There is a unique kind of pain that comes with a sudden, unexpected loss. One moment, your loved one is heading out for a bike ride—maybe to work, for exercise, or just to enjoy a beautiful day. Next, a phone call shatters your world. When a cyclist is killed by a negligent driver, the grief is compounded by a sense of profound injustice. It wasn’t just an accident; it was a preventable tragedy. A life was taken because someone else wasn’t paying attention, was driving too fast, or simply didn’t respect the cyclist’s right to be on the road.
When a family is shattered by a wrongful death from a bicycle accident, The Killino Firm’s team has been dedicated advocates for decades. We are skilled in wrongful death cases near me because we believe that every family deserves the best answers, and every negligent party must be held accountable. We have seen firsthand how a fatal bicycle crash is not just a statistic; it’s a story of a life cut short and a family left to pick up the pieces.
When you’re facing the loss of a family member, the last thing you want to think about is a legal battle. But taking legal action is often the only way to get justice for your loved one and to secure your family’s future. The driver’s insurance company is not on your side. Their goal is to pay as little as possible. Our goal is to fight for you.
Let’s break down what a wrongful death lawsuit means for a family after a fatal bicycle accident. No confusing legal jargon, just a straightforward conversation about the challenges you’re facing and how you can fight back.Â
Many people think of bicycle accidents as minor incidents resulting in scrapes and bruises. The reality is far more grim. Cyclists are incredibly vulnerable. They have no airbags, no steel frame, no seatbelts—nothing to protect them from the immense force of a two-ton vehicle.
The numbers are shocking and getting worse. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the most recent year of data, 1,105 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the United States. This represents a significant and tragic increase over the past decade.
The Statistics That Drivers Don’t Want to See
Let’s dig deeper into the data, because the details reveal a story of driver negligence that is often overlooked.
This isn’t a “bicycle problem.” This is a driver inattention problem. The best thing you can do after a crash is find a bicycle accident lawyer near me who understands these statistics and knows how to use them to build the best case.
When we investigate a fatal bicycle crash, we are looking for the root cause—the specific act of negligence that led to the tragedy. Over our decades of experience, we have seen the same heartbreaking patterns of driver carelessness over and over again.Â
Our job is to leave no stone unturned. We investigate the driver, the vehicle, the roadway, and any other potential factors to ensure every negligent party is held accountable.
After a fatal bicycle accident, the immediate focus is often on the driver of the car. However, a thorough investigation may reveal that multiple parties share the blame for the tragedy. Identifying every responsible party is crucial to ensuring your family receives the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Here are the potential defendants in a bicycle accident wrongful death lawsuit:
Finding the best legal strategy means exploring every possible avenue for recovery. Our firm has the resources and the experience to take on these complex, multi-party cases to ensure your family gets the justice you deserve.
We understand that no amount of money can ever replace your loved one. A wrongful death lawsuit is not about trying to assign a monetary value to a life. It is about seeking justice and securing the financial stability your family needs to move forward in a world that has been turned upside down.
In a wrongful death claim, your family may be able to seek compensation for two main categories of losses:
Calculating these damages is an incredibly complex process. We work with a team of economists, financial planners, and other experts to create a detailed life care plan that projects your family’s losses over decades. This is the only way to ensure that any settlement or verdict truly provides for your family’s future.
Key Takeaways
We know that absorbing all of this information can be overwhelming, especially when you are grieving. Here are the most important things to remember:
Top Resource Groups for Survivors of Bicycle Accident Wrongful Death
Losing a family member in a sudden, traumatic way is an isolating experience. Please know that you are not alone and that there are organizations dedicated to providing support and advocating for change.
The most important thing is to focus on your family’s immediate needs and your grief. As soon as possible, please contact our experienced wrongful death law firm. Do not speak to any insurance adjusters or sign any documents. The decisions you make in the first few days can have a huge impact on your ability to seek justice.
Each state sets its own deadline, known as the statute of limitations. In most places, families have about two years from the date of death to file a claim. However, the window can be shorter—or sometimes longer—depending on state laws and the circumstances of the case. For example, if the claim involves a government agency, the deadline is often much tighter. Because missing this deadline can end your right to recover, it’s crucial to contact our lawyers as quickly as possible.
This is determined by state law. Generally, the claim can be filed by the deceased person’s surviving spouse, children, or parents.
At our firm, as with most personal injury and wrongful death practices, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means families owe nothing upfront—our team advances all expenses for researching and pursuing your claim. You only pay a legal fee if we successfully secure compensation for your family. This approach enables grieving families to pursue justice without incurring the financial burden of hourly legal costs.
The value is based on a combination of economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses include the financial support the deceased would have provided had they not passed away. Non-economic losses include the loss of love, companionship, and guidance. We collaborate with the best economists and other experts to calculate the full lifetime value of these losses, presenting it to a jury.
The insurance company will try to use this to blame the victim. However, in many states, the simple fact that a cyclist wasn’t wearing a helmet cannot be used to reduce their recovery in a wrongful death lawsuit, especially if the cause of death was not a head injury. We fight vigorously against these “blame the victim” tactics.
Not necessarily. The vast majority of wrongful death cases are resolved through a settlement before a trial ever begins. However, we prepare every single case to the best of our ability as if it is going to trial. This meticulous preparation puts us in the strongest possible position to negotiate a fair settlement and shows the defendants that we are ready for a fight if they are not willing to be reasonable.
Our firm has been dedicated to one thing: securing justice for families who have been wronged across the country. We are more than just lawyers; we are advocates who are passionate about holding powerful corporations and individuals accountable. We have the experience, the resources, and the unwavering commitment to fight for your family every step of the way. When you call us, you get a team that is ready to listen and prepared to fight for the memory of your loved one.
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