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 Bicycle
Injury Attorney Clayton Griessmeyer is well
known in the Wisconsin cycling community, has lectured to local
bicyclists and triathletes, sponsors races and rides, and advocates for
bicycling and bicyclists by attending local bicycle advocacy
meetings and events. He is very familiar with Wisconsin
bike laws, has experience in various courts
throughout Wisconsin and California, and will travel to meet with
you in the hospital and throughout Wisconsin. If you are
injured in a bicycle accident and located far from Madison,
Wisconsin you can call for free advice about your case from a
fellow bicyclist, or you can set up an appointment at the office
in Verona, Wisconsin or set up an appointment at your house.
Attorney Griessmeyer has been involved with
competitive sports since age eight and
currently sponsors the Verona Triterium Triathlon, the Monona 20K in Madison, Wisconsin,
Madison Mud Run, as well
as the Aquathlon series in Madison, Wisconsin. He is an
active member of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
and
advocates for bicyclists and bicycling throughout the state of
Wisconsin. You will find him throughout the states of
Wisconsin and California on bicycle rides, races, triathlons,
and multisport events.
Attorney
Griessmeyer trained under and continues to consult with Bicycle Injury
Lawyer Richard L.
Duquette, Esq. in Carlsbad, CA. Richard Duquette
has handled bicycle injury cases in Southern California since
1983 and studied under Gerry Spence, Esq. often referred to as
"The Best Trial Lawyer in America."
As an associate attorney in Carlsbad/San Diego California,
Attorney Griessmeyer participated in the representation of
bicyclists from all walks of life. From those who don't own a
car and literally ride thousands of miles per year, to
commuters, triathletes, bike racers, and those just out for a
ride. As a Wisconsin Bicycle Accident Lawyer, he is familiar
with bicycle laws, bicycle routes, and often pedals the route of injured
bicyclists to get a feel for how the accident happened. Attorney
Griessmeyer stays on top of of local and statewide cycling
issues including new legislation and attitudes towards
bicyclists. (See
Wisconsin
bicycle accident blog for a summary of Wisconsin bicycle cases
and recent opinions of drivers towards bicyclists.)
WHAT TO DO IN
THE EVENT OF A WISCONSIN BIKE ACCIDENT
-
Do
not give any statement to the insurance company.
The insurance adjuster is skilled in damaging your case and
often trained to ask you questions in an attempt to lesson
or eliminate any payment to you for your injuries. To
draw an analagy, imagine you are a boxer and are preparing
for an upcoming fight. The trainer for your opponent
calls and asks things
like, 1. What have you been doing for training 2. What are
your strengths and weaknesses; 3. Have you ever been injured
before. There is no reason to help your opponent beat
you! The reason adjusters call is to gain an advantage and
limit any money you recover. Unfortunately, the
corporation does
not care whether or not you receive the money you deserve
for your injuries.
-
Call a bicycle injury attorney immediately-delays
in hiring an attorney can cause significant problems to your
case
-
Seek immediate medical attention and be honest with your
doctors because your medical records will
likely be used in any litigation
-
Get
contact information from everyone at the scene
including those who arrived after your injury-be sure
to include the entire area and look for surveillance cameras
or anyone who may have seen anything, use your cell phone
camera to take pictures of the entire surrounding area,
accident scene, and yourself
-
Do
not discard or repair anything
related to
your bicycle accident
-
Keep track of the various ways your life has been negatively
affected
by the
bicycle accident including things such as insomnia, loss of
fitness, family problems, anger, fear, odd behaviors such as
putting the cereal into the freezer instead of the
cabinet....
BE FAMILIAR WITH THESE IMPORTANT
WISCONSIN BICYCLE LAWS:
- Bicycles are considered vehicles and
bicyclists are granted all the rights and subject to all
duties which apply to operators of vehicles.
WI Stat. 340.01 (5) and 346.02
(4) (a)
- Bicyclists may ride two abreast on any
street as long as other traffic is not impeded.
If there are two or more lanes, then both bicyclists
must ride within a single lane.
WI Stat. 346.80 (3) (a).
- Bicyclists passing stopped cars shall
allow a minimum of three feet between themselves and the
car. WI Stat. 346.80 (2) (c)
- The operator of a motor vehicle
passing a bicyclist shall exercise due care and leave a safe
distance, in no case less than three feet clearance when
passing the bicyclist. WI
Stat. 346.075
- Bicyclists should ride as far to the
ride as practicable except:
1.
When overtaking a vehicle proceeding in the same
direction
2.
When preparing for a left turn
3.
When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe
conditions including parked or moving vehicles
WI Stat. 346.80 (2) (a)
As a fellow bicycle rider, racer, and commuter, Attorney
Griessmeyer is able to dispel the public's perception that
bicyclists do not belong on the roads and that bicyclists do not
follow the law. His love, knowledge, and experience
with bicycling is a great benefit to those injured in bicycling
accidents.
Attorney Griessmeyer:
-
Is an experienced cyclist who
understands the biomechanics of accidents and injuries
-
Competed in triathlons since age
12 and still races often
-
Knows the affect an injury has
on athletes (Top age group triathlete, former college
swimmer, 3:16 marathoner)
-
Experience handling various
types of bicycle injury cases (from minor injuries to 10+
days in the hospital)
-
Extremely familiar with bicycle
laws, bicycle accidents, driver negligence, bicycle
components and property damage, bicycle routes, injuries,
and legal issues in bike cases
-
Able to understand the effect of
an injury/bicycle accident on your training, lifestyle, and
how it affects your future
-
Able to convey the importance of
cycling and athletics to the insurance company and other
non-athletes
-
Able to explain the true value
of your damaged bicycle to an insurance adjuster with no
biking experience
-
Is able to understand the bias
against bicyclists and knows how to present a successful
case for victims
HOW CAN A BICYCLE INJURY LAWYER HELP
YOU?
-
Obtain justice for you by
helping to take away the driving license of the person who
hit you in the bicycle accident(if they are a hazard on the
road and should not be driving).
-
Help you tell your story and
prevent others from being injured by working with bicycle
advocacy groups, clubs, and other Wisconsin organizations to
promote safer bicycling
-
Present your case to the
insurance company in the best manner possible to obtain
maximum recovery for your bicycle accident settlement
-
Take control of your bicycle
accident case and keep you from having to deal with
insurance adjusters, and others
-
Work expeditiously towards your
settlement award to compensate you for the negligence of the
person who caused your injury
-
Guide you through the
complicated process of obtaining and preserving evidence,
fact gathering, witness statements, insurance issues etc.
-
Accurately describe the effect
of an accident upon your lifestyle in terms of loss of
training, fear, anxiety, insomnia, anger, family problems,
loss of wages, vacation, benefits, loss of future earning
capacity, weight gain, depression
-
Work with a private investigator
to interview all witnesses and lock in what happened early
on in your case
-
Answer your questions and
counsel you on how to best proceed
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Handle legal issues including
obtaining insurance coverage (including your own uninsured/
underinsured when applicable), protect your rights, research
similar jury verdicts, prove liability, file a lawsuit if
necessary
-
Take your case to trial and obtain a fair
result for your damages
AVOID COMMON BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
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Do not pass cars on the right
-
Do not cross an intersection
from the sidewalk while on your bike
-
Do not follow too close behind
vehicles
-
Do not ride fast in areas where
cars are stopping and pulling into and out of parking stalls
-
Watch for cars to turn left in
front of you-especially at the bottom of hills when you are
traveling fast
-
Do not ride on a bike that can
cause injury to yourself or others-make sure water bottles
are secure, equipment has been checked, no problem with
skewers etc.
-
Do not ride a carbon fiber
bicycle that has been crashed
-
Stay away from riders who ride
with an ipod on
-
Make sure to leave adequate
space for cars to open doors-at least 3 feet
-
Avoid getting involved with
road
rage drivers-just call the police
-
When riding in a group, have a
plan in your mind where you will go if there is a
crash/obstacle in front of you- avoid crossing into the path
of traffic at all costs
GRIESSMEYER LAW OFFICE
Griessmeyer Law is located on Paoli Street
and Venture Court near Fireman's Park in Verona, Wisconsin.
Paoli Street is a main artery leading to some of Wisconsin's
finest bicycle road riding. Griessmeyer Law is located in the same
building as Fit Club Personal Training Studio, and SBR Coaching
and Training. The atmosphere is friendly and positive.
Law Office of Clayton
Griessmeyer
LINKS
AND AFFILIATES
BICYCLE INJURY LAWYERS:
California Bicycle Injury Lawyer:
Law Firm of Richard
Duquette
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