In 2009, according to the NHTSA, 51,000 bicyclists were injured in traffic accidents in the United States and 630 were killed. In order to protect your rights, you or your loved one will need a skilled attorney who can help you navigate the complexity of vehicle and traffic laws, medical issues, insurance laws and negligence and liability laws. At John Anderson Law, we have extensive experience handling personal injury claims and lawsuits on behalf of injured bicyclists.

The most tragic type of bike accident is when a car collides with the cyclist This usually happens whone one of the following occur:

• Motorist entering roadway The motorist enters the roadway from a driveway or parking spot and fails to see the cyclist until it's too late.
• Motorist failure to yield The motorist fails to yield to a cyclist by either running a stop light/sign, or by failing to look both ways before continuing.
• Motorist turning Motorist turns left or right directly in front of the cyclist cutting them off.
• Motorist passing cyclist Motorist doesn't see cyclist when passing and strikes the cyclist. The cyclist may see this before it happens, and hit something else when swerving to avoid the motorist.

The smaller profile of a biker on a motorcycle or ten-speed prohibits even the most conscientious motor vehicle operator from seeing a cyclist before it's too late. Often insurance companies will try and use this against you. In pedestrian and bicycle accidents, insurance companies make every effort to minimize their exposure. Often they will blame the pedestrian or bicyclists. Other times they will offer a quick settlement before the extent of any long term damage is known. Never accept an offer made by an insurance company without consulting an experienced accident lawyer.