Riding a bike is a popular and healthy mode of transportation, particularly in bustling cities like San Antonio. But when cyclists share the streets with cars, trucks, and buses, accidents can and do happen.
Unfortunately, cyclists are much less protected in accidents and often suffer serious injuries. Thus, when a bicycle accident is caused by someone else’s carelessness, proving negligence is essential for the injured rider to recover damages.
However, establishing fault is not always straightforward.
Here is a breakdown of how to prove negligence in a bicycle accident claim.
- Duty of Care
To establish negligence, the first thing the injured cyclist must prove is that the negligent party had a duty of care.
In general, all drivers, including cyclists, are legally required to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicles in a manner that doesn’t put others at risk. This includes obeying speed limits, stopping at red lights, yielding when appropriate, and staying alert while driving.
These legal duties are especially important in a city like San Antonio, where cyclists regularly share the road with heavy traffic
Therefore, in such a case, a San Antonio bicycle accident lawyer can help injured cyclists build a strong case by demonstrating how a motorist’s failure to uphold their duty of care led to the crash.
With experienced legal support, victims can better navigate the claims process and pursue the justice and compensation they deserve.
- Breach of Duty
Once you have a duty of care, the next thing to prove is that the driver failed to fulfil his or her duty.
A breach occurs when a person fails to act in a reasonably careful manner.
In bicycle accident cases, that could mean a driver who runs a stop sign, doesn’t check an intersection before turning, or opens a car door into a bike lane— a move that cyclists call “dooring.”
- Causation
Once you have proved that the driver was careless, the next step is to prove causation. This might involve demonstrating that the cyclist’s injuries were caused by the driver and the accident.
Just proving that the driver acted recklessly, however, isn’t good enough because there has to be a link between the driver’s behavior and the accident.
For example, if a driver ran a red light and struck a cyclist in the intersection, the link between the breach and the injury is clear.
- Damages
The final element in a negligence claim is damages. The injured cyclist must show that they suffered actual harm from the accident. Damages can include physical trauma, medical bills, lost wages, mental anguish, damage to property, or even total permanent disability.
Gathering records, such as medical files, repair estimates, wage statements, and expert appraisals, is also essential in determining loss.
If you do not prove damage, there is no legal ground for financial compensation, regardless of who is at fault.
Final Thoughts
Proving negligence in a bicycle accident lawsuit has nothing to do with pointing fingers, and everything to do with proving the legal standards for negligence and showing evidence of a motorist’s reckless behavior that caused a bicyclist to suffer injury.
For injured cyclists, being able to prove duty, breach, causation, and damages is essential to a strong case. By working with a lawyer and keeping detailed records, cyclists are able to fight for their right to proper compensation.
