- Gather evidence to establish causation and liability
- Work with leading experts as we assess your case value
- Work to minimize any accusations that you caused the accident
- Handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company
Let us handle the legal process so you can rest and recover. We’re ready to get started, so call for a free consultation with a Burlington personal injury lawyer today.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Ontario?
The simple act of riding a bicycle can be incredibly dangerous when drivers don’t safely share the roads. Between 2017 and 2021, 219 bicyclists were killed on the streets of Canada.
According to preliminary reports published by the Road Safety Research Office, 1,412 bike accidents occurred across Ontario in 2022. 19 bicyclists were killed, and another 116 suffered major injuries. 1,277 bike riders walked away with injuries that were classified as “minor” or “minimal.”
What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Burlington, Ontario?
Like other motor vehicle accidents, most bike accidents can be avoided. They happen when people are reckless or careless. Sometimes, drivers simply don’t see smaller bicycles on the roads.
Accidents involving bicycles in Burlington happen because of:
- Texting while driving
- Other types of distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to cyclists
- Lack of safe bike lanes, barriers, and other protective infrastructure
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Drunk driving
- Failure to leave a safe distance for bicyclists on the shoulder
- Racing through yellow lights
- Failure to obey stop signs, red lights, and other traffic laws
- Drug use
- Inadequate lighting
- Potholes, crumbling pavement, and other road hazards
- Lack of proper protective equipment or reflective lights
Determining the cause of your accident is critical if you want to recover full compensation from all responsible parties. Multiple factors can contribute to the same accident–and more than one person may ultimately be responsible for your damages. That’s why our Burlington bicycle accident lawyers conduct a detailed investigation in every case.
It’s okay if you don’t fully understand the cause of your accident. Contact our law firm in Burlington today to learn more about how we can help.
What is My Burlington Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
Once you know what caused your injuries, you can start focusing on holding the at-fault party accountable for your losses. Victims must have proof of fault. They also have to understand the value of their losses to get a fair deal.
The value of your personal injury case depends on many factors, including:
- Details about your injuries, including their nature and severity
- The economic losses you’ve suffered, including the cost of medical care
- Any lost earnings during your recovery
- Your future prognosis and whether you’ll suffer any permanent disability
- The extent of your physical pain and emotional trauma
- Whether your own negligence contributed to the accident
Now, you may wonder how to put a dollar value on some of these losses–and how can you know the extent of your future expenses?
You’ll want to consult a lawyer who has handled cases like yours before and has the resources to bring in experts who can help. Our Burlington bike accident lawyers are always available to discuss your case. Contact Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case review today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Bicycle Accident Victims in Burlington?
Injured bike riders in Ontario can seek compensation for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages.
Examples of those damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including hospital costs and follow-up care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Loss of employment benefits
- Medications or medical devices
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Fear
- Lost quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
Insurance companies will focus on your current financial losses. When it comes to your more personal damages, you’ll have to present evidence about how the accident and injury have changed your life. Often, expert testimony can be useful in establishing the value of your non-financial losses and your future financial needs.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Bicycle Accident in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario follows contributory negligence laws. You only lose your right to compensation if you were 100% to blame. If you do share some blame, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
So, if you were 25% responsible for the accident, you can still recover 75% of your compensation. Obviously, the less blame you share, the better.
Of course, dividing up blame isn’t an exact science. It all comes down to the strength of the evidence and your lawyer’s skill. We’re here to stand up for you if the insurance company is trying to pin the blame on you.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
Even if you were wearing a helmet, you’re still extremely vulnerable to serious injuries as a bicyclist. Helmets are only designed to protect against severe head trauma. They do nothing to shield the rest of your body.
Common bicycle accident injuries in Burlington include:
- Broken bones
- Neck injuries
- Concussions
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns and road rash
- Broken hips and pelvic injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
These types of injuries can be time-consuming, painful, and expensive. You may be out of work for weeks or months. Don’t underestimate the costs. Contact our lawyers in Burlington to learn more about your legal options today.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation After a Bicycle Accident in Ontario?
Most accident victims must prove negligence to recover compensation. Simply put, negligence means that someone failed to exercise reasonable caution given the circumstances.
In legal terms, you’ll need evidence to prove:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty
- The breach of duty was the direct cause of your accident
- You suffered damages (physical injuries, emotional trauma, and/or financial expenses)
The first element is relatively easy to prove. All drivers have a legal duty to obey traffic laws and use caution behind the wheel. The remaining three elements can be much more complicated.
To prove your case, our lawyers will use many different forms of evidence, including:
- Police or accident reports
- Medical records
- Footage from video surveillance cameras, traffic lights, or dash cams
- Statements from witnesses
- Cell phone records
- Photos of the accident scene, damaged vehicles, and your injuries
- Drug and alcohol test results
Every bike crash is different, so the types of evidence we find in your case may also be different. That said, you can always count on us to locate every available piece of evidence to support your personal injury claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Bicycle Crash in Ontario?
Generally, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit in Ontario. After the two-year statute of limitations expires, you can no longer sue for damages. That’s true even if your injuries were severe and life-changing.
Contact a Burlington Bicycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were a victim of a bicycle accident, contact a lawyer quickly after the accident. You don’t have to be fully recovered to get legal advice.
At Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, we offer free case reviews, so there isn’t any risk. Call today to schedule your consultation with an experienced Burlington bicycle accident lawyer.