“The car hit me. That should be enough proof to get me compensation, right?” While that may seem fair, it’s not always true. Here are three things you should know about car-versus-bike accidents in Maryland:

  1. The driver is not always at fault.
    Contrary to popular belief, just because a car hits a bike does not necessarily mean that the driver is at fault. In some cases, police find the bicyclist to be at fault for an accident, for failing to follow a specific traffic law. Because bicyclists are required to follow the same traffic laws as drivers, the investigation may show that you were at fault for your own injuries, should the police determine that you failed to yield or broke some other traffic law.
  2. Partial responsibility means no money.
    Maryland is a contributory state, which simply means that if you contributed to causing the crash, you will not be eligible to receive any compensation for injuries you received in that crash, no matter how badly you were injured. For this reason, it is crucial to prove your innocence in any accident.
  3. Bike accidents mean big injuries.
    It’s no secret that in any Maryland collision between a bicycle and a car, the bicyclist is likely to sustain serious injury, while the driver of the vehicle may very well walk away unharmed. You’d think this would make the law sympathetic to your injuries, but that is not necessarily the case if the prosecution believes that you somehow caused the crash. 

When you’ve suffered big injury in a crash, you can’t afford to lose out on compensation. The experienced Maryland auto accident lawyers of Nickelsporn and Lundin may be able to help you prove your case and get you the compensation you desperately need. To set up an appointment, call 800-875-9700.

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