How a Defective Bicycle Might Affect Your Car Accident Claim
In most cases, when you are involved in an accident while riding a bike, the other party is likely to be at fault. This is because cars are expected to give the other party the right of way. However, if you did not adequately maintain your bicycle and the lack of maintenance contributed to your accident, you might be held partially at fault for the accident.
Defective Tires
The tires on a bicycle are thinner and there are only two tires that are in contact with the ground as opposed to with a car. Therefore, it's especially important that the bicycle tires remain in good condition. If your bike doesn't have great traction, you are more likely to fall over.
Worn Out Brakes
Your brakes need to be in good condition so you can avoid an accident. You may need to stop your bike suddenly to avoid colliding with a vehicle or to avoid a pothole. If you lose control of your bike, you are more likely to hit another vehicle.
However, even if something went wrong with your bike, you will not want to admit fault. You might not be at fault for the accident even if something was wrong with your bicycle. Instead, you will want to work closely with a law firm that specializes in accident cases.
The Other Party Might Still Be at Fault
A law firm will investigate how your accident occurred and will gather evidence to prove that the other party was at fault. For example, the other party might have been using a mobile device at the time of the accident.
The Role of Eyewitnesses and Expert Witnesses
A law firm usually has expert witnesses working for them that can look at evidence found at the scene of the accident and can use the evidence to prove that the other party is at fault. They can also examine cell phone records to determine if the driver was sending a text message or browsing the Internet at the time of the accident.
In addition to expert witnesses, a law firm will try to locate eyewitnesses who may have seen the accident. You might be concerned because nobody has come forward, but an experienced law firm may be able to track witnesses down so they can provide their version of the events. Then, your law firm will be able to help maximize the settlement you receive.
