| You have been injured in a bicycle accident and you are worried about who is going to pay your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The last thing you want is to be taken advantage of by an insurance company. If you don’t protect your rights, you may not be able to make a claim. Insurance companies have attorneys and adjusters whose goal is to pay you as little as they can. You need an experienced Nevada bicycle accident attorney with proven results to fight for you.
Hire an attorney who is also a cyclist.
I am a current bicycle commuter and have cyclered all over the Reno and Tahoe area. I started riding seriously in 1994 while training for the University of Nevada’s Rugby Team. I continue to bike often after my two knee surgeries, and you can often see me on the Verdi Loop. I have put in over 15,000 miles on my bike and know what it is like to have to deal with careless drivers. I try very hard to help injured cyclists, as oftentimes motorists try and blame the cyclists just because they are on a bike.
I know where you are coming from and the pain and suffering with dealing with an accident. I was hit by an automobile in 2004 which resulted in two knee surgeries. I ride my bike weekly to exercise my knee and get out of the office. I was also a plaintiff, and like you, was forced to fight the insurance companies and adjusters to get a reasonable settlement
I will work hard to protect your rights and maximize your insurance settlement. You need an experienced and aggressive Nevada trial lawyer who will fight for you. Having an experienced Nevada bike accident attorney can make the difference between getting what you deserve and getting nothing.
I work hard to make sure you are fully compensated for your bicycle damage. Unlike many lawyers, I know how expensive bicycles can be. I know what it is like to spend thousands of dollars on a bicycle only to have it damaged by someone else. I work closely with local bicycle shops to try and get you full replacement value for your damaged bicycle and bicycle gear.
An experienced trial attorney can make the difference.
I am an experienced aggressive trial lawyer who has tried over 100 cases. I am not afraid to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to maximize your bicycle accident insurance recovery. I offer one-on-one service, and I will not hand your case off to an inexperienced lawyer or a paralegal.
Reduce the stress of making a claim.
Bike accidents can turn your life upside down. Once I take your case, you can stop worrying about dealing with the insurance companies and focus on recovering from your bicycle accident injuries. I take care of all of the paperwork, phone calls, and negotiations, so you can get on with your life.
I handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means:
YOU DON’T OWE ME A LEGAL FEE
UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q:
How
soon after my bicycle accident should I call you?
A: Call me immediately. Do not talk to the other person’s insurance companies until after you have consulted a lawyer. I make a point of returning all calls and e-mails promptly. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident you need to know right away what insurance coverage is in place to cover your medical expenses and lost wages.
Q: How do I pay your legal fees?
A: I handle bike accidents and all other personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means YOU DO NOT OWE ME A LEGAL FEE UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU. I do not ask for any attorney fees upfront. If there is no recovery there is no fee.
Q: Lawsuits can be expensive, will it cost me any money up front for filing fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and any other costs?
A: Filing a lawsuit, paying court costs and expert witness fees can be very expensive. Every year I spend thousand of dollars in litigation costs. I know that most people cannot afford these costs up front, so I forward these costs up front in every case I take. Spending a few thousand dollars on a good expert witness can make the difference between getting thousands of dollars and getting nothing for your personal injury claim. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that they are willing to forward the money to adequately pursue your personal injury case. Otherwise, you may be forced into taking a minimal settlement if you cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars to pursue your personal injury claim.
Q: Will I have to pay the any up front expenses?
A: No. I advance all costs associated with your case. I never ask you for a penny until we recover from the at fault party.
Q: What do you charge for recovering my medical expenses?
A: I do not charge my clients a fee recovering their past medical expenses. Many lawyers charge a percentage of the total recovery, including your medical expenses. I base my fee on what is recovered in addition to your medical expenses. If your lawyer charges you for recovering your medical expenses it can significantly reduce how much goes in your pocket. For example, if you had $50,000 in medical expenses and a $100,000 settlement, your lawyer would get $33,000, $50,000 would go to repay your medical expenses, and you would be left with around $17,000. In a case like that, I would base my fee off of the $50,000, putting $33,000 in your pocket instead of approximately $17,000. The only time I charge a fee for recovering your past medical expenses is when someone other than the client, usually my client's insurance company or healthcare provider, pays me to recover the medical
expenses.
Q: Are there any hidden fees?
A: No. I do not charge you fees for consultations, opening your file, copies, long distance, etc. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure you find out what they will be charging you, as these hidden fees can add up.
Q: Will I get to talk to a lawyer if I call?
A: Yes. Everyone who calls for a free consultation gets to talk to a lawyer. I do not have my staff screen cases. Usually you will get to talk to a lawyer right away or later the same day.
Q: Should I call you even if I want to handle my claim myself?
A: Yes. In a few minutes over the phone I can usually give you an estimate of what your claim is worth so you don't get ripped off by the insurance company. If they give you an offer and you later hire me, I will not charge you a fee unless I can increase the amount that goes into your pocket.
Q: Can I recover even if the motorist never hit me?
A: Yes. Many people are under the misconception that there has to be physical contact between a cyclist and a motor vehicle for the motorist to be liable. This is not true. There are many situations where cyclists are injured when they take evasive action to avoid being hit, and crash as a result. The motorist can still be held liable if their negligence required the cyclist to take the evasive action.
Q: Can I recover if the other driver had no insurance?
A: Yes. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can recover money for your medical bills and pain and suffering even if the other driver had no insurance.
Q: Does my auto insurance cover accidents when I am on my bike?
A: Many auto policies will cover you if you are injured in a bicycle accident or while on foot.
Q: How do I know if I have a good bicycle accident claim?
A: You need to contact me and we can discuss your case. My consultation on a personal injury case is always free.
Q: Should I accept the offer that the car insurance company has given me?
A: Often times I can get insurance companies to substantially increase the amount of their settlement offer. If you have already received an offer for your injuries, contact me and I will let you know if I think it is a fair offer. I will not charge you for this consultation. If I do not beat their original offer to you, I will not charge you a fee.
Q: How long does it take to settle most bicycle accident and personal injury cases?
A: It depends on the nature of your personal injury claim. I have settled smaller claims for the full amount my client wanted within 10 days and I have settled policy limits cases in as little as a few months. Larger personal injury cases typically take longer to settle.
Q: Will pursuing my case take up a lot of my time?
A: No. Oftentimes I only meet with clients for the initial interview and then we can just talk over the phone. If we do have to go to court, it will take more time. I realize your time is important, so I don’t waste it.
Q: Will I have to go to trial?
A: T he vast majority of bicycle collision and personal injury cases don’t go to trial. However, I treat each case as if it is going to be a trial, as you have to be willing to go to trial to maximize your settlement.
Q: Why is it so important to hire an experienced Nevada trial attorney?
A: Most bicycle injury accidents and personal injury cases settle before trial, but you want to maximize your settlement. If you hire an Nevada attorney who has little trial experience, oftentimes they will be afraid to go to trial. Insurance companies know who these lawyers are, and they oftentimes offer them less than the case is worth. I have 8 years of courtroom experience and I have tried well over 100 cases. I have had much success in the courtroom and I will not advise you to settle for less than your case is worth.
Q: Do I need an Nevada lawyer?
A: In order to settle your bike accident case you will have to deal with insurance companies. Their goal is to pay you as little as you will take. It is tough for someone who is not familiar with bicycle accident cases to know what a fair settlement amount is. An experienced Nevada bicycle accident attorney can help you to determine that amount and reach a fair settlement.
Q: What types of Nevada accident cases do you handle?
A: I handle all types of Oregon personal injury, wrongful death and products liability cases, including: crashes and collisions involving bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, and mopeds.
Q: What parts of Nevada do you handle cases in?
A: Although I am located in Reno, Nevada, I will handle take cases throughout the state of Nevada including the following counties and cities:
Counties:
Washoe County, Carson City County, Storey County, Douglas County, Churchill County, Lyon County, Elko County, Nye County, Mineral County, Esmeralda County, Humboldt County, Pershing County, Lander County, Eureka County, Lincoln County, White Pine County, Clark County.
Cities:
Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Minden, South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, Virginia City , Fernley, Fallon, Las Vegas, Yerington, Elko, Tonopah, Goldfield, Hawthorne, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Ely, Eureka, Pioche, Gerlach, Round, Mountain, Gabbs, Middlegate, Scotty’s Junction, Henderson, Moapa, Warm Springs, Beatty, Lund, Pahrump, Beatty, Goldfield, Wendover, McDermitt.
Legal
Links
If
you have been charged with an Oregon
DUI or other Oregon criminal
charge, I recommend you contact David
Lesh through his web site. Mr. Lesh is an experienced
Oregon lawyer.
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