Average Settlement for Bicycle Accident

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the cost of bicycle injuries and death in the United States is more than $23 billion every year with personal injury settlements in Arizona typically ranging between $5,000 and $80,000.

If you are hit by a car when riding a bicycle in Arizona, the amount of a settlement that can be won by a Phoenix bicycle accident lawyer will depend on the circumstances of the event. For example, settlement amounts are often negotiated based on how serious the injuries were, lost wages and diminished quality of life, insurance limits, etc. If multiple parties are involved in an accident, you may share liability for the accident even if you are the one injured.

Bicycle Accidents in Arizona

Arizona is an ideal environment for cyclists. The weather is dry and warm; trails, mountains, deserts, and country roads beckon riders to explore the state’s natural beauty.

However, motor vehicles and bicycles don’t always mix well. According to the 2022 Arizona Crash Facts report prepared by the state’s Department of Transportation, there were 1,159 crashes involving bicycles that year. These crashes included forty-eight fatalities and 1,128 injuries, of which 138 were serious.

Maricopa County–where Phoenix is located–has the highest rate of bicycle accidents in the state. The city and the county have plans to expand bicycle infrastructure, which should help make the roads safer for drivers and cyclists.

How Bicycle Crashes Happen

There are many ways a collision between a motor vehicle and a bicycle can happen. A driver might forget that they need to share the road with cyclists. They could be distracted by vehicle traffic and not see the smaller movement of cyclists. As a result, a driver may:

• Not give cyclists in a crosswalk the right of way when making a right-hand turn
• Run a stop sign or red light
• Not yield to a cyclist in an intersection

Road accidents happen when drivers are intoxicated or come too close to cyclists when passing. There might also be a malfunction with a signaling light, a problem with the road, or a dangerous intersection. Any of these conditions could play a role in an accident with a bicycle.

Focus on Recovery, Hire a Lawyer

Bicycle accidents can be a life-changing event. Serious injuries, monumental medical bills, loss of mobility, and permanent physical and/or mental impairment are not unusual consequences of serious accidents. The driver’s automobile insurance and your health insurance should help cover some of these costs, but you have the right to pursue damages through legal action, too.

Negotiating with insurance companies can be challenging, and Arizona has notoriously low minimum insurance requirements. Insurance companies are also profit-making businesses and will want to pay as little as possible. They could argue that you were at fault (or partially at fault), your bills are unreasonable, or that your injuries are related to an existing condition they aren’t responsible for.

An experienced personal injury attorney from the top-rated, Phoenix-based Gage Mathers Law Group will evaluate your situation and determine the cause of the incident and whether auto insurance covers bicycle accidents. During your free initial consultation, we will assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case and advise you on how best to proceed.

After you hire us, a lawsuit may be filed for economic and non-economic damages (e.g., pain, suffering, disfigurement, disability, discomfort, loss of enjoyment of life, interference with familial relationships, etc.) based on the evidence we collect. In many cases, lawsuits are settled out of court, but you could end up with a trial if negotiations are unsuccessful.

In Conclusion

Phoenix has a reputation as being safe and bicycle-friendly–but accidents do happen. If you are injured in a bicycle accident, get medical attention immediately, then call Gage Mathers. We have the experience to handle complex bicycle accident cases and treat clients with the respect and attention they deserve!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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