If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident while you were riding a bicycle, you should contact an attorney. You may still have options for securing compensation after a hit-and-run collision, but they may not be immediately apparent if law enforcement cannot locate the driver.
In the meantime, it’s also important to speak with law enforcement and receive medical attention. Continue to follow your physician’s instructions throughout the duration of your treatment.
Does Insurance Cover a Hit-and-Run Bike Accident in Texas?
Your own auto insurance policy may cover losses caused by your hit-and-run accident in Texas. If you have uninsured or underinsured auto insurance coverage, these may be sufficient to cover your losses.
However, if law enforcement officials identify the motorist who left the scene of your accident, you may be able to:
- File a claim through their auto insurance
- Sue the liable party
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) explains that auto insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage to auto policy buyers in Texas. Unless you opted out of this coverage in writing, you may have this insurance coverage available to cover a hit-and-run bicycle accident.
If none of these options are available to you, our team can help you evaluate additional avenues for compensation. Those who do not have UM/UIM coverage and do not identify the liable motorist, for example, may need to identify other at-fault parties or other methods of financial recovery.
Our experienced attorneys are problem solvers, and we’re here to assist you.
Texas Law Requires At-Fault Motorists to Cover the Cost of Collisions
Texas is a fault state, which means at-fault motorists must cover the cost of any accidents they cause. This includes collisions with bicyclists.
If law enforcement officials identify the motorist who hit you and left the scene, your attorney will demand that they cover all your damages.
Damages a Hit-and-Run Accident Victim in Texas May Seek Compensation For
Because bicyclists have little physical protection, injuries from a hit-and-run accident can be catastrophic. Your attorney will seek compensation covering all your accident-related damages, which may include:
Repairs for Your Bike and Other Damaged Property
Your legal team will seek fair compensation to repair or replace your bike. The at-fault motorist should also cover the cost of repairing or replacing any other damaged property, such as your cell phone and clothing.
Medical Expenses
Getting medical attention is the first thing to do if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run on a bike. You may need:
- Ambulance transport from the accident scene
- Emergency medical care
- X-rays, MRIs, and other medical imaging services
- Short- or long-term hospitalization
- A regimen of medications
- Visits with specialists and other medical professionals
- Rehabilitation services
- Medical equipment
The National Safety Council (NSC) explains the more serious your injuries are, the more expensive your medical care is likely to be. The risk of serious injury is high when a motor vehicle strikes a defenseless bicyclist.
Lost Income and Other Professional Damages
Your bike accident attorney will seek compensation to cover all professional losses from your hit-and-run accident, including:
- Lost income
- Reduced earning power
- Missed bonuses
- Lost promotion candidacies
- Lost benefits
- Diminished productivity
- Loss of joy and fulfillment you get from working
Pain and Suffering
Serious injuries are likely to occur in a collision between a car and a bicyclist. These can have long-term effects on your physical and mental health. Your attorney can pursue the value of these damages, often called pain and suffering. This category of non-economic loss includes:
- Psychological distress
- Emotional anguish
- Physical pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Diminished quality of life
- Sleep problems
A mental health professional will diagnose any pain and suffering you’ve experienced because of your accident. Your attorney may also use testimony from your primary care physician and your own testimony to estimate what your suffering may be worth.
Mental Health Services
Your car accident lawyer may also seek compensation for any mental health services you require, including:
- Counseling
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Medications
- Any other treatment to relieve the psychological and emotional symptoms of your hit-and-run accident
Traumatic memories of your accident may be long-lasting, as may the physical pain from your injuries. Your legal representatives should consider the severity of your symptoms as they determine the projected cost of your mental healthcare.
A Wrongful Death
If you lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident, you deserve representatives who will stand by your side with compassion and integrity in the fight for justice. Your legal team can seek compensation for your damages while honoring your loved one’s memory. Your recoverable damages may include:
- Funeral costs
- Pain and suffering
- Grief counseling
- Lost financial support
- Loss of spousal companionship
- Loss of parental guidance
- Loss of the decedent’s household contributions
An Attorney from Domingo Garcia Can Help Hit-and-Run Accident Victims
Sec. 550.021 of the Texas Transportation Code is completely clear: If someone causes an accident that could result in injury or death, they must remain at the accident scene. Violating this statute is a criminal matter, but criminal proceedings will not help you cover the cost of your damages.
An attorney from our firm will fight so that your accident-related damages—both economic and non-economic—are covered, either by the at-fault party or your own insurance. We will work towards this goal by:
- Securing evidence
- Documenting and calculating your accident-related damages
- Leading settlement negotiations
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary
- Completing all case-related paperwork
- Leading communications
- Protecting your rights
Hit-and-run accident cases involve a degree of uncertainty, especially if law enforcement officials have yet to identify the at-fault driver. Our dynamic legal team is ready to fight for the money you deserve, whether or not law enforcement identifies the liable party.
Call Domingo Garcia Today for a Free Consultation About Your Bike Hit-and-Run Accident Case
Our firm continues to add impressive case results to our list of successes. Let a hit-and-run bicycle accident lawyer from Domingo Garcia pursue the money you deserve.
Call Domingo Garcia today and complete your free consultation. Don’t wait, as we may face a strict deadline for filing your case.
