Law

Bicycle Crash Cases

These are a few of the thousands of cases independent bike lawyers in the Bike Law Network have handled.

A decorated veteran and Army doctor was on a group ride, when a driver came from behind and smashed into them.  The cyclist was killed, but the police initially gave the driver a minor ticket.  Working closely with the family, Bike Law helped persuade the police otherwise, and the driver was convicted of felony homicide and went to jail.

A cycling commuter was riding on a clear summer morning and was run over and killed by the car behind him. Initially the cyclist was deemed at fault by the police. Providing legal and technical assistance, Bike Law cooperated with law enforcement, and the crash report was amended to show what really happened: the driver was to blame.

A cyclist used a hand signal for a left-hand turn and had moved to the left lane. The driver of a car behind him sped up, and, trying to pass, collided with the cyclist, knocking him from the bike.  The cyclist suffered significant injuries. The motorist later said that he “didn’t know what an outstretched arm meant.”

A well-known cyclist was hit and injured when a commercial van barreled past a stop sign without braking, causing the crash. The van was full of passengers (a work crew), and was driven by a man who didn’t have a driver’s license. The driver and passengers ran into the woods before the police arrived.

A college student was hit by an inattentive driver, totaling his bike. The police reported to the scene, but when the cyclist said he felt OK, the police sent the driver on her way without getting her contact information or writing a ticket. The police officer gave the cyclist a ride home, but in the backseat he passed out in shock. The cyclist’s leg was badly broken.

An experienced cyclist wearing high visibility clothing was on his morning recreational ride on a road designated as a state bicycle route. He signaled and moved into the turn lane. The driver of a truck attempted to pass the cyclist, and caused the crash. Drivers behind the at-fault motorist testified that they saw the cyclist signal clearly. And even though it’s illegal to pass in a turn lane, the officer reported that the cyclist had “darted” out in front of the truck.

A man in his 70s was pedaling as part of the final leg of a personal cycling tour of the perimeter of the U.S. The cyclist was suddenly struck from the rear, leaving him with catastrophic injuries and a long hospital stay. A few years after his recovery, he completed his journey.

A group of about 10 college-age students were bicycling to dinner together when the driver of a car suddenly veered toward an open parking space, causing one of the cyclists to crash and suffer a broken femur and other injuries. Police came to the scene, but failed to report the incident as an auto crash, so the driver’s identity was not recorded.  After months of research by Bike Law, we identified the at-fault driver.

A 19-year old was pedaling in a bicycle lane when a drunk driver caused a collision. The cyclist died from his injuries, and Bike Law represented the cyclist’s mother at no charge.