Sometimes what starts as a simple bicycle ride for exercise or recreation ends in an accident. When bicycle accidents happen, the considerable size difference between bicycles and cars usually means the cyclist will suffer serious injuries. If you got hurt in a bicycle accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to demand compensation from the negligent party. Our bicycle accident lawyer can help you hold them accountable.
Schiller and Hamilton is a personal injury law firm that stands up for the rights of South Carolinians who suffered injury due to someone else’s negligence. Our attorneys have over 70 combined years of experience fighting personal injury cases. We are members of the multimillion-dollar advocates forum, a prestigious honor reserved only for attorneys who have collected over $1 million on behalf of their clients. Our mission is fighting for you.
What Can a Schiller & Hamilton Bicycle Accident Lawyer Do for You?
From the minute you hire us, we will advocate for your interests throughout the process. It’s not always a fair fight when the negligent driver has an insurance company to stand for them while you’re recovering from an injury. Our bicycle accident lawyers can help you deal with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on an equal footing. That starts with doing the most important thing, establishing liability in your case.
We will build a solid case to show that driver negligence caused your bicycle accident, which will put us in a position to demand the compensation you deserve for your losses. We understand how an accident can affect your life, which is why we are dedicated to holding the negligent driver financially accountable for your losses.
Our bicycle accident lawyers will also communicate directly with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. That includes settlement negotiations. Insurance companies can minimize a case’s potential value and use any information you give them to achieve that end. We keep the focus in your case where it needs to be–on the negligent driver. If we can’t reach a settlement, our team will fight for you in court.
Do You Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
If we lived in a perfect world, insurance companies representing negligent drivers in bicycle accidents would just ask you what your damages are and give you a check. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Insurers must pay for the damage their clients cause, but at the same time, their business model depends on making the smallest payouts possible or no payment at all if they can get away with it.
Having a bicycle accident lawyer gives you a team of professionals who are as committed to your best interests as the insurance company is to its quarterly profits. It also gives you the freedom to focus your efforts on making a full recovery from your injuries. You will have to decide for yourself if that is worth it, but we’re confident an attorney from our team can make a positive difference in your case.
What Are the Damages in a Bicycle Accident?
You have the right to demand compensation for your losses from the at-fault driver after a bicycle accident. This compensation, which is also known as damages, falls into one of the following categories:
- Economic damages
- Non-economic damages
The economic damages portion of your compensation reflects the actual financial losses you suffered from the accident. Examples of economic damages our lawyers may demand after a bicycle accident include:
- Payment for your accident-related medical bills
- Reimbursement for income or wages you could not earn while recovering from your injuries
- Repair or replacement cost of your bicycle (or any personal property damaged in the accident)
- Other accident-related expenses
Non-economic damages compensate you for the non-financial losses from the accident, which are just as real as financial ones. Being hit by a car doesn’t just have a monetary cost, but it involves physical pain and may reduce your quality of life. Mental anguish, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life are all examples of the non-economic damages a bicycle accident lawyer from our firm will fight for when representing you.
How Long do You Have to Demand Damages?
South Carolina law gives you a limited time to demand compensation after your bicycle accident. This time, also known as the statute of limitations, starts on the date of the accident and generally lasts for three years, per S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530. In most cases, you will lose your ability to demand compensation from the at-fault driver if you don’t make your demand within three years. Your bicycle accident attorney will file your case properly.
How Much do Bicycle Accident Lawyers Cost?
Cost is almost always a consideration when you are looking for professional services. However, Schiller and Hamilton’s first commitment is to your well-being. We don’t just want to fight for your compensation; we want to make it as easy as possible for you to put us on your case.
With this in mind, our bicycle accident attorneys will handle your case on contingency. We won’t bill you for your services if we can’t reach a successful conclusion to your case, such as a settlement or a judgment. The way we see it, if we can’t perform, you shouldn’t have to pay us.
Talk to Us Today for Help from a Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you feel like you have many questions and very few answers after a bicycle accident, you’re not alone. Many personal injury clients have questions about how to proceed before hiring us. This is why we offer free case consultations so that our bicycle accident lawyers can answer questions like:
- Do you have a case?
- How much is your case worth?
- How long do bicycle cases take to resolve?
- What if your damages exceed the coverage limits of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy?
Remember, this is a free consultation, and there is no obligation. After we speak with you, you can choose a different attorney or do what you think is the best way to move forward with your case. All you have to do is make the call, and a bicycle accident lawyer from Schiller and Hamilton will be there to fight for you. Reach out to us today. It would be our honor to help you seek financial recovery as you move forward in your life.