Gainesville has many bikeable areas, from the University of Florida campus to Alfred A. Ring Park, plus countless streets and sidewalks throughout the community. The League of American Bicyclists has even bestowed Silver-Tier Bicycle Friendly Community status to Gainesville.
Yet, all it takes is one negligent motorist, one dangerous road, or one other hazard to leave a bicyclist seriously injured.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a bike accident in Gainesville, allow our team to fight for the compensation you deserve. Call Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. today at (800) 800-2575 to complete your free consultation about hiring a Gainesville bicycle accident attorney.
Bicycle Accidents in Gainesville Are Not Usually Bikers’ Fault
Data suggests that the more bicyclists in a given community, the safer a given cyclist is. This is the safety in numbers phenomenon. We might assume that if a community like Gainesville has an outsize number of bike riders—as the University alone guarantees—then bicycle accidents would be less common than in less bike-friendly locales.
Yet, despite Gainesville’s reputation as a cycling-friendly community, our attorneys see far too many collisions happen.
These crashes can occur because:
- Motorists are distracted: Florida law prohibits distracted driving, and there have been countless campaigns by public and private institutions to curb distracted driving. Our firm fights to reduce distracted driving by holding negligent drivers accountable. Bikers are at particular risk when motorists are not paying attention, as riders do not have the protection that those in motor vehicles have.
- The environment is chaotic: Certain sections of Gainesville can be hectic. Around the University of Florida, as well as interactions like Archer Road and 34th Street, University Avenue and 13th Street, and 39th Avenue and 34th Street, are particularly chaotic. When confusing or stressful conditions are present, drivers must be even more careful to spot and avoid bike riders.
- Motorists are in a hurry: There is nothing wrong with being in a hurry. However, when a driver speeds, runs red lights, dangerously passes cyclists, or engages in other dangerous behavior because they’re in a hurry, they place others at an unacceptable risk of harm.
- Drivers do not see cyclists: Even though riders often wear reflective vests and have reflectors and lights on their bikes for nighttime riding, motorists can miss them. If a motorist does not see the bike rider, the driver might not even brake or swerve before striking the cyclist.
- Road conditions are unsafe: The City of Gainesville, the University of Florida, and certain other private and public institutions must build and maintain safe roadways. A Gainesville bike accident attorney will evaluate any potholes, cracks in the road’s surface, absent traffic signs, defective traffic signals, unsafe work zones, or other road hazards that contributed to your wreck.
- Drivers are impaired: Part of being a college town means a higher-than-average rate of impaired individuals within city limits. When impaired individuals choose to drive, they endanger the general public. They are a particularly pressing danger to cyclists, who typically have little protection beyond a helmet (and don’t always have that).
- Defective vehicles always pose a threat to riders: If a motor vehicle driver operates their vehicle cautiously, but their brakes are shot, then their caution may not be enough to prevent a bike accident. Motor vehicle owners and operators have a duty to ensure their cars, SUVs, and trucks are roadworthy before driving.
We do not usually see riders injured through their own fault. Even if a bike rider shares fault for a crash, motorists must try to avoid the accident. If we find that a motorist did not take adequate precautions to avoid hitting you, they or their insurer may owe you compensation.
Why You Should Not Wait to Hire a Gainesville Bike Accident Attorney After the Crash
We cannot emphasize enough: If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a bicycle accident in Gainesville, call our firm. Do not wait, because:
Florida Has Deadlines for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
Florida generally requires bike accident survivors to file their personal injury case within two years of the collision. Wrongful death cases are also subject to a deadline.
Never play with deadlines. Retain your Gainesville bike accident lawyer from our firm, and we will file all necessary claims and lawsuits on time.
If You Don’t Secure Evidence Now, It Might Not Be Available Later
The attorneys at Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. often prove fault for traffic accidents with:
- Video
- Photographs of damage to bikes and motor vehicles
- Witness accounts
- Expert accounts
- Other types of evidence
If you get a witness account weeks or months after an accident, liable parties will have more grounds to dispute those accounts. We will not wait to obtain evidence. It’s your move, so don’t wait to hire us.
One Discussion with the Insurance Company May Be One Too Many (If You Don’t Have a Lawyer)
Innocent mistakes have seriously harmed injured bikers. A single inaccuracy might negatively affect your claim, possibly leading a liable insurer to deny your claim.
Allow us to take over all communications with insurance companies right away. This is how you will protect yourself.
Your Recovery Should Be Your Sole Focus Right Now
We have seen the aftermath of bike accidents. They often leave victims in rough shape.
We want you to:
- Get all the medical care you need
- Seek any mental health services that can benefit you
- Have the time you need to rest and heal
- Allow us to handle your case so your recovery can be your sole (or at least your primary)
You surely have personal obligations to tend to. That being said, if you don’t put everything you have into your recovery, you might face long-term physical, psychological, and emotional challenges because of it.
Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. prides itself on helping clients get better. We can better achieve that mission when clients hire us sooner rather than later.
Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A.: Experienced Attorneys Who Ride for Riders
Understand that each law firm is unique. Who you choose as your Gainesville bicycle accident lawyer will make a difference. When trusting your attorney to deliver full and fair compensation, you should know exactly who you are hiring.
Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. strives to be immaculate in every area of our work, and our strengths include:
Elite Client Service
Clients are the lifeblood of our firm. Without you, we would not have the opportunity to do this job we are so passionate about.
The spirit of service is present in everything we do, and you can expect:
- A close, one-on-one relationship with your bike accident attorney
- To get to know other members of our team, who will treat you like family
- Frequent communication, which is one of the most critical aspects of client service in the legal industry
- Compassion for the effects of your bike accident, which may be taking a physical, psychological, and emotional toll
Let our team be your family. We will show you respect, treat you as a priority, and be the support you can lean on after the collision.
Life-Changing Financial Results
Our legal team:
- Has a 99 percent winning percentage in cases we handle
- Has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients
- Intends to win big for each client we represent, and that will be our intent when leading your bicycle accident case in Gainesville
Our lawyers routinely secure million-plus-dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients. We are just as confident negotiating settlements as we are leading court cases.
More Than 100 Years of Combined Experience
Our attorneys have earned their respect.
Our lawyers bring more than 100 years of combined experience to the office, and this means:
- You can confidently hire your Gainesville bicycle accident lawyer from Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A.
- Your lawyer won’t learn on the job—we know what we’re doing because we have done it for years
- Your attorney will have both trial experience and an extensive negotiating history
Experience breeds quality legal service. Perhaps our attorneys’ experience is the most important reason for choosing us as your legal advocates.
Our Care for Gainesville
Our firm has an office at 6241 NW 23rd Street in Gainesville. This is our community, and we feel a deep sense of duty to make Gainesville safer, better, and more cyclist-friendly.
We are a local law firm with resources and experience to match nationwide firms. Because we are here, we are accessible. Our roots in Gainesville also mean we care about our cases and clients in the city.
Our consultations are free, and they come with no pressure or obligations. Call Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. today at (800) 800-2575 to complete your free consultation about a Gainesville bicycle accident attorney.
We Will Hold Insurers, a Negligent Motorist, and All Other Liable Parties Accountable for You
If everyone did the right thing and took every available precaution to protect cyclists, you would probably not be in this position. That’s not the world we live in, so hire a Gainesville bike accident lawyer to hold liable parties accountable.
Allow our team to help by:
Representing You with the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are not always kind or fair to bike riders.
Liable insurers may:
- Claim that you are responsible for the accident
- Refuse to cover some or all of your losses
- Intentionally undervalue your losses
- Engage in other bad-faith tactics
Our Gainesville bicycle accident attorneys hold insurers accountable, and we do not tolerate bad faith toward our clients.
Making a Personalized Case Strategy
Each of our clients is a unique, independent person. Using someone else’s case plan for your unique case will not work. You will get a one-of-a-kind strategy from Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A.
Documenting Bike Damage, Medical Costs, and Other Damages
We may prove the cost of your bike accident by:
- Getting X-rays, other medical images, bills, and other relevant documents from medical providers
- Hiring a mental health professional to diagnose (and potentially treat) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other types of pain and suffering
- Gathering documentation of the repair or replacement of your bike
- Organizing other relevant financial records, like bank statements showing lost earnings
We never hesitate to hire experts to assist us in documenting clients’ damages, and that’s another benefit of hiring our firm.
Demanding a Fair Settlement
Your Gainesville bicycle accident attorney will demand fair compensation—from insurance companies or anyone else who owes you money.
Representing You in Court
It’s not a given that we will need to take your case to trial. It’s statistically unlikely. That said, we are always ready to represent injured bikers in court.
Damages Our Gainesville Bike Accident Attorneys Often See Among Injured Cyclists
As difficult as your bike accident has been, we look forward to fighting for you.
You should breathe easier the moment you hire us, and you can be confident that we will obtain fair compensation for:
- All accident-related medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Lost earning power
- Repair or replacement of your bicycle
- Mental health services
- All other economic and non-economic damages from your accident
We will urgently pursue all the compensation you deserve. Don’t wait to reach out to us.
Respect Your Case Deadline. Reach Out to Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. Today
Call Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. today at (800) 800-2575 to complete your free consultation about a Gainesville bicycle accident attorney.
Our team is welcoming, compassionate, and ready to advocate for you. While we treat you with kindness and respect, we will take a more aggressive approach when handling your case. We want you to experience the top-shelf service each client receives, so don’t wait to contact us at our law offices can help you, contact us today at (800) 800-2575.
You pay no legal fees unless we win your case. Become one of our hundreds of satisfied clients today. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Client Testimonial
“My experience was beyond satisfactory, from the first call with Mr. Bagen for consultation, to working with Megan to achieve the end goal. I definitely want to thank them for their hard work and dedication to my case along with the warm and friendly care. My calls were always returned in a timely manner, and no matter the question I had Megan always helped. I would highly recommend.
Once again I can’t thank you guys enough!” – Teresa S.
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