Virginia Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle Accident Injuries

Oftentimes, the factor of a bicycle accident claim that affects the potential for significant losses and complications is the type of injury suffered by the cyclist. A bicyclist has little protection against the size, weight, and speed of a motor vehicle, so they are likely to suffer a severe injury in a collision. More severe injuries will naturally require more intensive or extensive medical care, which tends to be more expensive and time-consuming. When treatments are done, the overall costs and losses can be steep.

Bicycle accidents often cause life-changing injuries, including:

• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Bone fractures
• Permanent disfigurement

Our Virginia bicycle accident attorneys can work with trusted medical experts to learn more about your injuries and how they will likely impact your livelihood for years to come, so we can pursue an amount of compensation that reflects your real losses. If you lost a loved one to a fatal bicycle accident, you can also talk to us about how to start a wrongful death claim.

How Driver Negligence Causes Bicycle Accidents

Drivers and auto insurance companies like to blame bicyclists for crashes, even when the evidence says otherwise. Don’t let liability get unfairly pinned on you without putting up a fight. Come to Kalfus & Nachman PC, and we can look for ways to prove that the driver’s mistakes were to blame for what happened.

Forms of driver negligence that often cause bicycle accidents include:

• Tailgating a bicyclist
• Cutting a bicyclist off
• Speeding
• Driving in a bike lane
• Driving while distracted
• Driving while intoxicated

Make Bicycle Safety the Priority

Our Virginia bicycle accident attorneys have seen far too many clients who have suffered bicycle accident injuries. Although you might have already been hit by a reckless driver, it’s never too late to make bicycle safety the top priority by learning more about safety practices, laws, and statistics.

Quick Bicycle Safety Tips

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests these tips for bike safety:

• Follow road signs and signals
• Always ride with traffic, never against it
• Always wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet
• Wear reflective clothing when riding during dark hours
• Wear bright clothing or use other ways to improve your visibility
• Never ride your bike while under the influence
• Never use your phone or electronic devices while riding your bike
• Use hand signals to make drivers aware of your intentions

Virginia Bicycle Laws

Important bicycle laws and bicycle safety regulations set by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles include:

• Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as motor vehicle drivers, which means responsibly sharing the road.
• When passing a bicyclist, drivers must slow to a “reasonable” speed and keep the right edge of their vehicle at least three feet away from the bicyclist.
  • If it is safe to do so, a driver must change lanes to maintain this three-foot distance when passing a bicyclist.
  • If it is safe to do so, a driver must cross any centerline, including a double-yellow line, to maintain this three-foot distance when passing a bicyclist.
  • If a driver cannot maintain this three-foot distance or it is not clear that they can, then the driver must not attempt to pass the bicyclist.
• Bicyclists can ride two abreast in a lane, as long as they can form a single-file line when necessary for safety.
• Local municipalities can pass and implement their own ordinances to promote bicycle safety based on specific details like traffic patterns in their areas.

Virginia Bicycle Accident Statistics

The Virginia DMV 2023 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts information packet reported:

• 590 total bicycle accidents
• 535 bicycle accidents that resulted in injuries
• 15 bicycle accidents that resulted in fatal injuries
• 121 bicycle accidents that resulted in serious injuries
• 10% of all injured cyclists were ages 21 to 25 (largest demographic)
• 50.7% of all bicycle accidents involved no observable cyclist error

Choose the Team That Cares – Call Now

At Kalfus & Nachman PC, the representation we offer injured cyclists across Virginia is more than legal counsel and services. We provide compassionate support and attention to every client because, as bicyclists and safety advocates ourselves, we genuinely care about your case and recovery. We want to get every dollar in compensation possible because you deserve it and it’s the right thing to do. If you need help from a Virginia bicycle accident attorney after a crash, reach out now.