If you get hurt in a bicycle accident in New Haven, Connecticut, it is important to understand your legal rights. You may qualify for financial compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. At Jacobs & Jacobs, our New Haven bicycle accident attorneys represent victims of bicycle accidents and their family members in the pursuit of justice. Contact us today to begin your case with a free consultation. Whether you need help with a bicycle accident case or are looking for a car crash attorney in New Haven for related matters, our team is here to guide you.
This page provides general information about Connecticut bicycle accident law. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Jacobs & Jacobs.
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Hiring a New Haven bicycle accident lawyer to represent you during an insurance claim or injury suit can make it possible for you to pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries, bills, and losses. An insurance company may try to take advantage of you or even reject your claim if you are unrepresented, but an attorney can help protect your rights and push back if an insurer treats you unfairly.
Bicycle crashes are a serious safety problem nationwide. Each year, nearly 1,000 bicyclists die and about 120,000 are injured in crashes on U.S. roads, and a lawyer who focuses on bicycle cases understands how insurers evaluate a cyclist’s injuries differently than a typical car accident claim.
A New Haven bicycle accident attorney can take over negotiations with a driver’s car insurance company for you if you get struck by a negligent driver while on your bicycle. A bicycle accident attorney can also go up against other parties, such as a bicycle manufacturer or the government, to pursue justice on your behalf. Meanwhile, you can rest and focus on healing from your serious injuries.
Connecticut uses an “at-fault” car insurance law. Under this rule, after a bicycle accident, the injured cyclist can hold someone else responsible for his or her medical bills and various other losses, such as lost wages and property damage. It is up to the injured victim to prove that someone else is accountable for the crash.
An attorney can conduct a comprehensive investigation of your New Haven bicycle accident, including reviewing surveillance footage, speaking to eyewitnesses, and obtaining a police report to determine causation. From there, your New Haven personal injury lawyer can identify the at-fault party or parties.
Most bicycle accidents in New Haven are caused by careless and reckless driver errors, such as speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, and failing to yield. Your attorney can present evidence of fault to an insurance company or the courts to establish liability on your behalf.
Fault does not have to be all-or-nothing. Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h. If you were partly at fault for the crash, you can generally still recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50% or less, though your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 51% or more at fault, Connecticut law bars you from recovering anything, so how fault gets divided matters a great deal to your case.
Bicycle crashes in a city like New Haven tend to follow a few common patterns. Knowing them can help you and your attorney identify what went wrong in your case:
Connecticut treats bicycles as vehicles, and cyclists generally have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. A few rules tend to matter most after a crash:
In most bicycle accident cases, Connecticut law gives you two years from the date you were injured, or from when you discovered the injury, to file a lawsuit, and no more than three years from the date of the crash itself, under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584. If a government vehicle or employee was involved, or if the injured person is a minor, different notice periods and deadlines can apply. Because these deadlines can be shorter than you expect, it is worth talking to a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash.
If you get injured in a bicycle accident, check yourself for injuries and get medical care immediately. Even if you do not initially feel hurt, your adrenaline may be masking pain and other injury symptoms. Go to a hospital in New Haven without delay. Do not admit fault for the accident to the other driver or the police.
Call 911 to report the bicycle accident and obtain a police accident report. Get the information of the driver who hit you and any eyewitnesses. Before you leave the scene of the bike accident, take photos for the record. When you are ready to file a claim, consult with an attorney at Jacobs & Jacobs first.
A: Yes. Calling 911 creates an official police report that documents the crash and can support your claim.
A: You may be able to file a claim under your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if your policy includes it.
A: Possibly. A missing helmet cannot be used as evidence of fault for a child under Connecticut law, though an insurer may still raise the issue for an adult rider.
A: Generally two years from the date of the injury, and no more than three years from the crash, under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584.
A: You can still recover damages as long as you are found 50% or less at fault, though your award is reduced by your share of fault.
A: It is worth having a lawyer review any offer before you accept it, since early settlement offers are often lower than what a claim may be worth.
A: Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
A: Jacobs & Jacobs takes bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you.
A: Check for injuries, call 911, get the other driver’s information and any witnesses’ information, and take photos if you are able to.
A: In some cases, yes, but the rules are strict. You generally must give the town or state written notice within 90 days of the crash, and you often have to show the defect was the only cause of your injuries.
A bicycle accident could leave you with severe or permanent injuries in a matter of seconds. If someone else is responsible for causing or contributing to your bike accident in New Haven, our bicycle accident lawyers can help you and your family seek justice.
We represent clients with serious to catastrophic injuries, as well as family members seeking answers through a wrongful death claim.
If your case results in a lawsuit, it will most likely be filed in the Superior Court, Judicial District of New Haven, at 235 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510.
Request a free consultation with our New Haven bicycle accident lawyer today by calling (203) 777-2300 or contacting us online anytime.