Slaughter & Lupton Law
Your Advocates for Bicycle Incidents
Cycling to work or school offers benefits of exercise and an eco-friendly commute. But when a collision occurs between you and a motor vehicle, the consequences can be dire. Even if you wear a helmet and adhere to all cycling regulations, the odds are stacked against you. In Virginia and North Carolina, there can be state and local laws and regulations that may affect your ability to make a recovery and laws and regulations that may increase your recovery..
If you have suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, turn to the experienced bicycle accident injury lawyers at Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC. Contact us today for a complimentary initial consultation to explore your options for pursuing your financial recovery from the at-fault driver and underlying insurance companies.
Here for you when you need it most.
Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC is proud to service the following Virginia and North Carolina cities:
Virginia Areas We Serve
- Virginia Beach - To ensure easy access to our services, we have an office on Virginia Beach Blvd. near Newtown Road. Our Virginia Beach office is within 400 feet of the Norfolk city line and is centrally located near the Interstate 64/Interstate 264 interchange.
- Chesapeake
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Williamsburg
- Portsmouth
North Carolina Areas We Serve
- Edenton - Located within walking distance of Edenton's Historic District and less than 10 minutes off of Highway 17.
- Elizabeth City
- Greenville
- The Outer Banks
- The Inner Banks
- Currituck
- Ahoskie
Our firm is technologically proficient with comprehensive case management information systems in place to handle many transactions and documents electronically including signing and paralegals who are Virginia and North Carolina e-notaries.
Virginia Beach Location
Edenton Location
Understanding Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents can happen anywhere you ride, with some areas posing higher risks than others. Although rural roads and highways (byways) offer a scenic view with less traffic, many roads have a narrow single traffic lane in each direction with little or no shoulder and ditches on each side. City streets may or may not have a designated bike lane and are often filled with traffic and dangers that suddenly appear.
While some states permit cyclists to use the full lane on non-highway roads and streets, bicyclists are recommended to stay to the right of the lane. However, on roads where cars might also occupy the lane, the chances of a distracted driver side-swiping a cyclist are significant.
Other common causes of bike accident include the following:
Dangerous road surface conditions leading to instability and avoidance maneuvers such as potholes, debris, and poor traction for bicycles;
Incidents involving drunk drivers or drivers impaired by drugs where the impaired driver’s ability to perceive a bicycle and rider is even less than their ability to see another car; and
Car and truck drivers who disregard rules for sharing the road with a slower bicyclist under a “might makes right” attitude.
If you have been in an accident while riding a bicycle, the road to recovery can be difficult and confusing. Our legal team can help guide you every step of the way through the legal process to a full recovery.
Your legal well-being is our highest priority, and we will work tirelessly on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve.
Common Injuries
After a Bike Accident
Helmets, especially those with facial protection, can mitigate head and facial injuries. But cyclists can still sustain severe, life-altering injuries in accidents.
Beyond the proverbial skinned knees, bicyclists may suffer:
Broken bones and fractures including fractured ribs
Road rash (skin scraping and removal)
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or concussions
Facial injuries or partial blindness from debris impact
Dental injuries
Jaw fractures
Neck and back injuries, potentially leading to partial or complete paralysis
Crush injuries, including severe injuries to the arms, legs, hands, and feet
Internal organ damage
Regrettably, many bicycle accident victims endure multiple injuries, often resulting in a lengthy and painful recovery process. Treatment may include hospitalization, physical therapy, chiropractic visits, surgery, and wearing a cast or boot, impacting your ability to work and care for your home and family.
Tragically, some bicyclists do not survive their injuries. In such cases, a bicycle accident attorney from Slaughter & Lupton Law can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your family, seeking compensation for such losses as loss of companionship and consortium, lost wages and earnings your loved one could have contributed to your family.
Determining Responsibility
for Bicycle Accidents
The causes of bike accidents vary. Responsibility depends on the circumstances. In many cases, the at-fault party is a car or truck driver who was distracted. The distracted driver may have been texting while driving, interacting with their passengers, applying makeup using the sun visor mirror, playing with the radio, or any combination of other distracted behavior that led to not paying sufficient attention to fellow road users and especially the person riding the bicycle.
In accidents due to poor road conditions, in some cases, the local city or county government or private contractor responsible for road maintenance may share liability. Cyclists may incorrectly assume fault, believing that it was their responsibility since they were the sole party involved. However, if the entity responsible for road maintenance neglects a known dangerous road condition, that entity may be held accountable for damages caused by their negligence. Again, the laws differ between Virginia and North Carolina.
Similarly, if you cycle through a construction zone with debris left behind by the construction company, the company may also be liable for your accident. Debris and uneven surfaces left by third parties can and do cause wrecks! And what may be a small debris to the wheel of a large truck could have a catastrophic effect on a narrow bicycle wheel.
Your bicycle accident injury lawyer conducts an investigation into the cause of the accident to identify the causes, the responsible party, and the available insurance coverage for your loss. During your initial consultation, we identify and clarify the potential liability for your specific case.
Pursuing Damages
After a Bicycle Accident
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, we are here to help you make sense of your options and get the compensation you deserve. It's important to have peace of mind during this difficult time, and we are here to guide you through the process.
Recovery from an accident is almost never easy. Our team at Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC understands that the aftermath can be overwhelming and that an injured client’s finances are often strained following an injury. Financial recovery, like physical recovery, may be a long and complicated process.
In addition to economic damages, accident victims may also recover compensation for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and mental anguish. Again, the types of damages recoverable differ between Virginia and North Carolina. It is critical to hire an attorney with significant courtroom experience in and understanding of the relevant state law. Injuries from a bicycle accident can cause anxiety, insomnia, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Because each case and client is different, it is important to hire a lawyer with significant trial experience and skilled in handling bicycle injury cases who will accurately value your claim and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
How a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Benefits You
Our team at Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC knows that after a bicycle accident, you might feel overwhelmed and unsure about what to do next. It's easy to feel tempted by a quick settlement offer from insurance companies or legal teams representing the party or parties at fault for your injuries, especially when you're dealing with the pain and uncertainty of getting back to work.
Some insurance companies even have units of adjusters who will make a settlement offer to an injured person in the first phone call hoping that the injured person is desperate enough to take the offer for what they think is quick money and thereby end their injury claim and financial recovery.
It's important to remember this: who is making the offer? Why would a for-profit company make that offer? The insurance company is looking out for the insurance company, first and foremost. This offer may not be in your best interest!
We understand that it's tough to navigate the legal rapids and the hidden legal dangers of your situation while being in pain and suffering and worried about how you are going to pay the rent, the mortgage, and the bills and taking care of yourself and your family. That's why it's important to have a team of experienced bicycle accident lawyers working for you! We provide you with experienced expert legal advice and guidance. We know from experience the ultimate decider of the value of your case; what juries have previously awarded our clients when negotiating with the insurance companies. Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC is here to protect your rights, interests and fight for your full and fair compensation.
Don't let the stress of trying to handle your own legal case take away from your recovery. Contact Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC for the support and representation you deserve during this challenging time.
Do You Need a Bicycle Accident Injury Lawyer?
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, we are here to help. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC know the bicycle accident laws in Virginia and North Carolina and your city or county. We have the grit and determination to see your case through to resolution.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
