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Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving Hamilton and All of Ontario
Ross & McBride’s personal injury lawyers represent bicycle accident victims across Hamilton and throughout Ontario.
Many of the most serious bike accidents involve a motor vehicle, and cyclists are especially vulnerable. Even at low speeds, a bike crash can result in serious injuries. Recovering from your injuries is stressful and difficult, even without the added stress of insurance claims and legal processes.
As personal injury lawyers, we understand the complexities of bicycle accident cases, including navigating insurance company claims and Ontario’s no-fault insurance system.
We are an experienced legal team focused on representing injured cyclists to help them get the help and support they need to recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
Leading Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Many bicycle accidents are caused by driver negligence or unsafe road conditions.
These are some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Drivers failing to yield or check blind spots
- Drivers failing to leave sufficient room when they pass a bicycle
- Dooring accidents in bike lanes, where a driver opens their door into the path of a bicycle
- Speeding or aggressive driving
- Drunk drivers
- Unsafe road conditions (potholes, debris, poor infrastructure)
Many bicycle accidents happen in urban areas like Hamilton, where traffic is dense and bike lanes are not always properly respected.
We fight to have your injury classified correctly and ensure your personal injury claim reflects the true scope of your suffering.
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Common Types of Injuries
Bicycle accident injuries are often severe because cyclists have so little protection.
Common injuries include:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, even if a bicycle helmet is worn
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and orthopedic injuries
- Internal injuries
- Catastrophic injuries in serious accidents
- Psychological trauma
These injuries often require immediate medical attention, ongoing care, and physical therapy. They can affect the victim for the rest of their life.
When You Might Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
You should contact a personal injury lawyer if:
- You were injured in a cycling accident involving a vehicle or unsafe road conditions
- Your injuries require ongoing treatment or rehabilitation
- An insurance company is denying or minimizing your claim
- You do not know which insurance company to claim benefits under
- You’ve experienced lost wages or cannot return to work
- Liability for the accident is unclear or disputed
Ross & McBride’s experienced lawyers can help ensure your claim is handled properly from the start.
How a Bicycle Injury Lawyer Can Help
Gathering Evidence About Your Accident
Like all legal matters, any strong bicycle accident claim begins with evidence to show what happened and what injuries you suffered.
A bicycle injury lawyer at Ross & McBride will help collect:
- Police reports and witness statements
- Photos of the scene and injuries
- Medical records and medical bills
- Documentation of lost income and expenses
Preserving evidence early is critical in bicycle accident cases. In many cases, despite the law’s “reverse onus” (which means that the car is assumed to be at fault unless the driver can prove otherwise), many drivers and their insurers will attempt to blame the cyclist for the accident. As with any case, the longer you wait before obtaining and preserving the evidence, the the less reliable the evidence will be.
Establishing Liability
To succeed in a personal injury claim, your lawyer must prove who is responsible for the accident.
Liability may involve:
- A negligent driver in a motor vehicle accident
- A municipality responsible for unsafe roads that caused the accident
- Other parties involved in the motor vehicle accident
Even if you were partially at fault, you may still recover compensation under Ontario law.
Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries
At Ross & McBride, our goal is to get you the maximum compensation for your losses.
We pursue damages for:
- Medical expenses and future medical costs
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages and income replacement benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Ongoing care and support needs
We also help you access accident benefits if the accident involved a motor vehicle, including no-fault accident benefits and medical and rehabilitation benefits.
Compensation for Bicycle Accidents
How much compensation you might get for a cycling accident case depends on who is at fault for the accident, the severity of your injuries, how long it might take you to recover and how much the accident impacts your life.
Many bicycle accident victims are entitled to:
- Coverage for medical expenses and care
- Rehabilitation benefits and therapy
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Income support through their own insurance claims, or even from other insurers
Because bicycle accident injuries can lead to long-term effects, it’s critical to assess both your immediate losses (such as from medical expenses and not being able to work) and your potential future losses.
Why You Should Work with Our Hamilton Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Choosing the right accident lawyer matters. Every personal injury case is different, and the process can be complicated and stressful. When you work with Ross & McBride, you’re in good hands.
Our firm has:
- An experienced team of personal injury lawyers
- Deep knowledge of personal injury law and cycling-related claims
- Strong results in bicycle accident cases
- Thorough knowledge of the roads, courts, and insurers in Hamilton and Southern Ontario
- A client-first, responsive approach to making sure you’re well supported after your accident
We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency basis—meaning you don’t pay legal fees unless we win.
Contact Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers to Help with Your Claim
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Our legal team is ready to help you understand your options, deal with the insurance company and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Book your free consultation at Ross & McBride today. Find out how to get the support, services and compensation you deserve after your bicycle accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim if I get knocked off my bike?
Yes. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you can pursue a personal injury claim and access accident benefits. In fact, you can claim compensation if a vehicle caused you to fall from your bike, even if it did not necessarily make contact with you (for example, if you swerved to avoid being cut off or “doored” and fell as a result).
How serious are bike accidents?
Every case is different, but cyclists are at high risk because they are so exposed. Many bike accidents result in severe injuries, including brain injuries, fractures, and long-term complications. Unlike a motorist, the cyclist isn’t protected by a large collection of metal or safety equipment like seat belts or airbags to absorb the impact of the collision. Being injured in a bicycle accident can affect you for the rest of your life.
How do you get money from a bike accident case?
In many cases, you can get compensation through insurance claims and legal action. These claims can include a tort case (lawsuit), a no-fault accident benefits claim, claims made with disability insurers and even government assistance.
It’s critical to know that you do not need to have your own insurance policy to make these claims after a bicycle accident. So even if you do not own a car, you can still claim compensation through the no-fault accident benefit system in Ontario. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer can help walk you through how to apply, and who you need to apply to.
How much do most personal injury lawyers charge?
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. That means there are no upfront costs, and you only pay the lawyer if you win your case.
What is the most common injury in a bike accident?
While bruises and scratches occur in almost all bike accidents, the most common serious injuries are head injuries and fractures, especially in collisions with a motor vehicle, or high speed accidents.