Bike Vs. Car Accidents - What Types Of Damages Can You Sue For?

Miles and miles of bike paths line the Twin Cities and its beautiful suburbs, and countless riders jump on their bike and traverse these bike lanes every single day. An unfortunate few find their peaceful ride interrupted when they are involved in a collision with a car, and as you can imagine, the cyclist oftentimes gets the worst of it during an accident.

Whether a rider is injured by someone running a red light or opening a door without looking, cyclists can have their life turned upside down in an instant because of a decision made by a driver. Fortunately, cyclists have legal recourse in the event they are injured in a bike versus car accident. But what types of compensation can cyclists pursue? We explore what types of damages cyclists can collect after an accident with a vehicle in Minnesota.

What Damages Can Inured Bicyclists Pursue In Minnesota?

Nobody wants to find themselves in a position where they need to sue to collect compensation after a bicycle-vehicle accident, but you can take solace in knowing that you can pursue a number of different types of damages. While you’ll certainly be able to collect compensation for any medical expenses you incur as a result of the accident, some additional damages that can be included in a personal injury lawsuit include:

Lost wages
Reduced future earnings capacity
Property damage
Future medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish/Emotional distress
Loss of consortium
Wrongful death benefits

As you can see, there are a number of different types of damages you can pursue after your cycling accident, as you have the right to pursue a host of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are losses that you can put a specific dollar amount to (like if you missed two weeks of work recovering from your injuries), while non-economic damages are associated with things where it’s difficult to specifically calculate the value of the loss (like damages for emotional distress or pain and suffering).

Regardless of the type of compensation you’ll be pursuing, it’s oftentimes extremely helpful to have a lawyer by your side to lead the process. You may be able to figure out a ballpark estimate of your losses for your medical bills and lost wages, but calculating your future medical expenses or putting a dollar amount to non-economic damages can be quite tricky if you’ve never gone through the process. Moreover, if you don’t pursue benefits that you are eligible for, you could end up leaving a lot of money on the table.

Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm have helped countless cyclists get the compensation they deserve after an accident with a vehicle, and we can do the same for you. Let us build a clear case and develop a strong compensation demand to get you every penny you’re owed. Not only do we know how to determine a fair compensation award claim, we understand how to counter a lowball settlement offer from the insurance company. Don’t settle for pennies on the dollar when you could get much more with the help of an attorney.

The scars from the accident may live with you forever, but at least you can seek some recourse through a personal injury lawsuit. Let us be your guide so that you can maximize your benefits after a devastating cycling injury. For more information on how our team can assist, or for help with a different type of injury claim, reach out to Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.