Insurance companies can use information you share on social media to fight your claim for personal injury compensation. There are specific rules on admissible evidence in court or a settlement, social media is a gray area.

It’s safer to be careful with the information you share on your social networks. Follow these quick tips to help avoid issues:
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1. Posting any photos, videos, or written accounts of your accident injuries, or lawsuit on social media
2. Making all your posts, photos, and videos viewable to the public
3. Letting family and friends post about your accident, injuries, claim, and lawsuit on social media
4. Not deleting your past posts about the accident prior to filing a personal injury claim
5. Posting your whereabouts after the accident. Your mobility may diminish your claim’s value.

It’s safer to assume anything you post online can be used against you. Because the rules on using social media evidence aren’t clearly defined, it’s better to seek immediate legal advice.

For more information talk to the Dallas, Midland, Leander, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Bertram, Burnet, Marble Falls, Austin, and Liberty Hill area of Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC today. Call us at (512) 562-7000.

A serious bicycle accident can result in disabling injuries that affect every aspect of the victim’s life. Getting out of the hospital is often just the first step in the long road to recovery. The cost of lost wages, emergency care, surgeries, and other medical treatment can add up to a small fortune. But if your wreck was caused by another driver’s negligence, you should not have to pay for these losses out of your own pocket.

The Cedar Park, Austin, Dallas, Texas, bicycle accident attorneys at Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC will evaluate your case for free to determine if you have grounds for a claim. We know what’s at stake for you and your family. Our compassionate lawyers will guide you through every stage of the claims process and will make sure the insurance company doesn’t bully you into accepting an unfair settlement.

Types of Texas Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle

Our attorneys handle all types of personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from bicycle accidents including:

• Bicycle accidents involving distracted or drunk drivers;
• Accidents resulting from defective bicycle or auto parts;
• Bicycle accidents resulting from poorly maintained roads;
• Bicycle accidents at intersections;
• Rideshare accidents involving bicyclists;
• Failure to yield bicycle accidents; and
• Accidents involving multiple bicyclists.

Why You Should Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Right Away

It can seem impossible to focus on legal concerns in the aftermath of a serious bicycle wreck. But putting off your consultation with an accident attorney could prove costly. Insurance adjusters often use devious strategies to get claimants to admit fault, and one misguided statement could be all it takes to derail your claim.

A Texas bicycle accident attorney from Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC will handle all correspondence with the insurance adjuster. Having a seasoned litigator by your side from the start will tell the insurance company that you would be willing to take your case to trial if necessary. This often translates into a better settlement offer.

For your injury claim to be successful, it must be shown that the liable party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty of care, and this resulted in your injury or loss. Proving duty of care is fairly straightforward when the defendant is a negligent driver since all motorists in Texas have a duty to operate their vehicles in such a way that does not put other people at risk. However, proving a breach of duty, or “negligence,” and tying that negligence to your injury can be more complicated.

If you wait too long to consult an attorney, valuable evidence may be erased, destroyed, altered, or otherwise become unavailable. Our bicycle accident lawyers will get to work right away to gather the evidence needed to prove negligence and liability, which may include:

• Video footage of your accident from surveillance cameras or dashcams;
• Photos of the accident scene;
• The police report;
• Witness testimony;
• Relevant insurance policies;
• Testimony from accident reconstruction experts; and
• Illustrations and timelines.

There is other evidence we may use depending on the cause of your bicycle crash. For example, we may rely on toxicology reports to prove that the at-fault driver was impaired. You may even have a claim against the party who supplied the alcohol or drugs to the driver who caused your wreck.

Our personal injury lawyers know what it takes to strengthen your claim and give your case the best chance of success.

Proving Damages After a Bicycle Accident in Texas

Even when liability seems obvious, recovering a fair payout might involve a complex legal battle. You should expect the insurance company or defendant to do everything in their power to reduce their liability and limit the amount of compensation they have to pay.

Our bicycle accident lawyers will make sure your claim includes all potential damages to which you may be entitled, which may include:

• Medical bills (past and future);
• Lost wages;
• Property damage;
• Loss of earning capacity;
• Emotional distress;
• Pain and suffering;
• Disfigurement and disability;
• Loss of consortium;
• Loss of enjoyment; and
• Exemplary damages also called “punitive damages.”

Our attorneys will help you compile medical documents, income tax returns, paystubs, invoices and receipts related to your accident, and other evidence to prove the value of your damages. We can also arrange testimony from financial and medical experts.

Discuss Your Case with a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Texas Today!

​If you or someone you love was seriously hurt in a bicycle crash, turn to Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC for comprehensive and compassionate legal guidance. Call 512-562-7000 or use our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only illegal, it is extraordinarily myopic, reckless and selfish. It places the lives of the driver, his/her passengers, and other individuals on the road in extreme danger. When an individual chooses to get behind the wheel and drive despite being intoxicated, he/she is acting in a grossly negligent manner.

When criminal actions accidentally, albeit not involuntarily, cause harm to others, the culpable individual should be forced to face the consequences and likewise should be held financially responsible for any damages suffered by the victims. Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC, aTexas (Dallas, Midland, Leander, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Bertram, Burnet, Marble Falls, Austin, and Liberty Hill area) car accident law firm, provides insightful legal counsel and aggressive legal representation to DUI accident victims.

Holding the Drunk Driver Accountable
Do not allow your life to be constrained by the limitations imposed by an auto accident. Although you may be experiencing physical disabilities, you do not have to sacrifice your savings and your access to top-quality medical services because another driver acted unlawfully.

It is imperative that you contact a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident; evidence must be collected and medical records must be analyzed in order for your case to be successful. All evidentiary information must be evaluated in a timely manner after the accident. Otherwise, physical evidence can become lost or degraded and witnesses’ memories can become less reliable.

Choose Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC for Your Case
Your health is your paramount concern at this point in time. A successful conclusion of your injury case is our paramount concern at this time, as it will allow you to obtain the medical care you need. While you are recovering, The Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC will go head to head with powerful insurance companies, ensuring that you will be provided for in the future.

Discuss Your Case with a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Central Texas Today
​If you or someone you love was seriously hurt in a Drunk Driving Accident, turn to Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC Firm for comprehensive and compassionate legal guidance. Call (512) 562-7000 or use our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.