As the weather begins to warm up more people begin to take their bicycles out of storage and on to the urban and suburban streets of Maryland. Bicycling continues to gain popularity, but with more bikes on the road than ever before it continues to become more dangerous. Each year there are close to 1,000 fatal bike accidents and almost 500,000 injury related bicycle accidents, and a large majority of these accidents are due to motorist negligence. Put plainly drivers are simply not careful enough in urban areas and side streets where bicycles are sharing the road. If a careless driver has contributed to your injury or the fatality of a loved one the negligent motorist and their insurance company must be held responsible. The Herbst Firm specializes in representing injured bicycle riders and their families, and is available 7 days a week to discuss your case at no cost and no obligation. Injury attorney Benjamin Herbst will personally handle all aspects of your case and will never pass work off to a paralegal or a secretary. He makes himself available at all times to clients and their families, and understands that staying informed throughout the process is essential to healing and moving past the accident.
Even the most experienced and careful bicycle riders face the risk of injury from drivers that are new, distracted or grossly negligent. The CDC has discovered that adults aged 50-59 who have been riding for decades are actually at the highest risk of a bicycle fatality. Adults with riding experience are typically well informed about the rules of the road and are especially careful each time they head out, but sometimes being careful isn’t enough. A simple but negligent act of driving outside of a lane marker, turning abruptly and without signaling or even speeding can result in a catastrophic injury to a person riding a bicycle. Common injures from these accidents can include concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI), fractured wrists, shoulders and arms. Broken ribs and punctured lungs are also common serious injuries that can result from a bicycle accident. Each of these injuries could either be life threatening or contribute to complications that could end up being life threatening, so seeking immediate medical attention is an absolute must. Serious injures are not always obvious and this is especially true for injures involving the brain. There is no doubt that wearing a helmet saves lives, but helmets do not offer complete and foolproof protection. Lack of visible injuries such as lacerations and bruises should never deter a rider from seeking medical attention.
In the days following a bicycle accident the victim and his or her family may begin to receive calls from the driver or other negligent party’s insurance company. These billion dollar companies are not concerned with your health or wellbeing, and unrepresented individuals are treated as an easy target in their eyes. It is important to consult with an injury lawyer as soon as possible after the accident, as insurance companies may try to induce a quick settlement or convince an injured party that making a recorded statement is in their best interest. This could not be further from the truth. Bicycle accident lawyer Benjamin Herbst will immediately work to protect his clients from the insurance companies and make sure their right to receive just compensation is preserved. He will never accept a settlement unless his clients are 100% percent satisfied, and he has no hesitation about filing a lawsuit and taking on the insurance companies in court. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident or have a family member that was injured or killed contact Benjamin anytime at (410) 207-2598. He handles cases in every Maryland jurisdiction and will travel to your home, hospital or place of business to discuss your case any day of the week.