A 27-year-old woman was struck from behind by a vehicle while riding her bicycle eastbound in Acadia Parish on Sept. 23. Police were called to the scene around 8 a.m., and witnesses say the bicyclist was thrown off of her bike after it was hit.
The woman was transported by Air Med to a Lafayette hospital for treatment of a broken leg and other minor injuries. The investigation was ongoing one day after the incident, and no charges had been filed against the driver. The report did not state whether the driver may have been distracted or impaired at the time of the accident. There was also no information given as to whether the victim had been released from the hospital.
When a pedestrian is hurt by a driver, the victim may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. This may be true even if the driver did nothing wrong from a criminal standpoint. At trial or through a settlement, the injured party may be eligible for compensation to pay for medical bills, lost wages and other accident-related damages. If injuries suffered in car accidents keep the injured party out of work for an extended period of time, he or she may be able to win compensation for lost future earnings as well.
With the help of a personal injury attorney, it may be possible to settle a case out of court. An attorney for the injured party may meet with the attorney for the driver and/or the driver’s insurance company to settle the case. While a settlement may also be reached without an attorney, injured parties may achieve a more favorable outcome when an attorney is present. Settlements may enable an injured pedestrian to obtain the money they need to pay bills without the need for a potentially lengthy trial.
Source: KPLC, “Bicyclist hospitalized after being hit by car“, Anne Robicheaux, September 24, 2014
