A McAllen bicycle accident lawyer helps cyclists hit by a car hold the at-fault driver responsible and recover for their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. The Lopez Law Group represents bicycle accident victims in McAllen, Weslaco and across the Rio Grande Valley, in English and Spanish. As a personal injury law firm, we work on contingency, so you pay no attorney's fee and no case expenses unless we recover for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
A McAllen bicycle accident lawyer helps cyclists hit by a car hold the at-fault driver responsible and recover for their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. The Lopez Law Group represents bicycle accident victims in McAllen, Weslaco and across the Rio Grande Valley, in English and Spanish. Phone: (956) 968-7800.
Who is at fault when a car hits a bicycle
Under Texas law a cyclist has the same right to the road as a driver, and a driver who hits a bicycle is usually at fault. Fault for the accident turns on the facts: a driver who turned without looking, opened a door into a bike lane or drifted into a cyclist is liable. Texas uses a comparative negligence rule, so even a cyclist who was partly at fault can still recover as long as the cyclist is not more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, with the recovery reduced by that share. Insurance companies lean hard on the idea that the cyclist "came out of nowhere," and an experienced McAllen bicycle accident attorney answers that with evidence.
Common causes of bicycle accidents in McAllen
Most bicycle accidents in McAllen happen because a driver did not share the road. Common causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Drivers turning across a cyclist's path
- Unsafe passing with too little space
- Dooring, when a parked driver opens a door into a cyclist
- Distracted and phone-using drivers
- Running stop signs and red lights
- Drunk driving
Each cause points to who was responsible for the accident, and an experienced bicycle accident lawyer builds the proof from the accident scene, witnesses and any video.
What to do after a bicycle accident
What you do at the scene shapes the bicycle accident claim. If you are able:
- Call 911 and get a police report started
- Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel fine, because some injuries surface later
- Take photos of the accident scene, the vehicle and your injuries
- Get the driver's insurance and witness contact information
- Do not give a recorded statement to the driver's insurer before you talk to a lawyer
Whether or not you were wearing a helmet, Texas has no adult helmet law, and not wearing one does not bar your claim. Preserving evidence related to the accident is what protects the value of your claim.
Bicycle accident injuries
A cyclist has no protection in a collision with a motor vehicle, so bicycle accident injuries are often serious: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, road rash and internal injuries. These injuries in McAllen can mean months of treatment and time off work. A skilled personal injury attorney ties every injury to the crash in the medical records, so the insurer cannot blame something else.
Compensation after a bicycle accident in McAllen
Texas law lets bicycle accident victims recover several types of compensation in a personal injury claim:
- Medical expenses and medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and lost earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage to the bicycle
- Punitive damages where the driver's conduct was extreme, such as drunk driving
The value of your claim and how much a bicycle accident claim depends on the injuries, the medical care and who is at fault, so a bicycle accident claim depends on several facts that no honest lawyer prices before reviewing them. Our job is to prove the full value and get you the compensation you deserve.
The deadline to file a bicycle accident claim in Texas
In most cases you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim under Texas law and Section 16.003. A bicycle accident claim filed late can be blocked no matter how strong it is, and evidence at the scene disappears fast. Contact a McAllen bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible so nothing is lost.
How our McAllen bicycle accident attorneys handle your case
The legal process gets the same care whether your case settles or goes to trial. It starts with a free consultation, in person or by phone, where we explain your legal options in plain words. We investigate, return to the accident scene, gather witness statements and video, build the medical records, and file a claim with a full demand. When there is no fair offer, we file a lawsuit and take it to court. That is how experienced McAllen bicycle accident lawyers move a claim from a low first offer to a result the facts support. For any other kind of crash, our McAllen personal injury attorney page and our McAllen car accident lawyer page cover a car accident in McAllen and the rest.
Why McAllen and Weslaco cyclists choose The Lopez Law Group
We are a bilingual personal injury law firm with roots in Hidalgo County and a principal office in Weslaco serving McAllen. You get experienced McAllen personal injury lawyers, direct access to attorney Fernando J. Lopez, and a firm that has represented more than 2,500 clients across McAllen and throughout Texas in 18 years. We work only on contingency, so you never pay unless we recover money for you, and Spanish-speaking families get everything in their language. You pay no attorney's fee and no case expenses unless we recover for you, and the consultation is free.
Frequently asked questions
Who is at fault if a car hits a bicycle?
Usually the driver, because a cyclist has the same right to the road as any vehicle. Fault turns on the facts, though, and Texas comparative negligence can assign a share to each side. A bicycle accident lawyer gathers the evidence to place fault where it belongs.
Can you sue someone for hitting you on a bike?
Yes. If a driver's negligence caused the crash, you can bring a personal injury claim for your injuries, lost wages and pain and suffering. If the driver was uninsured, your own uninsured-motorist coverage may apply. A lawyer can tell you which sources of recovery exist.
What should I not say to an injury lawyer?
Be fully honest with your own lawyer, that is the one person on your side, so hiding facts only hurts your case. The caution is about the other driver's insurer: do not give them a recorded statement or accept quick money before your lawyer reviews the claim.
Do you help Spanish-speaking cyclists?
Yes. Our team represents bicycle accident victims in English and Spanish across McAllen, Weslaco and the Rio Grande Valley.
Contact a McAllen bicycle accident lawyer today
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in McAllen, Weslaco or anywhere in the Rio Grande Valley, contact our law firm for a free consultation. You pay no attorney's fee and no case expenses unless we recover for you. The attorney responsible for the content of this page is Fernando J. Lopez. Our primary office is in Weslaco, Texas.
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The Lopez Law Group, PLLC. 2611 N Texas Blvd #1, Weslaco, TX 78599 · (956) 968-7800 · Serving McAllen, Weslaco, Brownsville, Edinburg and the Rio Grande Valley. Hablamos español.
