Category Archives for Bicycle Travel

Clifford & Raihala Bicycle Accident Attorneys Bring Experience and Knowledge to Your Case

If you or a family member has been injured in a car-bicycle collision, you deserve lawyers who have the experience and understanding of bike crashes to make sure you are fairly and fully compensated for your injuries. Clifford & Raihala’s bicycle accident attorneys in Madison, Wisconsin have been representing people injured in car crashes for almost 50 years. We are experienced bicycle accident attorneys and have handled bike crashes of every kind, from tragically fatal injury to serious fractures, traumatic brain injury, and more.

We understand the serious nature of bike crashes, and their causes. In 2019, almost 850 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles. Another 49,000 cyclists were injured, a 5% increase over the preceding year. Almost 80% of those bike crashes were in urban areas. Alcohol involvement was reported in 34% of all fatal bike accidents. Almost 70% of the fatalities happened during weekdays, with one in five occurring between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Clifford & Raihala bicycle accident attorneys research these statistics (see, e.g., in the “Traffic Safety Facts” report published annually by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at https://www.nhtsa.gov and other sources) because that data helps us understand how and why our bicycle accident client was injured.

Clifford & Raihala bicycle accident attorneys in Madison, Wisconsin believe having an understanding of how, and when, and why motor vehicle-bicycle crashes happen is an important background to providing our bicycle accident clients with capable legal representation, and assuring they receive full compensation for their injuries. That’s why we have recovered millions of dollars of compensation for our bicycle accident clients. Some of those results can be reviewed here: LINK

Our law firm has handled bicycle accident cases where the motor vehicle operator has violated some of the most basic, but important, duties to the bicyclist. Motor vehicle operators need to share the road with bicyclists. They need to allow at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicycle on the roadway, to look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling from a parking space, and to yield to bicyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators and have the same responsibilities – and rights – as motor vehicles. All too often, car drivers don’t recognize the rights of bicyclists on our roadways. And the results can be devastating.

Frequently – all too frequently – bicyclists suffered sever and life altering injuries when a car or truck crashes into them. Our bicycle accident lawyers have represented clients who have been struck by a negligent motor vehicle operator resulting in injuries from severe fracture requiring multiple surgeries and long-term rehabilitation and therapy to injuries to multiple organs to fatalities. The injuries are rarely mild. The consequences are frequently awful. Unfortunately, our bicycle accident attorneys have had to resolve claims where the bicyclist has succumbed to fatal injuries, and the survivor family members should be compensated for not only their economic losses of support but their loss of the society and companionship of their loved one.

Our bicycle accident attorneys have obtained millions of dollars of compensation for our bicycle accident clients. If you or a family member have been injured in a bicycle accident, contact us at 608-257-7900 (toll free at 888-791-84220 or click https://myjustice.com. There is no charge and no cost for this consultation, and no obligation. Our bicycle accident attorneys will be pleased to answer your questions about our experience in representing bicyclists. We think you will be impressed, comforted by our experience and successful results, and convinced that we can help you, too. If you retain Clifford & Raihala to represent you, there will be no fee charged unless we recover compensation for you.

Bicycle Accidents In Wisconsin

“I didn’t see the bike.” “The bicycle came out of nowhere.” “I don’t know how the bike accident happened.”

Each Wisconsin personal injury lawyer at Clifford & Raihala has heard comments like these over and over again from motor vehicle operators who have negligently crashed into our cycling clients. Bicycle accidents, like most crashes, can and should be prevented. Over 90% of bicycle accidents are caused by operator error, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Sadly, when a motor vehicle-bicycle crash occurs, the bike always loses. DOT records show that the bicyclist is injured, or killed, in almost 95% of bike crashes with motor vehicles. The most common serious injury in bike accidents is head injury, or traumatic brain injury. Other serious injuries include spinal cord injuries and paralysis; fractures of the legs, ankles, arms, ribs or vertebre; organ damage and soft tissue muscle or ligamentous injuries. Any of these injuries can be devastating, making it difficult or impossible to enjoy normal life’s normal activities.

When a cyclist is injured by a negligent car or truck driver, the law says she or he is entitled to be compensated for all injuries, physical pain and suffering, and economic losses including medical bills, lost wages, property damage and more. An experienced bike accident attorney, like those at Clifford & Raihala, can help evaluate your injuries and get the compensation you deserve.

If you have been injured in a bike accident, Clifford & Raihala will provide a free consultation to advise you of your rights, with no obligation. If you hire a Clifford & Raihala bicycle accident attorney, our fee will be a percentage of the amount we recover for you. There will be no fee unless there’s a recovery for you. We advance all costs for medical records, consulting with your doctors, filing and other fees, reimbursed only if you win your claim.

It is important to speak with a bicycle accident attorney as soon as feasible after a bike crash to obtain motor vehicle accident reports and physical evidence of the scene including photographs or videos from DMV roadway video cams and nearby commercial security cameras. As well, some insurance payments may be available to you almost immediately to help deal with the economic difficulties for you and your family from your injuries. Often these go unpaid without the help of an experienced bicycle accident attorney.

Motor vehicle operators owe a duty to drive with due regard for the safety of bicycles sharing our roadways. If motor vehicle operators comply with that duty, serious injury from vehicle-bicycle crashes can often be avoided.

If you have been on your bicycle and injured by the negligence of a motor vehicle operator, contact Clifford & Raihala for a free consultation.

Bicycle Accidents Are Preventable

Given the severity of injuries often caused when a motor vehicle crashes into a bicycle, motorists should be even more cautious and exercise even greater care when bicycles are present on the roadway. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports that over 90% of bicycle accidents are caused by operator error. Most of those errors, and the resulting crashes, are preventable.

Generally, when an operator commits an error and causes a bike accident, he or she is legally negligent and may be responsible for compensating the bicyclist injured in a crash. Even when there is no actual physical contact between the bike and motor vehicle, the driver of the vehicle may be responsible, and should be held accountable. For example, the bicycle accident lawyers at Clifford & Raihala have represented cyclists who were thrown over the handlebars when braking for a car that pulled out in front of the cycle, but the bike and car never actually collided. The car driver negligently failed to yield to the bicyclist’s right of way and was legally responsible for compensating the cyclist.

Negligent driver conduct causing bicycle accidents often involve the following:

• Running through a red light or stop sign;
• Making an illegal turn;
• Failing to yield to the right of way of the bicycle;
• Failing to maintain proper lookout or observation of the roadway;
• Distracted driving including use of cell phone or tuning the radio;
• Speeding or reckless driving.

Motor vehicle operators owe a duty to drive with due regard for the safety of bicycles sharing our roadways. Drivers can prevent bicycle accidents by taking a few reasonable, and required, steps:

• Give cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing.
• When turning left, watch out for and yield to the right of way to an oncoming bicyclist.
• Practice caution when young cyclists are present.
• When turning right, yield to any bicyclist on the right.
• Do not pass a bicycle if you are about to turn right.
• Put down the cell phone.
• Slow down.

When a bicyclist is hit by a motor vehicle, she or he is likely to suffer not just physical injury, but the emotional pain and suffering that accompanies that traumatic event. The cyclist will likely suffer economic losses including lost wages, property damage and significant medical expenses. If you have suffered any losses or injuries in a bike accident, your attempts to seek compensation will involve fighting against in insurance company with large resources to fight your claim. Personal injury laws vary by state so it’s important that you choose an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent you.

If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, protect your rights by contacting a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer experienced and skilled in helping bicycle accident victims. Contact the bike accident lawyers at Clifford & Raihala for a free consultation.