After a Vehicle Hits a Bicyclist in Plaza Midwood, Residents Call for Safety Changes

Charlotte, North Carolina’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood is usually packed with pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. A dangerous encounter with a bicyclist and a driver occurred recently near Hamorton Place along the plaza. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report, a driver struck a bicyclist. Tragically, the bicyclist died from her injuries. The police reported the vehicle had extensive damage and the bicycle was mangled from the bicycle accident.

The accident has prompted residents to call for changes to promote bicyclists’ safety. Many residents bicycle daily from east Charlotte into Uptown but are concerned about sharing the road with drivers. Better infrastructure to make sure the streets are safer is necessary. Citizens are calling for protected bicycle lanes and funding to implement raised intersections used as speed humps to encourage drivers to slow down.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 800 bicycle-related deaths occur nationwide. Every year, dozens of bicyclists are killed on North Carolina roads.

In North Carolina, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. Whether the accident was caused by a driver, a bicyclist, or a third party depends on the case's specific facts. For example, a variety of factors can contribute to bicycle crashes. Some common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Failing to yield the right of way

Bicycle accidents can lead to serious injuries. Bicyclists do not have the same protection as drivers and passengers in motor vehicles. Some of the most common types of injuries bicyclists face include the following:

• Neck and back injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations

If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, you could be facing years of medical complications. Serious injuries like spinal cord injuries can result in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in medical expenses. Many victims can no longer return to work due to the severity of their injuries. If you have suffered a serious injury, you may be entitled to compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury accident. You may be able to obtain compensation for all of your past, current, and future medical expenses. Additionally, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income, loss of earning capacity, and property damage. Personal injury plaintiffs can also seek compensation for their pain and suffering.

To recover compensation for your injuries, you must prove that one or more parties were negligent and caused the accident. Negligence means that a person or company fails to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances, leading to injuries. There are various ways negligence can happen in bicycle accident cases. If a driver fails to yield the right of way or runs a red light, they may be considered negligent. If you can prove that the other party was negligent, you may be able to recover compensation.

Proving liability is not always easy. You must show that the accident would not have occurred without the other party's negligence. There are several ways to prove negligence in bicycle accident claims. Some of the most common evidence that can prove liability include police reports, medical records, witness testimony, and photos and videos of the accident scene. Working with an attorney can help you gather evidence before the evidence disappears or witnesses forget what occurred.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you must speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A Charlotte bicycle accident attorney can help you file a claim and obtain the compensation you need and deserve. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our personal accident attorneys have years of experience handling bicycle accident cases. We know how to get positive results. We work diligently to negotiate with liable parties to secure the total and fair compensation to which you are entitled.

If you or your loved one have been injured in a bicycle accident caused by a driver’s negligence, an attorney can help you significantly. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to schedule a free case evaluation. We do not charge clients until we obtain compensation on their behalf.