The Brown Law Firm can help you if you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident in Juneau. Although Alaska isn’t as strongly associated with bike riding as other places, it’s still a great place to ride when the weather cooperates. Even when it doesn’t, there’s always the chance that there could be an accident that leaves you hurt and facing a lot of uncertainty. We can help you through it all. Set up a free consultation today.
When a Lawyer Makes Sense After at Bicycle Accident
No matter how experienced or careful you are on your bike, an accident can turn an ordinary ride upside down in seconds. One minute you’re riding along the Mendenhall Valley or heading through downtown Juneau, and the next you’re on the ground, hurt, and trying to figure out what just happened.
That can be a lot to deal with after a bicycle accident. And honestly, that’s usually when talking to a lawyer starts to make sense. That’s where our team can help you by:
- Explaining your rights in plain language so you know what to expect
- Looking into what caused the accident and who might be responsible
- Handling the back-and-forth with the insurance company so you don’t have to
- Pulling together photos, witness statements, police reports, medical records, and other evidence to support your claim
After a bicycle accident, the last thing you need is more stress. That’s why we try to simplify the process as much as possible and give you the space you need to focus on getting better. But it’s still tough to go through, and things start right there at the scene.
Information Gathering After a Bicycle Accident
Right after a bicycle accident, you’re probably not thinking about gathering information. You’re trying to figure out if you’re hurt, what just happened, and whether you need medical attention. That’s exactly where your focus should be.
But if you’re able, there are a few things worth doing at the scene to get a basic picture of what happened. Start by calling 911 and reporting the accident. Police and EMTs can help with your injuries and document the accident.
From there, try to get a few basic pieces of information, including:
- Pictures and videos of your bike, the vehicle involved, the road, traffic signs, weather conditions, skid marks, your injuries, and anything else that might help show what happened.
- Names and contact information of anyone who saw the accident. It’s also worth looking around for nearby businesses, homes, or traffic cameras that may have captured what happened.
- The driver’s name, license plate number, insurance information, and contact information.
Remember, you should only try to get these things if you’re physically able to. Don’t try to push through injuries. Just follow what the EMTs say and answer any questions that the police ask you. And once things settle down in the days/weeks after, more things are going to start coming in, like:
- Medical records connecting your injuries to the accident
- The police report
- Notes about your pain, recovery, and how your injuries are progressing
- Pay stubs or work records if you’ve missed time on the job
- Any available camera footage before it gets deleted
- Receipts for bicycle repairs or replacement
- Receipts for damaged riding equipment or gear
This can sound like a lot, but you don’t have to have everything figured out right away. Even if all you have are a few pictures and your medical records, that gives us somewhere to start. Our team can help fill in the gaps and put the information together so you can focus on what comes next—going through the claims process.
How to Figure Out Who’s Responsible For Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
A bicycle accident can seem pretty straightforward. A driver hits you, their insurance pays for your injuries, and you move on. Sometimes it works that way. But not always. Like other types of accidents, it ultimately comes down to negligence. In plain words, that just means:
- Somebody did something—or didn’t do something—that led to the accident and your injuries.
In most bicycle accidents, this is going to involve a driver that:
- Was distracted, speeding, impaired, or otherwise driving carelessly
- Failed to yield to you
- Turned in front of you
- Didn’t give you enough room when passing
- Opened a vehicle door into your path
- Simply wasn’t paying attention
Again, though, every accident has its own set of facts and circumstances. And everyone’s negligence has to be factored in. That can potentially bring in others that share responsibility, like:
- The city, borough, or state government if potholes, dangerous road surfaces, missing signs, poorly designed intersections, or other hazards led up to the accident.
Another bike rider or pedestrian that was being careless or negligent. - A property owner or business if they failed to fix a pothole or signage, just like the government.
As you can see, the details matter when it comes to figuring out who’s responsible for your injuries. That’s an important part of the claims process, because it kicks everything off. But to actually get financial help, you’ll need to understand what you can do from here.
How to Get Damages in a Bicycle Accident Claim
There are a lot of different ways bicycle accidents happen in Juneau, but when it comes to actually pursuing a claim, things usually come down to two main options: dealing with the insurance company or filing a lawsuit. Here’s how both usually work:
- Filing an insurance claim. Most bicycle accident claims start here. It’s usually the quickest way to try to get compensation, but remember that the insurance company isn’t necessarily on your side. It will be looking at the accident from its own perspective and deciding what it’s willing to offer.
- Filing a lawsuit. If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement—or there isn’t enough insurance coverage—you may decide to file a lawsuit. That doesn’t automatically mean you’ll end up in court. A lot of cases settle before trial. But filing a lawsuit can give you access to additional evidence and puts more control over the process in your hands.
Either way, the goal is the same: recovering financial support for things like:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Bicycle repair or replacement
- Damaged riding gear
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one
There’s also a deadline to keep in mind. Alaska generally gives you two years to file a claim after a bicycle accident. That can sound like a long time, but between medical treatment, figuring out what happened, dealing with insurance, and gathering evidence, it can go much faster than you think. That’s why it’s usually better to start sooner rather than later, especially when the details of where it happened also matter a lot.
Where You’ll Find Bike Lanes and Paths in Juneau
Obviously, bicycle accidents can happen anywhere in Juneau, at pretty much any time. But the fact of the matter is that they tend to happen in places where riding is either more prevalent or the surrounding area fits it better.
To that end, the local group Juneau Rides provides a map that lays out the different spots around the area where you’ll find spots where the infrastructure makes riding easier. And these are generally split into three categories:
- Multi-use paths. These give you a place to ride away from regular traffic. They’re shared with pedestrians and other people using the path, but you don’t have cars driving alongside you the entire time. A paved one runs along the east end of Egan Drive downtown.
- Marked bike lanes and shoulders. These give riders their own space along the side of the road. You’ll find them along parts of roads like Glacier Highway, Fritz Cove Road, and other areas around Juneau.
- Shared road routes. Some roads don’t have a separate bike lane, so you’re sharing the road with cars. There’s an example of one along Harbor Way after you cross the Douglas Bridge into downtown.
Even when you’re riding in a marked bike lane, you still have to watch for cars. A driver might turn across the bike lane, pull into it, or simply not see you. And then you have the weather.
Rain, snow, ice, and poor visibility can make riding more difficult. They can also make it harder for a driver to see you or stop in time. But bad weather doesn’t automatically make an accident unavoidable.
You still have to look at what everyone was doing and what actually caused the accident. Remember, though, you don’t have to do any of this alone when you decide to work with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a bicycle accident claim take?
Every case is different. It depends on your injuries, who caused the accident, and the insurance coverage involved. Some claims settle quickly, while others take longer.
What if the driver took off after hitting me?
You still have options. Uninsured motorist coverage and nearby security or traffic cameras may help find the driver or give you more support for your claim.
Do I need to report my bicycle accident to the police?
It’s a good idea, especially if you were injured or the driver took off. A police report can document what happened and may become important evidence later.
Talk With Our Juneau Bicycle Accident Lawyers During a Free Consultation
A bicycle accident can turn a normal ride into something you never expected. Suddenly, you’re dealing with injuries, medical appointments, bike repairs, insurance calls, and questions about what happens next.
Our Juneau bicycle accident lawyers at The Brown Law Firm can help you work through all of it. Set up a free consultation today to talk through what happened and see how we can help.
Injured in
an accident?
Get your free case review today.
"*" indicates required fields