Bicycle Accidents in Minneapolis
– What You Should Know

Mar 16, 2010

Given the rising costs of gasoline, as well as the popular movement toward going “green,” many Minneapolis residents are deciding to commute and run their errands by bicycle. Although the weather can be harsh in the winter, there are dedicated cyclists who bike all year round, making Minneapolis one of the top cities for bicycling. However, with the increase in cyclists, comes an increase in the potential for accidents.

Bicycle accidents happen for many reasons and can include slick road conditions, pot holes, or faulty equipment. However, the number one cause of bicycling accidents is that cars fail to yield, or fail to see, bicyclists. Even in places with dedicated bicycle lanes, anywhere where bikes and cars need to share the road, it is most often the cyclists who lose out.

If you have been injured in a bicycling accident, you are no doubt angry and frustrated, on top of being injured. You may want to contact a local Minneapolis bike group to help get some support during the time following your accident. Many other bicyclists know all too well the aftereffects of getting hit by a car while on your bike and they can help you work through it so that you are not afraid to bike in the future.

With very serious injuries, you also may want to think about suing the driver of the car that hit you. In order to determine if you have a good case against them, you need to make sure you have a copy of the police report, which should include any statements made by the driver. It may also include an accident reconstruction sketch and the officer will also typically give his or her opinion about how the accident happened and who was at fault.
You will also need to get copies of your medical reports from when you were taken to the hospital. Once you have gathered these documents, set up a consult with a personal injury attorney. After you have told him/her your story and they have had a chance to review your documents, they will be able to give you an educated guess about how successful a lawsuit will be. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that you will not owe them any money until you win your case. If you lose, you won’t owe them anything.

If you need money now, however, when your attorney is telling you that you won’t be seeing a settlement for a year or more, all is not lost. You can contact Lawsuit Hotline, a company that specializes in lawsuit funding. What this means is that they may be able to give you money now that you can spend on medical bills and even a new bicycle to replace the one damaged in the accident. Then, once you get your settlement check, the money goes back to Lawsuit Hotline. It will allow you to get back on the road sooner rather than later by helping to speed along your mental recovery, as well as take care of any physical needs you might have. Visit www.lawcapital.com to learn more.

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