Fort Lauderdale Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Individuals who have been injured in a Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident that was the result of a negligent driver can generally seek compensation for their injury through the personal injury claims process. This process can include a claim against your personal injury protection (PIP), or even against the insurance policy of the at-fault driver. An experienced Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyer from Eltringham Law can help you understand this process.

How a Fort Lauderdale Bicycle Accident Attorney Can Assist You with Your Claim

A bicycle accident attorney brings an important quality to your claim: experience in the legal process. This experience helps them to provide a number of services, including the ones listed below.

Determining Insurance Resources

In Florida, all registered drivers are required to obtain at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to be used to pay a portion of wage loss and medical expenses after an accident, and this coverage also applies to injuries incurred while a named person on the policy was riding a bicycle. This is often the first source of compensation after a bicycle accident, with the option of seeking compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance being available if your injuries are serious or the expenses of the injury exceed your PIP policy. A Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyer can help you with this claims process just as they can with claiming compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance policy.

According to Florida Statute §316.070, drivers involved in accidents are required to provide certain information to other drivers on the scene, including the name and address of the owner of the vehicle, the license plate number of the vehicle, and the name of the driver’s auto liability insurance provider. Your attorney can communicate with the insurance provider in order to determine the limits of the driver’s policy in order to determine the compensation that is available for you.

Valuing Your Claim

Once your attorney has determined how much compensation is available through the at-fault party’s insurance, and you have reached maximum medical improvement for your injuries, your attorney will establish a value to your claim. In addition to insurance resources, there are a number of factors that influence the value of your claim, such as:

  • The severity of your injury
  • The amount of work you missed as a result of the injury
  • The amount of income you earned before your accident
  • The medical expenses you incurred as a result of the accident
  • The likelihood of the injury producing permanent disabilities that will impact your ability to earn an income in the future.

Communicating with the Insurance Provider

Your attorney will manage communication with the insurance provider in order to protect your claim. Insurance companies generally do not want to pay third-party claims to those who have been injured by their insured, and will often attempt to take advantage of a claimant’s unfamiliarity with the process in order to ensure that they don’t have to. An attorney with experience in the process anticipates these maneuvers and knows how to avoid them.

Negotiating a Settlement

An insurance provider has three options for resolving your Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident claim. They can pay it, they can deny it, or they can settle it. Generally, their initial offers will be less than half of the full value of your claim, even with an attorney representing your case. However, your attorney will negotiate with the insurance provider in order to obtain a higher offer.

Filing a Lawsuit

If the insurance provider fails to pay the claim in full or make a settlement offer that you can agree to, your attorney can file your claim as a personal injury lawsuit. In Florida, personal injury claimants usually have four years to file a bicycle accident claim in court, though this time can be extended in certain circumstances.

Gathering Evidence to Support Your Claim

Your attorney will gather initial evidence such as the police report, photos of the accident scene, and documentation of expenses even before a lawsuit is filed. However, once the claim is filed, the attorney also has what is known as the discovery process. This is a time when they can obtain evidence from the at-fault party that can be used in court.

Examples of the type of evidence that can be obtained through discovery include:

  • The defendant’s cell phone records, if the attorney believes they were texting and driving when they struck your bicycle.
  • The defendant’s driving history to look for a pattern of traffic offenses.
  • Results of the defendant’s drug or alcohol test if one was ordered by the police after the crash.

Guidance

Your attorney is responsible not just to help you obtain a settlement, but to also help you understand the value of your claim and the process. What they can’t do, however, is make your decisions for you. You decide whether you want to accept the settlement offer, or when it is time to file your claim in court.

Litigation Services

While most bicycle accident claims are resolved through settlement, some will see the inside of a courtroom. If your claim is not settled before your trial begins, the at-fault party’s insurance provider still has time before a decision is reached to make an offer. In the meantime, your bicycle accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale prepares your case and represents it in court.

Assistance Collecting Your Compensation

At the conclusion of your bicycle claim, either through a settlement agreement or litigation, your compensation will be received by your attorney. They will deduct the percentage that is owed to them for their services via your contingent fee agreement and other expenses the agreement requires them to pay (such as hospital or insurance liens) and the rest will be given to you.

A Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Can Help with Your Claim

A Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyer from the Eltringham Law Group is available to discuss your legal options for obtaining compensation for your injuries. Contact us for your free case evaluation.

What Our Clients Say

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5 star review

I usually never leave reviews, good or bad, but for this instance, I most definitely had to. David and Marnie were both AMAZING. They made me feel comfortable and confident in their ability to resolve my case. I was walking in a crosswalk and was hit by a vehicle resulting in having to go to the hospital. I sustained injuries from this that I am still in the midst of dealing with. I contacted the firm and was able to speak with them via zoom immediately. I decided to sign with them on a Monday evening (3 days after my accident) and by Tuesday afternoon (the very next day) my case was settled. And settled for the very max that was able to be obtained. I attribute a lot of this to not only the expertise of the firm, but the relationships that Marnie has built with her experience working as a lawyer within a major insurance provider, which just so happened to be the insurance provider involved in my case. This is incredibly atypical for a case to be settled this quickly, especially with this outcome. It has been two weeks to the day today that my accident has happened and my case has already been resolved. I am blessed and more than happy that I decided to hire this firm. Every case is different, but I can bet that this firm will handle your case with care and the utmost professionalism. I pray I never have to go through a situation like this again, but if I did, I wouldn’t hesitate to call this law firm. Thank you guys very much!!

Shekeara

5 star review

I highly recommend Eltringham Law Group to anyone seeking legal advice after having a car accident. David Eltringham and his entire staff gave me the personal attention I needed during a very difficult and painful time. David took the extra steps needed to ensure that I received the medical care I needed as well as the financial compensation I deserved. Harold Torres, Paralegal updated me every step of the way. Thank you Eltringham Law Group!

Laura Lauri

5 star review

I had such a great experience with Eltringham Law Group! I was always kept in the loop and the experience was so personal. I was always in close contact with Teresa who was an absolute pleasure to work with. I would definitely recommend Eltringham Law Group again and again – I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!!!

Alex Peacock

Recent Case Results

$1.025M

RIDE SHARING

November 2021

$1M

COMMERCIAL TRUCKING ACCIDENT

March 2022

$600K

CAR ACCIDENT WITH MINIMAL VEHICLE DAMAGE

March 2022

$425K

CAR ACCIDENT NO SURGERY

March 2022

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Working With Us

Lighthouse™ is a system unique to Eltringham Law Group – Personal Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, it’s what makes us different from other personal injury attorneys. We built this program to hold our own attorneys accountable and make sure our clients are getting the care and consideration they deserve.

sign up phase 1

Client Onboarding
Client Onboarding

The client meets with our Lighthouse Concierge Team to discuss the details of their potential case. A dedicated Lighthouse Team Member is assigned to the case to gather information and maintain constant communication with the client.

discovery phase 2

Investigation Case Analyzer
Investigation Case Analyzer

The assigned Lighthouse Team Member gathers and assess all information related to the case. A majority of the information is processed, paperwork is submitted and any questions/concerns the Lighthouse Team has for the client are clearly communicated and addressed.

Client Success Maximizer 3

Client Success Maximizer
Client Success Maximizer

The client meets with their Lighthouse Concierge Team Members to conduct a full review and explanation of the process. Both legal and medical records are reviewed and our team sets realistic and achievable expectations for the client.

Phase 1 Medical 4

Phase 1 Medical
Phase 1 Medical

The client is undergoing treatment at this point of the process and the Lighthouse Concierge Team maintains consistent communication to monitor the treatment scheduled. Additional medical referrals and testing may be required at this point if recommended by the current medical provider.

Phase 2 Medical 5

Phase 2 Medical
Phase 2 Medical

The client finalizes initial medical treatments that may include referrals to specialists, medical procedures, further testing and/or additional treatment recommendations by their medical providers.

Resolution or Litigation 6

Resolution or Litigation
Resolution or Litigation

The Lighthouse Concierge Team is in communication with those involved with and/or responsible for the damages incurred in your case. Two possible outcomes at this stage are 1) an achieved settlement agreement or 2) the inability to achieve a fair settlement that will result in the Eltringham Law Group filing a law suit on your behalf.

Post-Settlement Process 7

Post-Settlement Process
Post-Settlement Process

The case has completed and an agreement/resolution has been achieved with maximum in the best interest of the client. The Lighthouse Concierge Team meets with the client to fully explain the results and work diligently to finalize their case.

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