It can take only seconds for you or someone you care about to be the victim of a bicycle accident in New Haven. If you’re here to understand if your bicycle accident could qualify for a personal injury claim, our New Haven bicycle accident lawyers at Weber & Rubano can help you. We seek maximum compensation for all our personal injury clients in New Haven – including bicyclists.
Contact us for your free, no-obligation bicycle accident case review today.
Bicycle Accidents in New Haven
Bicycles have been a popular mode of transportation since the 1880s, but they didn’t exist long without the inclusion of the automobile on the same roadways. While we don’t know when the first bicycle accident occurred in the United States, we do know that they are increasing.
With 130,000 bicyclists in the United States and an estimated 550 bicyclists in Connecticut suffering from accidents with negligent motorists annually, the problem facing those trying to share the road is not going away.
Statutes Governing Cyclists in New Haven
According to CGSS 14-232, the drivers of motor vehicles must leave a minimum of three feet of space while passing a bicyclist while on the road.
Like many other states in Connecticut, bicycles are considered street-legal vehicles. This means they get the same rights as cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. They operate and are bound by the same traffic laws as any other driver on the road.
The lack of understanding of the rights of cyclists, along with negligence on the driver’s part, results in many avoidable traffic accidents. Contact our New Haven bicycle lawyers to find out what your rights are.
What is the Statute of Limitations on Bicycle Accidents in Connecticut?
Like in other civil cases resulting from an accident with a motor vehicle, the victim has two years from the accident date to file the claim.
Types of Recoverable Damages
New Haven bicycle accident victims could be eligible to receive these damages either in a settlement or a court of law:
Economic Damages: these are calculable financial costs stemming from the accident. For example, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, medical bills, nursing costs, and more could all be recoverable economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages: these are intangible costs associated with the accident but do not have an exact dollar amount associated with them. For example, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium are all forms of non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages: these damages seek to punish the negligent defendant. In Connecticut, punitive damages are capped at only covering attorney fees and court costs. Many legal scholars feel this punitive damage cap is one of the strictest in the entire country.
Why Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers are the Legal Team for You
As loyal members of the New Haven community, our New Haven bicycle accident attorneys at Weber & Rubano pledge to do everything we can to help victims of bicycle accidents. That deep commitment leads us to our guarantee: we never receive a penny from those we represent unless we win your case.
With over 60 years of personal injury experience, we’ve settled and tried thousands of personal injury cases like yours – with success stories to prove it.
Getting started working with the legal experts at Weber & Rubano is simple. Request your free, no-obligation case bicycle accident case review today.