Question:
I was riding an electric bike and a car turned left in front of me. I had to swerve to avoid getting hit. I lost control and crashed and suffered a bad leg injury requiring surgery. There was no contact between my bike and the car. The accident was the driver’s fault. Can I sue the driver even if there was no contact between me and the car?
Answer:
If you had the right of way and the driver turned left in front of you, causing you to swerve and crash, then the driver is legally responsible for your injuries, regardless of whether there was contact between you or your bike and the car.
It is irrelevant that there was no physical contact between you and the car.
Intersection accidents involving cars that turn left in front of approaching motorcyclists and bike riders are quite common. Oftentimes, the automobile driver does not see the approaching cyclist.
If you had the right of way and the driver’s left turn in front of you caused you to brake hard or swerved, resulting in you crashing and getting injured, then the driver of the vehicle is on the hook for your injuries and your medical bills.
In no-contact accidents, it is common for the car driver’s insurance adjuster to contend that you overreacted and thus the accident is your fault. It will be important to gather all available evidence:
- Were there witnesses?
- Was there any surveillance video from a neighboring home or business that captured the accident?
- Did the driver who hit you have a dash cam?
Because of the speed at which e-bike riders travel, when an e-bike accident happens, the injuries can be serious. Head injuries are common, as are broken bones, knee and shoulder tears, and road rash.
If you were injured in an electric bike accident, call our e-bike attorneys for a free consultation. It is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident. We want to speak with you before you speak to the driver’s insurance adjuster. We’ll give you our honest opinion as to whether you have a case and whether you need a lawyer. Our attorneys are available 24/7.