Bicycle accident claims are often contested from the beginning. The driver may argue that the cyclist was hard to see, rode outside the proper lane position, moved unexpectedly, or failed to obey a signal. The cyclist may contend that the driver turned across the bicycle’s path, passed too closely, opened a door into traffic, backed without looking, or failed to yield where a reasonably attentive driver would have seen the bicycle.
These cases often turn on roadway markings, lane position, signal sequence, sight lines, vehicle movement, and the exact point of impact. The evidence can disappear quickly, especially where there are no independent witnesses or where the bicycle is moved after the crash. Video from nearby businesses, residences, or traffic devices may become critical.
Because the injuries are often severe and the liability defenses can be predictable, a serious bicycle case usually benefits from early review of both scene evidence and medical proof.
- A driver turns right across a cyclist’s path in a bike lane or curb lane
- A left-turning driver strikes an oncoming cyclist
- A driver opens a parked-car door into the cyclist’s path
- A driver overtakes a cyclist too closely and causes a collision
- A vehicle backs out of a driveway, alley, or parking space into a cyclist
- A hit-and-run motorist strikes a cyclist and leaves the scene
- A rideshare or commercial driver causes a crash while turning, stopping, or unloading
Related pages: Hit-and-run accident lawyers, Uber and Lyft accident lawyers, T-bone accident lawyers, and Drunk driving accident lawyers.
Bicycle collisions often produce serious trauma because the rider may be thrown to the pavement, struck directly by the vehicle, or pinned against another object. Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Pelvic, shoulder, collarbone, arm, wrist, and leg fractures
- Neck and back injuries
- Road rash, facial trauma, and orthopedic injuries
- Permanent disability and fatal injuries
In the most serious cases, the collision may also support a wrongful death claim.
Liability in a bicycle case often depends on roadway position, turning movement, right-of-way, visibility, and whether the driver failed to keep a proper lookout. A cyclist may be operating lawfully even if the driver later claims the bicycle “came out of nowhere.” Those cases often require close factual review, not assumptions based on the driver’s first statement.
Defenses may focus on signal compliance, lane usage, lighting, reflective equipment, or whether the cyclist was outside a designated lane or path. Illinois bicycle materials continue to emphasize that bicyclists must follow the rules of the road, but drivers also must share the roadway and account for cyclists as lawful roadway users. The civil question remains whether the driver exercised reasonable care under the circumstances.
In serious cases, roadway design, parked cars, bike-lane markings, and turn geometry may all become relevant to the claim.
- Police reports and scene diagrams
- Photographs of the roadway, bike lane, vehicle damage, and bicycle damage
- Witness statements
- Traffic-camera, surveillance, or helmet-camera footage
- Lighting and visibility conditions
- Medical records documenting injury, treatment, and prognosis
- Repair or replacement documentation for the bicycle and gear
- Wage-loss records and proof of out-of-pocket expenses
In many bicycle cases, the physical damage to the bicycle and the lane or roadway layout can be especially important pieces of proof.
Depending on the facts, a bicycle accident claim may involve medical expenses, future treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, disability, and property damage including the bicycle and related equipment.
Because bicycle injuries often involve major orthopedic trauma or head injury, the damages analysis can become substantial. Long-term work limits, surgery, rehabilitation, and chronic pain may all play a large role in the value of the claim.
Related pages: How much is my personal injury case worth? and What damages can I recover?.
- Get medical care immediately and keep records from the start.
- Report the crash and preserve the report information.
- Photograph the scene, roadway markings, bicycle, vehicle, and visible injuries if possible.
- Do not discard damaged gear, helmet, lights, or the bicycle itself.
- Get witness names and contact information.
- Review the case early, especially if roadway position or right-of-way will be disputed.
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If you were seriously injured in a bicycle accident, you may have legal options to pursue compensation for your losses. Randolph & Holloway evaluates select bicycle accident cases involving severe injuries, wrongful death, and substantial damages.
Contact us for a free consultation.