Omaha Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Experienced Bicycle Accident Attorneys Serving Clients in Omaha and Throughout Nebraska

Cycling is a healthy, eco-friendly, and practical way to travel throughout Omaha and across Douglas County. Unfortunately, negligent drivers often fail to share the road safely with cyclists, leading to serious accidents and life-changing injuries. Our Omaha bicycle accident lawyers at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC are committed to protecting injured cyclists and pursuing the full compensation they deserve after a crash caused by careless or reckless driving.

Have you or a loved one been injured in an Omaha bicycle accident? Reach out to Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC. We’re available 24/7 at (402) 241-5020, or you can contact us online for a free consultation.

How Our Omaha Attorneys Fight for Bicycle Accident Victims

The claim process after a bicycle accident is complex, and navigating it on your own can be a challenge, especially when the people on the other side have far more experience in sophisticated legal matters. Most bicycle accidents involve personal injury claims against insurance companies that are focused on protecting their profits, not paying injured victims fairly. At Hauptman, O’Brien, our Omaha bicycle accident attorneys know the tactics insurance companies use and will build compelling claims that put pressure on them to take your case seriously. 

Our legal team can help you by:

• Investigating the bicycle accident thoroughly, gathering police reports, witness statements, medical records, surveillance footage, and other critical evidence needed to strengthen your injury claim.
• Handling all communication and negotiations with insurance companies that may look for any possible way to diminish or deny your injury claim after a serious bicycle crash.
• Calculating the full value of your damages, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, and the long-term impact your injuries may have on daily life.
• Preparing your case for trial when necessary, because insurance companies tend to negotiate more reasonably once they believe there is a good chance the claim could go to court.
• Taking the burden of the claims process off your shoulders while helping you avoid the easy-to-make mistakes that could compromise your claim or reduce your compensation.

By working with our legal team, you send a clear message to the insurance company: your claim is serious, and you are serious about pursuing it. As Omaha bike accident lawyers, we fight to maximize the amount of compensation our clients receive. In every case, our goal is to make a meaningful difference in our clients’ outcomes and help them move forward with confidence.

Nebraska Bicycle Laws

Nebraska law gives bicyclists many of the same rights and responsibilities as motorists on public roads. Understanding these laws can help cyclists stay safer, protect their legal rights, and strengthen a personal injury claim after a serious bicycle accident. 

• Under Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,317, bicyclists generally have the same rights and duties as motorists, which means cyclists must obey traffic signals, stop signs, and right-of-way laws while riding on public roads.
• Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,317 also requires cyclists to ride as close as practicable to the right-hand side of the roadway, except when avoiding hazards, overtaking another vehicle, or preparing to make a left turn.
• According to Nebraska bicycle equipment laws, bicycles ridden at night must be equipped with a front lamp, rear reflector, and functional brakes to improve visibility and help reduce the risk of accidents.
• Nebraska does not currently enforce a statewide bicycle helmet requirement. However, safety experts strongly encourage riders of all ages to wear properly fitted helmets to help prevent serious head injuries.

Your Rights as a Bicyclist in Nebraska

Nebraska cyclists are not second-class road users. State law recognizes bicycles as vehicles, meaning riders are entitled to share the road safely and legally with motorists throughout Omaha and across the state.

• You have the right to use most public roadways alongside motor vehicles.
• You have the right to expect drivers to exercise reasonable care around bicyclists.
• You have the right to pursue compensation if a negligent driver causes your injuries.
• You have the right to seek damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering after a bicycle accident.

Knowing your rights and responsibilities can make a significant difference after a crash. An experienced Omaha bicycle accident attorney can explain how Nebraska law applies to your case and help protect your claim from unfair insurance tactics.

Who Is Responsible for a Bicycle Accident?

As with most other auto accidents, the question of liability in a bicycle accident hinges on the issue of negligence.

Under Nebraska personal injury law, a person is negligent when he or she behaves carelessly, recklessly, or unreasonably.

A negligent person is legally liable for the damages caused by their careless actions (or failure to act).

Examples of negligence that may cause a bicycle accident include:

• Speeding
• Texting while driving
• Failure to yield
• Dooring
• Making dangerous turns
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Aggressive driving
• “Cutting off” a bicycle or another vehicle
• Drunk driving
• Improper vehicle maintenance
• Violating a traffic law

In the majority of car accidents involving bicyclists, it is the motorist — not the cyclist — who is at fault for the crash. However, it is possible for a cyclist to cause a bicycle-car collision.

Sometimes, both parties in a bicycle accident are negligent (for example, an accident involving both a speeding driver and a cyclist who is violating Nebraska bike law). In these cases, a special rule called “comparative negligence” applies, allowing a victim to recover at least some of their damages as long as the victim isn’t more than 50% at fault for the crash.

The law on liability for a Nebraska bicycle accident is complex. The Omaha bicycle accident lawyers at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC can help you understand who might be held responsible for your bicycle accident.

Common Injuries in a Bicycle Accident

Whereas people riding inside cars and trucks have a physical barrier of protection, people on bicycles are exposed to the full force of collision without anything around them to absorb the impact. Accordingly, bicycle accident injuries tend to be serious.

Common injuries in a bicycle accident include:

• Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash
• Broken or fractured bones, including arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones
• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Back injuries, including spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ damage, including internal bleeding
• Joint damage, including the knees, shoulders, ankles, and wrists
• Serious burns, scrapes, cuts, and bruises

More severe accidents can result in catastrophic injuries such as hearing or visual impairment, paralysis, or even loss of life.

What Can I Be Compensated for in a Bicycle Accident Claim?

Bike accident victims are entitled to full and fair compensation under Nebraska personal injury law, including compensation for their medical bills and pain and suffering.

The amount of money available to you will depend on the specific circumstances surrounding your accident, as well as the available insurance policy limits and other factors.

Generally speaking, the compensation available to bicycle accident victims in Nebraska can include:

• Medical expenses
• Hospital bills
• Lost wages
• Future loss of income
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Out-of-pocket costs

If you’d like to learn more about how much money might be available in your particular legal matter, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our Omaha bike accident lawyers.

While we can’t promise a specific outcome, we can help you understand how the law might apply to the facts surrounding your claim.

We can also give you a sense of how much money injured cyclists in similar circumstances have previously recovered in Nebraska.

How Long Does a Bicycle Accident Injury Claim Take?

Different accident claims require different amounts of time. Some claims resolve in just a couple of months; others may last for many months or even over a year. There simply isn’t a single timeframe that applies to all bicycle accident claims in Nebraska.

How long your bicycle accident injury claim takes to resolve may depend on a number of factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• How long it takes you to recover
• The nature of any surgeries or treatments you require
• The number of parties involved
• The coverage limits on the at-fault party’s insurance policy
• Any “delay tactics” that the insurance company might try to utilize
• The statute of limitations
• Whether your claim goes to trial (and, if so, the court’s calendar)
• Unforeseen circumstances

As Omaha bike accident lawyers, we understand that no one wants to spend months on end embroiled in intensive negotiations or litigation. That’s why we work hard to resolve our clients’ claims as efficiently as possible. However, we also understand that the quickest settlement isn’t necessarily the one you deserve.

At Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC, we are committed to pursuing your best possible outcome under the circumstances — and to keeping you informed and in control all along the way.

While we have been successful in resolving the majority of claims through settlement agreements, we nevertheless prepare each claim for the possibility of trial.

We can and do try bicycle accident cases in court, and we are willing to take your claim to court if that’s what justice demands.

Free Consultation with the Omaha Bike Accident Lawyers at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC

Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC is a Nebraska personal injury law firm with many years of experience and a long record of success. We are committed to giving our clients the time, attention, passion, and communication they deserve.

We are proud to offer confidential, cost-free, no-obligation case reviews for injured cyclists in Omaha and throughout Nebraska. We also serve Iowa through our offices in Sioux City and Council Bluffs.

We handle bike accident claims on a contingency fee basis, which means if you hire us, we will not charge you a fee unless and until we recover compensation for you. Contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accident Claims