Fargo Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Most any scenarios involving a bike and a motor vehicle result in can cause serious injury or death. When a motor vehicle strikes a bicyclist from behind, or a driver swings a door open without looking, or when a truck passes too close on a street or county highway and forces a bicyclist you off the road, bad things happen. In a split second, a routine ride becomes a medical emergency and a financial crisis.
If not fatal, the injuries bicyclists ’ sustain when a vehicle hits them are serious, and often require surgery, an extended period of recovery, and months away from work. The legal process that follows is just as demanding.
At Vogel Law Firm, our bicycle accident lawyers represent injured bicyclists throughout the region and across North Dakota and Minnesota. A bicycle accident claim is not something you should handle alone, especially after the when insurance companies haved moved quickly to gather evidence so they can limit what they pay. Our attorneys understand the laws and dynamics of bicycling-specific claims, and the local roads and intersections where these accidents happen. The consultation is free, and there are no upfront costs to work with us. Contact us today to talk through what happened and find out what your claim may be worth.
Why Bicyclists Choose Vogel Law Firm
Bicycle accident claims carry legal complexity that general personal injury cases do not always present. Liability disputes are common. Insurance adjusters often look for ways to shift fault to the bicyclist, pointing to equipment, lighting or lack thereof, road position, or failure to wear a helmet to blame the victim. Our attorneys have decades of experience to combat these baseless defenses and we will can push back against the other side on your behalf.
Challenges Bicyclists Face After an Accident and How We Help
Bicycle accident claims come with obstacles that are unique from other vehicle accident claims. Understanding where the difficulties arise helps explain why legal representation matters early.
- Bias against cyclists: Insurance adjusters may assume a bicyclist contributed to the accident. We build cases around physical evidence, traffic laws, and witness accounts to hold the at-fault party accountable for all your losses.
- Underinsurance or no insurance by the at-fault driver: Bicycle collisions often cause serious injuries or death, and the at-fault driver’s liability limits may not cover the full scope of losses. We identify all available insurance sources, including your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to supplement and/or replace other coverage or lack of coverage.
- Disputed liability in low visibility or adverse weather conditions: When a crash happens in reduced light or on wet or slippery roads, each party may tell a different story regarding what happened. We work to reconstruct the accident using all available evidence, including traffic camera footage, road condition reports, and witness statements.
- Injuries that worsen over time: Traumatic brain injuries and spinal injuries are not always fully apparent in the first days after a crash. Closing a claim before the medical picture is complete can leave real costs unaddressed and leave you undercompensated for your losses. We work to make sure the full scope of your injuries is reflected in any resolution.
- Uncooperative insurance companies: Insurers may offer low settlements quickly, before you fully understand what you are entitled to recover. We handle all communications with insurance companies so you are not pressured into accepting less than what your claim is worth.
The right legal support changes the trajectory of a claim and removes the burden of dealing with adjusters and paperwork so you can focus on what’s important: your recovery.
Who Qualifies for a Bicycle Accident Claim
An injured bicyclist may have a valid claim if their accident resulted from another party’s negligence. The most straightforward cases involve a motor vehicle driver who failed to follow traffic laws or who was simply not paying attention to what was wsis happening on the roadway. Many other scenarios result in a bicyclist being injured, such as:
- A driver struck you at an intersection after failing to yield.
- A vehicle passed too closely to you, causing interference with the safe operation of your bicycle.
- A vehicle struck you from behind.
- A driver opened a car door into your path while you were riding, causing a crash.
- A driver turned right on a red light without failing to yield to your right of way.
Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle
Bicycle accidents occur in many different ways, and each type presents its own legal considerations.
Intersection and crosswalk collisions are among the most common types of collision between a bicyclist and a motor vehicle. Drivers turning left or right at intersections frequently fail to account for bicyclists approaching in the same or opposite direction with the right of way. All states give bicyclists the same rights as vehicle operators, and violations of those laws form the foundation of many claims.
Struck from behind cases are common causes of fatal accidents and serious injuries. Drivers who are not paying attention to the roadway in front of them may strike a bicyclist from behind at highway speeds. After doing so, the driver may flee the scene. These are tragic cases that require immediate investigation by a team of attorneys experienced in handling these cases. At the Vogel Law Firm, our bicycle collision attorneys have successfully handled many of these cases on behalf of an injured person or their family.
Dooring Accidents g AcciDooring accidents happen when a driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into the path of a cyclist. The law requires drivers to yield to bicyclists when opening their car or truck doors so as not to cause a cyclist to be thrown from their bike. Sadly, many motorists fail to check for bicyclists approaching from behind them prior to throwing their doors open.
Unsafe passing accidents occur when a motor vehicle overtakes a cyclist without adequate clearance. Minnesota law requires motorists to maintain at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicycle. , per Minnesota Statute 169.18. North Dakota’s driver manual imposes the same three-foot standard. A driver who squeezes past a bicyclist without that margin and causes a crash may bear full liability for the resulting injuries.
Compensation in a Fargo Bicycle Accident Case
The types of compensation available in a bicycle accident claim reflect the full range of losses an injury or death causes. Past and future medical expenses and past wages lost and future loss of earning potential are the basis for economic damage claims. Non-economic damages address the harm suffered by an injured bicyclist because of past and future pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, and the emotional impact of a serious injury, or death, among other things. In cases involving traumatic brain injury or permanent physical limitations or death, these damages can be substantial.
Specific factors that influence the value of a bicycle accident claim include:
- Severity and permanence of injury: Long-term or permanent injuries, including a brain injury and spinal damage, have a different values than injuries that fully resolve. Death cases involve damages owed to those family members who survive the death of a bicyclist.
- Liability clarity: A case where the driver’s negligence is well-documented, and the bicyclist’s fault is minimal or non-existent supports stronger claim outcomes. The sooner our team of attorneys can start to investigate your case, the better.
- Documentation quality: Medical records, accident scene photographs, and consistent documentation of the recovery process all strengthen a claim.
- Impact on daily life and work: Lost wages, missed career opportunities, and changes to daily function are all documented and presented as part of the full damages picture.
No two bicycle accident claims are identical. The figures that apply to your situation depend on facts specific to your accident, your injuries, resulting death, and the insurance coverage involved.
FAQ for Fargo Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Does it matter that I wasn’t wearing a helmet when I was hit?
While an insurance company may raise the issue during a claim, but the absence of a helmet does not eliminate your right to pursue compensation. Its relevance depends on the specific injuries involved and how the comparative fault analysis is applied to your case. For example, in a case involving a broken spine or leg, the failure to wear a helmet is somewhat irrelevant. In a case involving a traumatic brain injury, failure to wear a helmet becomes more critical.
Can I file a claim if the driver who hit me doesn’t have enough insurance?
Yes. This is a common concern after serious bicycle accidents. If the driver’s liability limits fall short of covering your losses, your own auto insurance policy’s underinsured motorist coverage may apply. Similarly, if the driver had no insurance, your own automobile policy may provide uninsured motorist benefits to you. The specifics depend on how your policy is written, and reviewing those details early in the process with one of our attorneys is important. matters.
The driver claims I swerved in front of them. How do I defend against that defense?
Disputes over what happened in the moments before a bicycle accident are common. Physical evidence, including skid marks, bicycle damage, vehicle damage location, and road geometry, often tells a clearer story than conflicting accounts. Surveillance footage, when available, is particularly valuable. Building a case that demonstrates the driver’s failure to maintain proper distance, failure to maintain a proper lookout, or failure to yield appropriately is part of how our attorneys approach disputed liability. The sooner we are able to begin working on your behalf, the better.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in North Dakota or Minnesota?
Both states generally allow six years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence. For wrongful death claims, North Dakota’s deadline is two years from the date of the accident and Minnesota’s is three years. If the at-fault driver was acting on behalf of a city, state, or county agency, the time to start a claim is generally shorter. In order to protect your interests, you should contact a Vogel bicycle attorney as quickly as possible. Starting the legal process early protects evidence and gives the case room to develop without pressure.
What if the bike accident involved a rideshare driver?
Rideshare accidents introduce a layer of insurance complexity because driver coverage depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, actively transporting a passenger, or off duty at the time of the crash. Each of these different driving statuses triggers different coverage from the rideshare company’s commercial policy or from the driver’s personal policy. Sorting out which coverage applies, and how to access it, is something our attorneys handle directly.
Start with a Free Consultation at Our Office
Bicycle accident injuries are among the most serious that personal injury law addresses, because a bicyclist has almost no protection when a vehicle makes contact. The physical damage and disruption to work, finances, and daily life that follows are traumatic. What you do in the days and weeks after an accident has a significant effect on how effectively and quickly your claim may be resolved. We offer free consultations and we work on a contingency fee, meaning we are not paid unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Reach out to Vogel Law Firm, and let our attorneys take the legal burden off your shoulders while you focus on getting better.
