Alabama has made some progress towards implementing favorable laws for bicyclists like the 3-foot law. However, Bike Law Alabama still must fight to overcome an extreme anti-bicycle bias in many parts of the State of Alabama.
Representation in Alabama Bicycle Crash Cases
Alabama has even made some progress towards implementing favorable laws for bicyclists. In 2015, the State finally passed a 3-foot law. However, bicyclists in Alabama still must fight to overcome an extreme anti-bicycle bias in many parts of the State. Also, Alabama remains one of only 2 states in the nation (North Carolina being the other) with the terribly antiquated contributory negligence law which prohibits an injured cyclist from making a recovery if the cyclist were even 1% negligent and that negligence contributed to causing the wreck.
Danny Feldman
Danny Feldman has been riding his bike since 1987, the same time he began practicing law in Washington D.C. before moving back to his home state of Alabama. Over the years he has been an active cyclist participating in numerous century bicycle rides such as the Cheaha Challenge, 3 Mountain 3 State, the Cherola Challenge, and even a couple of double century efforts. He routinely has ridden more than 5,000 miles a year for the past 25 years. He began representing injured cyclists more than a decade ago after two of his very close friends were seriously injured by a drunk driver at 7:00 am on a Sunday morning.
Danny has been actively fighting for the rights of cyclists in Alabama both in and out of the courtroom. While he focuses his practice in Birmingham, he has represented numerous cyclists across the state in Mobile, the eastern shore, Montgomery, Dothan, Anniston, Talladega, Gadsden, Huntsville and other locales helping injured cyclists obtain reasonable compensation despite Alabama’s contributory negligence law.
In 2014, he joined other cycling advocates in helping defeat the efforts of two Birmingham area city councilmen who attempted to prohibit cyclists from riding on certain streets within their city.
Danny is rated AV by Martindale Hubble, the highest rating given to less than 10% of attorneys in the country:
Alabama Bicycle Laws
A highlight of bicycling laws that receive the most questions or we believe needs to be focused on due to the contributory negligence law in Alabama.
Alabama Code Section 32-5A-260
cyclists have the same rights and duties of motorists on the roadway (with a few limited exceptions);
Alabama Code Section 32-5A-263
(a) cyclists are to ride as “near to the right side of the roadway as practicable;” (b) cyclists may ride two abreast; (c) if there is a “usable path for bicycles...adjacent to a roadway” then cyclist “shall use such path.”
Alabama Code Section 32-5A-265
Bicycle used at “nighttime” shall have front headlight which “emit[s] a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front” and also “a red reflector ...which shall be visible from all distances 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.”
Alabama Code Section 32-5A-82
Motorists overtaking and passing a bicycle shall give a safe distance which “shall mean not less than 3 feet” on (a) roadways with a marked bicycle lane or (b) all other roadways with a speed limit of 45 mph/hr or less and the roadway does not have a double yellow line.
Alabama Code Section 32-5A-282
Persons under 16 riding a bicycle on a public roadway must wear a bicycle helmet.
Report Your Alabama Bike Crash
It only takes a minute to fill out our Bicycle Crash Report Form. If you, a family member, or friends have been injured in a cycling crash in Alabama and wish to discuss your legal options please contact Danny at (205) 254-6060 or email.
Alabama Bike Law Speakers
If you would like Bike Law to come speak to your club or at your shop, please contact us.
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Featured image credit: Brad Hammonds
