Louisiana’s metropolitan areas are quickly becoming a haven for bicycling to work. In fact, New Orleans now ranks eighth in the nation for bicycle commuting. Many recently-added bike lanes and shared roadways pose both opportunities and challenges as motorists and bicyclists learn to safely coexist.
Representation in Louisiana Bicycle Crash Cases
At age 14, Louisiana lawyer Charlie Thomas competed in his first bicycle race and also began working as a mechanic at a bicycle shop in New Orleans. Several years later, Charlie held seven state championships and served as the president of the Texas A&M Cycling Team. Charlie enjoyed the thrill of racing road bicycles in the Professional/1/2 category until law school, where studying took priority. As an attorney, Charlie now rides for recreation and focuses his practice on representing cyclists who have been injured by motorists, unsafe road conditions, or defective cycling products. Headquartered in New Orleans, Charlie also represents cyclists in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Monroe, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and all other places in the State.
Charlie’s analysis of Louisiana bicycle laws can be found here.
Charlie has a special passion for cycling in Louisiana and wants to be able to do it safely. Having ridden in excess of 50,000 miles, he understands the challenges of sharing roadways and actively advocates for mutual courtesy and respect between cyclists and motorists. After all, everyone wants to lessen the amount of hits and near-hits that occur.
Charlie is also a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) of the League of American Bicyclists.
Charlie incorporates his decade of professionally assembling and repairing bicycles into a comprehensive understanding of product failures and dangerous defects. In fact, Charlie’s first legal case involved a bicycle defect that led to a horrific injury for a young child. After seeing this case to a seven figure jury verdict, Charlie has passionately represented bicyclists against insurance companies, at-fault motorists, unsafe big-box retailers, and negligent manufacturers. He is proud to support Bike Law’s unique mission of client and cause advocacy.
Charlie Thomas
Having served as the president of the Texas A&M Cycling Team, where he led the team in appearances in the U.S. Collegiate National Championships, Charlie has spent thousands of hours riding his bicycle in Texas. Additionally, Charlie raced for a private Houston team in the Professional/1/2 category until law school, where studying took priority. As an attorney, Charlie now rides for recreation and focuses his practice on representing cyclists injured by motorists, unsafe road conditions, or defective cycling products.
One of Charlie’s recent Texas cases involved a young surgeon training for a triathlon on his bicycle. While on a ride, the cyclist was struck from behind by a motorist who wasn’t paying attention to the road. The cyclist suffered severe injuries, including head trauma and numerous bone fractures. The cyclist retained Charlie, who obtained a significant recovery for the cyclist through the legal process. Meanwhile, the intense medical treatment allowed the cyclist to make a full recovery.
In addition to his background of cycling throughout Texas, Charlie also incorporates his decade of professionally assembling and repairing bicycles into a comprehensive understanding of product failures and dangerous defects. Charlie passionately represents bicyclists against insurance companies, at-fault motorists, unsafe big-box retailers, and negligent manufacturers. He is proud to support Bike Law’s unique mission of client and cause advocacy.
Charlie is also a League Cycling Instructor of the League of American Bicyclists.
Louisiana Bike Laws
It’s important to know your legal rights (and duties) when bicycling in Louisiana. It is especially important after a bicycle accident (we call them bicycle “crashes” and explain why here).
For any questions about the State’s bike laws, or about your rights to the road, contact attorney Charlie Thomas directly.
Right to the Road
Louisiana bicyclists generally have the same rights, and same duties, as drivers of motor vehicles.
Prohibitions
Clinging to motor vehicles while biking is not permitted.
Bicycles may only carry the number of persons for which it is designed.
Helmets
There is no statewide requirement for a helmet for adults, however, children under 12 years of age in Louisiana must legally wear a helmet while riding in public.
Alcohol
Louisiana’s DUI statute does not apply to bicyclists (only to operators of motor vehicles), but a bicyclist under the influence may be charged with public intoxication.
If you have been injured in a Louisiana bike accident, by a defective bicycle product, or because of an unsafe road condition and would like to discuss your case with a Louisiana bicycle accident attorney who is also an avid cyclist, Charlie welcomes your call for a free consultation. He may be reached at 504-274-2500 or [email protected].
Charlie is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.
Louisiana 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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