Cycling is an excellent way to get around, offering exercise and a green mode of transportation. Unfortunately, accidents with severe or fatal injuries can result when drivers fail to watch for cyclists around them.
When a collision leads to the passing of a loved one, a Houston fatal bicycle accident lawyer could help you and your family pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact our law office today to speak with a knowledgeable cycling collision attorney.
Common Causes of Fatal Bicycle Crashes
When an automobile collides with a bike, there is a potential for fatal injuries. Driver error is among the most common causes of bicycle collisions, including the following actions:
- Texting while driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Not checking blind spots when merging
- Not adhering to traffic signs and signals
- Not yielding to cyclists
- Speeding and aggressive driving
A dedicated personal injury attorney could review the details of an accident to determine the cause and pursue rightful compensation.
Compensation for Fatal Bicycle Accidents
Losing a loved one in a bicycle crash is incredibly traumatic. Many families can pursue significant compensation for their loss. A Houston fatal bicycle accident attorney could review the extent of a client’s losses and include those elements as part of their claim, which may include the following:
- The deceased’s final medical expenses, in cases where the individual did not die immediately
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of that individual’s presence in the family’s life
- The loss of that individual’s income
A fatal bicycle accident lawyer in Houston could help families recover monetary compensation for their losses. While a damages award cannot replace a lost loved one, it can provide funds to help the family recover financially and emotionally.
Who Can File a Fatal Bicycle Crash Claim?
After the loss of a loved one in an accident, the closest family member to the deceased will usually have the right to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim. That includes the deceased’s:
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents, where no spouse or children exist
If none of the above individuals exist, then in some cases, the deceased’s estate can file a claim for final expenses.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations
In Texas, the family of the deceased has two years after their date of death to file a wrongful death claim. If the individual did not die immediately after the accident, including cases where they may have lived for weeks but still ultimately died of their injuries, the clock starts counting down on the date of their death, not the date of the accident.
The longer families wait to pursue compensation, the harder it may be to locate evidence or establish their right to file a claim. Working with a Houston lawyer early on after the loss of a loved one in a fatal bicycle crash can make it easier for loved ones to protect their rights during the claim process.
Contact a Houston Fatal Bicycle Accident Lawyer After the Loss of a Loved One
At The Law Firm of Kinard, Garcia & Saldana, we understand the difficulty of losing a loved one, including how challenging it can be to move on financially and emotionally.
A Houston fatal bicycle accident lawyer could help you seek the compensation your family deserves for the losses you sustained. Contact our firm today to learn how we could help you file a claim.