How Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers Helps After a Bicycle Accident in Bedford
A Bedford bicycle accident lawyer proves the driver’s fault and pursues full compensation while you recover. Insurance companies often assume the cyclist was to blame, and they won’t make the process easy. We take the insurance fight off your plate.
When you hire us, we:
- Fully investigate the circumstances of your accident
- Collect and evaluate all available evidence
- Identify all responsible parties and sources of insurance
- Defend you when the insurance company blames you for the crash
- Work with outside professionals who can establish liability and your case value
- Negotiate for the fair compensation you deserve
Our Bedford personal injury attorneys have served cyclists in Bedford, Euless, Hurst, and the rest of Northeast Tarrant County since 1985 from our office on Plaza Parkway.
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident in Bedford?
The steps you take right away protect your health and your claim:
- Call 911 so police document the crash. A police report helps establish what happened.
- Get medical care, even if you feel okay. Head and internal injuries can take time to show.
- Photograph everything: the vehicle, your bike, the road, and your injuries.
- Get names and contact details from the driver and witnesses.
- Keep your bike, helmet, and gear as they are. Don’t repair or throw them away.
- Don’t talk to the driver’s insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents in Bedford?
Most bike crashes happen because a driver didn’t see, or didn’t make room for, the cyclist. Common causes include:
- Distracted driving
- Failing to yield at intersections and driveways
- Right hooks, when a driver turns right across a cyclist’s path
- Left turns in front of an oncoming cyclist
- Passing too closely
- Opening a car door into a bike lane (“dooring”)
- Speeding and impaired driving
- Potholes, debris, and poorly maintained roads
Bedford’s busy roads, such as State Highway 121, Airport Freeway, Central Drive, Harwood Road, and Cheek-Sparger Road, mix fast traffic with turning vehicles and shopping-center driveways.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Texas?
Bicycle crashes are common in Texas. In 2021, 2,265 crashes involving bicycles were reported to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Nearly 1,400 people were injured in those crashes, and 91 people were killed.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Bicycle Accident in Texas?
You prove negligence by showing the driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries and losses. In Texas, cyclists generally have the same rights and duties as other vehicle operators, so drivers must give them the same care.
Evidence can include the police report, witness statements, video from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, photos, vehicle and bike damage, and medical records.
What if I’m blamed for the crash? Insurers often say the cyclist was riding in the wrong place, ran a light, or wasn’t visible. Under Texas comparative fault, you can recover if you were 50% or less at fault, with your award reduced by your share. If you were more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing.
What Is My Bedford Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
Every case is different, even though insurers try to compare yours to others. We look at:
- Whether your injuries are serious or likely to cause long-term disability
- The cost of your medical treatment so far
- Future medical care and rehab
- Lost wages and how your future earnings may be affected
- The impact on your quality of life
- Whether you contributed to the accident
You can seek past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, physical therapy, nursing care, in-home help, property damage to your bike and gear, and other out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Don’t accept the first settlement offer before you understand your full losses.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Cyclists have little protection in a crash with a car. We often represent riders with:
- Broken bones, especially wrists, collarbones, and legs
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Road rash and scarring
- Internal injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
If you lost a family member, see our Bedford wrongful death lawyer page.
How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Under Texas law, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Building a strong case takes time, so contact a lawyer soon after the accident.
About Brad Parker
Bedford Bicycle Accident FAQs
How much does a bicycle accident lawyer cost in Bedford?
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront, and you don't owe attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. The fee is a percentage of the recovery agreed in writing before we start, and our fee will never exceed your recovery.
Do I have a case if I wasn't wearing a helmet?
Possibly. Not wearing a helmet doesn't mean the driver wasn't at fault for the crash. The insurer may argue it made a head injury worse and try to reduce your recovery. Texas comparative fault rules decide how much, if any, your recovery is reduced. Talk to a lawyer before accepting that argument.
Whose insurance pays after a bike accident in Texas?
The at-fault driver's liability insurance is usually the main source. If you own a car, your auto policy's personal injury protection (PIP) can pay medical bills and part of your lost income, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply if the driver had too little insurance or fled.
Should I accept the insurance company's first offer?
Usually not. First offers often come before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept, you can't reopen the claim. Have a lawyer review the offer and your future medical needs before you sign anything.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in Texas?
Under Texas law, bike accident victims generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once the deadline passes, you lose the right to seek compensation in court. If a city road defect was involved, a written notice deadline of six months or less can apply.
Visit Our Bedford Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Bedford Office
2317 Plaza Pkwy #100, Bedford, TX 76021
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed