Emporia, VA Bicycle Accident Injury Lawyer

Bike riding is a popular American pastime.  Enjoyed by everyone from children, to recreational enthusiasts, to professional cyclists, biking is an easy and inexpensive experience that can be enjoyed almost anywhere.

Unfortunately, thousands of cyclists are injured, many severely, and hundreds of cyclists are killed every year. If you or a family member are the victim of a bicycle accident, it will be critical in obtaining full compensation to seek an experienced injury lawyer for your case.

With more than 25 years of experience, firm founding attorney Mark Hurt has obtained millions of dollars for injury victims and the families who have lost a loved one due to negligence.  Mark Hurt has built a reputation throughout Southern and Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee for his legal skills, and has an extensive track record of success for securing maximum settlements and jury verdicts.  He is known for bringing a passion and tenacity to client representation on each and every case.

At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we firmly believe everyone should have the right to enjoy cycling safely.  In addition to helping those injured get the compensation they deserve, our objective is also to make our neighborhoods and communities safer for bike riders.

If you were injured or if a family member died in a bike accident, call our office today – 24/7 – to schedule a free consultation with bike accident Lawyer Mark Hurt!

Who May Be Liable for a Bike Crash?

If a cyclist is hit by a vehicle, there may be others in addition to the driver who may be liable.  Others who potentially may be liable include other drivers, companies, municipalities, and even the United States federal government.

As an example, if a cyclist is hit by a USPS driver, USPS will also likely be subject to liability.  If the driver was on patrol as a police officer, a city or state may also have liability.  Additionally, if a city or town fails to properly maintain roadways and a pothole or improper roadway maintenance or signage is a factor in a crash, the city or town may also be liable for the injuries sustained.

If the driver was a US postal service employee, the United States government may also be liable.  In this case, a special type of lawsuit must be initiated against the United States government.

As a bike accident lawyer, firm founder Mark Hurt has decades of experience investigating bike, motorcycle, and vehicle crashes.  He is dedicated to meticulous accident investigation – often through retaining professional accident investigators and reconstructionists – to determine all of those who may be at fault.  This is critical because identifying all liable parties can significantly impact the amount of compensation a victim obtains.  Once we determine who we believe to be at fault, we then seek to hold each party responsible for their share of accident damages.

About Firm Founding Attorney Mark Hurt and Our Firm

Over the past three decades, firm founding attorney and Duke Law graduate Mark Hurt has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured victims.  He has successfully tried cases and argued appeals in Virginia and Tennessee state courts, as well as in federal court.

Further, Mark has argued cases twice before our nation’s highest court, the United States Supreme Court.  This is a rare distinction, as fewer than 1% of attorneys ever argue cases before this court.

Mark uses his extensive trial and litigation experience and deep understanding of the law to help clients get the full and fair compensation to which they are rightfully entitled.  When you hire The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, you can rest assured that you will receive dedicated representation and that our firm will be tenacious in seeking justice and the full compensation that you rightfully deserve.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

We represent injured cyclists on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will not owe us any fee unless compensation is recovered through a settlement or at trial.  We also advance all litigation costs while a case is ongoing (these expenses are usually paid back through a settlement or verdict).  As a result, you will not need to pay for any legal fees or expenses while your case is proceeding.

What Types of Bike Accident Cases Does Personal Injury Lawyer Mark Hurt Handle?

Each year, hundreds of bicycle crashes occur in Virginia and Tennessee, over 20% of which result in serious injuries and fatalities.[1]  Commonly, bike crashes are caused by the failure to yield; crashes are also commonly caused by the failure of a driver to pay attention to bicyclists.  In some cases, alcohol is a factor in a bike crash. From backing out of parking spots without looking and making left turns into bike lanes to running stop signs, distracted driving, and drunk driving, many of these catastrophic collisions could have been easily avoided.

Regardless of the underlying cause or causes of a bike accident, we can seek full compensation from all those responsible.

What Types of Injuries Can Occur in a Bike Crash?

Because bicyclists often have little protection if they are hit (other than perhaps a helmet), they often suffer severe, and sometime catastrophic, injuries, such as those involving:

• Traumatic Brain and Head Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Herniated Discs
• Whiplash
• Paralysis
• Broken Bones and Fractures
• Soft Tissue Lacerations and Injuries
• Road Rash
• Abrasions
• Amputations

Many bike accident injuries require extensive, lifelong medical care, all of which comes at great expense.  In some tragic cases, bicyclists are killed by negligent motorists.  Innocent cyclists and their families should not have to shoulder the financial burden alone.

What Damages are Potentially Recoverable in a Bicycle Crash Case?

Bike accident victims and their families are entitled under both Tennessee and Virginia law to the damages they incurred resulting from their crash.  In general, such damages typically include property damage (such as the value of the bike), medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Other damages are also recoverable; once we speak with you and learn about your case we can advise as to the types of damages that may apply in your case.

In cases of severe and long-term injury, the damages that are potentially recoverable will be significant.  In such cases, in addition to past lost income, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, future lost income, medical expenses, and pain and suffering will also be recoverable, as will other damages, such as damages associated with the loss of enjoyment of life associated with the inability to engage in lifestyle activities (such as exercise or playing with a person’s children) and potentially the loss of consortium with a spouse.

Once we determine the amount that a client is entitled to receive, we will make a demand for full and fair compensation from all those who we believe are liable, and we will typically also file a lawsuit.

How Much am I Likely to Receive in a Bike Accident Case?

In addition to the severity of the injury and the other potential damages noted above, a key factor in the ultimate recovery in a bicycle crash case will be based upon who is at fault, and the availability of insurance to pay for liability.  At the outset of a case, in addition to determining all those at fault, we will also want to find out what insurance may be available to satisfy the liability of each defendant.

When large companies and cities are at fault, they typically have both substantial assets and insurance. Thus even in the case of a large verdict, these types of defendants are typically able to pay the full amount of a judgment (or a fair settlement).

If an individual driver is the only one liable, the driver’s insurance will be responsible for paying the settlement or a judgment up to the policy limits.  To the extent that insurance is insufficient to cover all liability, an injury victim must look to the assets of the driver to see whether additional funds can be obtained.  Unfortunately, if the driver is not insured, they will likely have little assets from which a meaningful settlement of judgment can be obtained.

Next Steps

If you or a loved one was injured in a tragic bike accident, we know that you will likely have many questions about your case, including what to do next.  If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, or if your family lost a loved one, we would look forward to discussing the facts of your case and explaining your legal options for seeking the compensation you may need for treatment.

Do not delay – contact bicycle accident lawyer Mark Hurt today for a free consultation to learn how he and our firm can help you seek the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.  We are available to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you hire our firm, you will pay us nothing up front, and you will pay no fee unless and until we have secured compensation on your behalf!

[1] To learn more about crashes in Virginia, please see 2019 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts, Commonwealth of Virginia, https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/safety/crash_data/crash_facts/crash_facts_19.pdf.