Free Consultation
Bicycle Accidents
Maine Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Winning for Our Clients
Maine Bicycle Accident attorneys helping victims recover fair compensation.
You've come to the right place
Maine is an ideal state for cycling, especially during the warmer months when the snow has finally melted. The rich forests and exquisite shoreline create a beautiful backdrop for riding your bike.
Furthermore, Maine has hundreds of miles of bike paths that explore this lush environment. But when you want to ride through an area without bike lanes, you will usually have to rely on the same roads that cars, buses, and trucks use. When traveling in these spaces, you are in danger of getting into a bike accident.
If you are unlucky enough to be involved in a bicycle accident in Maine, you will likely suffer serious injuries. Maine law allows you to get compensation for any of those injuries caused by the negligence of another party.
How can you receive that compensation? The first step to getting the money you need to recover from your injuries is contacting a bicycle accident attorney at Gideon Asen. Our legal team is standing by to help you with a free consultation.
Why Do You Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Maine?
Bicycle accidents are similar to car accidents in many ways, including the fact that they usually include at least one motor vehicle. Technically, according to Maine bike laws, bicycles are effectively motor vehicles. Bicyclists have mostly the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles when they are operating on public roads.
However, there are some notable exceptions. The most obvious exception is that you are not required to have a driver’s license to operate a bicycle, and you are allowed to ride a bike on sidewalks. However, these exceptions do not change your responsibilities if you are involved in a bike accident.
Just as you would when driving a motor vehicle, you are required to remain at the scene of a bike accident, report the crash to the police, and share contact information with the other driver. You likely won’t have insurance information to provide, even if you own a car, but you can offer it up later if relevant.
You also have the right to file a bicycle accident claim against the insurance of the other driver if they were responsible for the collision. Before filing a claim, though, you should contact a Maine bicycle accident attorney at Gideon Asen.
The insurance companies have an army of lawyers on their side. Just like you should if you are in a car accident, it’s important to get an attorney to help protect your rights during the bicycle crash claims process.
Bicycle Accident Injuries Are More Serious
It is probably even more important to hire a Maine bicycle accident lawyer than it is to hire a car accident attorney because your injuries are likely greater after a bike crash. A car is effectively a giant plastic and metal box. In a collision, that box offers some level of bodily protection.
A bike offers no such protection. Your injuries are likely to be much more serious than in a car accident, requiring significantly more medical care. This could represent hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in costs. When you are facing expenses that large, you can’t risk having your claim denied or getting less money than you need.
By hiring a Maine bicycle accident attorney, you can increase the likelihood that you will get the compensation you need. Experienced lawyers at Gideon Asen are familiar with all types of injuries and can accurately determine the value of your claim.
This means that we can tell whether a settlement is fair or not. And you can rest assured knowing that our team won’t let you accept an offer that devalues your bicycle accident claim.
You shouldn’t be stuck paying for medical care and absorbing the pain of lost income when someone else is responsible for your injuries. Contact Gideon Asen immediately after a bike accident in Maine for assistance in getting as much compensation as the law allows.
Filing a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Maine
If you are hurt in a bicycle accident, there are two main ways that you can petition for compensation from the responsible party. When things go well, you can get compensation by filing an accident claim against the insurance policy of the driver who hit you.
But what can you do if the insurance company denies your claim or refuses to make a fair settlement offer? When that happens, you have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. This is usually considered the last option because a trial will take months or years to resolve, and there is no guarantee how it will turn out.
In many ways, a lawsuit isn’t particularly different from negotiating a claim with the insurance company. To win a trial, you need as much evidence as possible to prove your case. That same evidence is required to convince an insurance company to negotiate a settlement with a claimant.
By filing a lawsuit against a defendant and their insurance company, you are making a statement that you have the evidence necessary to support your claim. This is also your way of announcing that you won’t accept the offer the insurance company is making.
In many cases, just filing a lawsuit is enough of a push to get the insurance company to agree to a fair settlement. It is better than paying for an expensive lawyer just to have a court force a similar award on the insurance company.
If that pressure doesn’t work, our legal team has decades of courtroom experience. We know how to showcase evidence and convince a jury that you deserve compensation. At Gideon Asen, we stand by our results, both in and out of the courtroom. Want to know more? Contact us today to discuss your legal rights.
FAQ
How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Maine?
When you are injured in a bicycle accident in Maine, state law gives you six years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. That is the deadline to start the lawsuit. Once you have begun the legal process, it doesn’t matter if your case is resolved more than six years after you were injured.
Can I File a Lawsuit if a Loved One Was Killed in a Bicycle Accident in Maine?
Yes, you can. However, the deadline to file a lawsuit is much shorter than it is when filing a personal injury claim. You only have two years from the date your loved one died to file.
Even if you aren’t certain whether you’ll file a wrongful death lawsuit, you should consult with a lawyer at Gideon Asen as soon as possible. Doing so allows you to ensure the deadline doesn’t pass unexpectedly.
Can I Get Compensation if I Am Partially Responsible for My Injuries From a Maine Bicycle Accident?
Yes, but with limitations. If you are less than 50% responsible for your injuries, you can get compensation from any other parties who are also partially responsible for your injuries.
However, any compensation you receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Unfortunately, if you are 50% or more responsible, the comparative negligence rules in Maine don’t allow you to get any compensation at all.
How Long Will I Have to Wait to Get Compensation After a Bicycle Accident in Maine?
Typically, if your case is resolved through a settlement with the insurance company, you will get your compensation in anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. While this can seem like a long time when you are recovering from an injury, it is a reasonable time scale.
However, if your case goes to trial, you likely won’t see any money for at least one year. The legal process is slower than the insurance claim process and can potentially take several years to resolve.
Contact Gideon Asen to Consult With a Maine Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
If you were seriously injured in a bike crash in Maine, you may need help paying for your medical bills and other expenses. The bicycle accident lawyers at our law firm will investigate your case and determine whether you are eligible to get money for the harm you suffered.
Contact Gideon Asen immediately to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
What they say
“Taylor Asen and Ben Gideon’s professionalism, expertise, diligence, commitment and kindness never wavered, diminished or faltered during the period it took to resolve my medical malpractice case.”
