By law, bicyclists have a right to share the road with other motor vehicle drivers and have their space respected. If you were hit by a motor vehicle while riding your bicycle on the road, you might be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries from the at-fault driver. If your loved one passed away in a bicycle accident due to another driver’s negligence, you might qualify to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit on their behalf.
If your bicycle accident occurred in Metairie, Louisiana, you can work with a Metairie bicycle accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to build your case. Our team may be able to help you collect evidence, testimonies, and other information to support your case. To begin the process, call (337) 777-7777 for a free case evaluation and talk to us about your accident and injuries.
Drivers Have a Duty to Be Cautious Around Bicyclists to Avoid Accidents
On a national scale, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that more than 1,000 bicyclists were killed on the road in 2015, while nearly 467,000 bicycle accidents led to injuries.
Fatal bicycle accidents are an increasing issue in Louisiana. The Highway Safety Research Group (HSRG), run by Louisiana State University (LSU), saw a 155.6% increase in bicyclist fatalities between 2010 and 2017.
Bicyclists consistently face danger every time they share the road with other vehicles. Their safety equipment (i.e., a helmet) is not nearly as protective as a two-ton metal frame vehicle. This is why many states, including Louisiana, mandate traffic safety laws and rules to enforce better driving on the road.
Bicycle Laws in Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD) lays out several laws in the state that apply to bicycles and bicyclists. Some of which include:
- Drivers must leave a distance of three feet between their vehicle and the bicyclist when passing or overtaking.
- Car occupants must not open their doors on a highway or roadway before first checking to see if doing so would impede oncoming traffic, including bicyclists. If so, the occupant must wait for the traffic to pass before opening their door.
- Drivers must treat bicycles as vehicles on the road and must follow traffic laws to share the road safely with them.
- Bicyclists must ride their bicycle on the right-hand edge of the road unless they are overtaking another bicyclist, making a left turn, or avoiding unsafe obstacles or road terrain.
Other laws, such as Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §32:203, dictate more specific rules on how to share the road with bicyclists. In this statute, motor vehicle drivers are not allowed to drive in bicycle lanes unless they are:
- Preparing to make a turn
- Leaving or entering the road, which might involve crossing the bike lane
- Parking in a spot located next to the bike lane, such as parallel parking
In any case, if motorists must enter or cross the bicycle lane, they must yield right of way to bicyclists to avoid an accident. If a motorist did not yield right of way to you and injured you in a collision, they might be held liable for damages.
Also, RS §32:201 expressly forbids motorists from harassing bicyclists on the road. This includes tailgating, speeding, purposely bumping into bicyclists, and running them off the road.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientYour Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Compensation
Your bicycle accident lawyer may review the damages you endured during and after the bicycle accident. When pursuing compensation, you must demand a value that you believe covers your damages and provide proof of your grievances. Your lawyer may tally up your financial losses and compare them to your general, non-monetary losses to reach an estimate to pursue as compensation.
Your damages might involve:
- Medical treatment costs
- Property damage, such as repair costs for your bicycle
- The value of your bicycle if it was completely wrecked in the collision
- Loss of income if you sustained injuries that prevented you from going to work
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of activities, such as bicycling on public roads
- Psychological trauma from the event
Your Metairie personal injury lawyer might consider claiming other damages that apply to your case and explain the process of calculating your damages in more detail later.
Wrongful Death Damages
Bicycle accidents can end in tragedy if the bicyclist suffers severe injuries during the impact. A Metairie wrongful death lawyer will help qualifying family members (e.g., the decedent’s spouse, child, or parent) or a personal representative of the decedent file for compensation.
Wrongful death damages after a bike accident might include:
- Costs for funeral services, burial, or cremation
- Loss of financial income from the decedent
- Loss of emotional support, whether as a partner or parent
- Loss of consortium
- Final medical expenses
If you would like a Metairie bicycle accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to help you file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit, call our client intake team at (337) 777-7777 . Our heart goes out to you if you are in the midst of dealing with the loss of a loved one, and we would like to help you manage your case so that you can grieve in peace.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientHire a Metairie Bicycle Accident Lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers
Bicyclists have every right to be on the road. Louisiana has multiple laws in place to protect the rights of bicyclists and regulate how they can coexist with motor vehicles and other road users.
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident while riding a bicycle, and that accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you might be able to collect compensation for your injuries and damages.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers is here to provide legal assistance when you need it, so do not hesitate to reach out to our team for a free consultation. All you have to do is call our office at (337) 777-7777 , and we can begin discussing the details of your accident and how you might be able to take legal action. Call today.
