Lafayette Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Name: Bicycle Accidents
Brand: Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers
Rating: 4.9 (975 reviews)

A cyclist who gets hit by an automobile or commercial truck is likely to suffer serious and possibly fatal injuries because of the minimal protection a bicycle offers. Medical expenses alone can be astronomically high, and the victim may be unable to resume work for a long time.

A Lafayette bicycle accident attorney can assist you in seeking a fair settlement if you have been a victim of this type of accident.

At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our Lafayette personal injury lawyer can help you assess fault and determine the right amount of compensation for your injuries during a free consultation.

$1 Billion+

Recovered for Louisianians

25+ Attorneys

Collaboration on every case

350+ Years

Combined years of experience

1,700+ Reviews

4.9 Google Rating

Bicycle Accident Injuries in Lafayette

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 130,000 bicyclists are injured in crashes in the U.S. each year. Many of these accidents occur when a motor vehicle hits a bicyclist.

When motor vehicles strike bicyclists, injuries can be devastating. You do not need to suffer a life-threatening injury to be entitled to financial compensation. However, your injuries must have considerably affected your life financially, physically, emotionally, psychologically, or in another significant way.

Some of the possible injuries you may suffer in a bicycle accident include:

Broken bones
Burns
Road rash
Lacerations
Paralysis
Whiplash
Neck injuries
Back injuries
Herniated discs
Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
Spinal cord injuries
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

If you suffered another type of injury in a bicycle accident not listed above, you could still have grounds for a claim. If you would like to analyze your legal options for financial recovery further, you can seek help from a bicycle accident attorney in Lafayette.

Seeking and Claiming Damages for a Lafayette Bike Wreck

Before you can seek compensation in your case, you will have to know what your case is worth to learn how much you can ask for when you file your insurance claim or lawsuit. These damages usually fall into two categories: economic (monetary) and non-economic (non-monetary). Economic damages are losses you can prove with a receipt or invoice, while non-economic damages are subjective.

Common economic damages in bicycle cases are:

Medical expenses for emergency and ongoing care
Lost wages or reduced income
Property damages
Other accident-related expenses

Common non-economic damages include:

Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma
Loss of life enjoyment

An attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers who handles bicycle accident cases in Lafayette can review and collect evidence to document your damages and calculate them accurately so you will know the value of your case. We understand that victims can experience very different damages from one case to another, so we take the time to account for each when building a compensation claim.

We Will Handle the Insurance Company for You

The compensation award for a bicycle accident will usually come from the insurance company of the motorist who hit the bicyclist, as Louisiana is a fault state for car insurance. However, this does not simplify matters. To protect their interests, insurers may try to shift fault onto the victims and offer meager settlements.

It’s critical not to accept a settlement that does not accurately account for your damages. Once your case closes, you can’t seek further compensation from the liable party, even for damages you become aware of in the future. If you take the first offer presented, you will have to pay any future damages out of pocket.

A Lafayette bicycle accident lawyer can prevent this by building a strong case and directly negotiating with the insurer for a settlement for you. If there is clear evidence to support the bicyclist’s claim, there may be a substantial out-of-court settlement offer. Still, many such cases are settled through several rounds of negotiations. If negotiating doesn’t work, we can move forward with a bicycle accident lawsuit.

When Should You Contact a Lawyer After a Bicycle Accident?

You should contact a Lafayette bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. If you aren’t too seriously injured, it’s best to call us before you speak to anyone else. This is important because it is advantageous if we do the talking for you during the settlement process. Otherwise, the other party’s insurers may try to trick you into making statements that can hurt your claim. In addition, there is a deadline to sue for bicycle accident injuries in Louisiana. While each state has its own timeline for personal injury lawsuits, Louisiana has one of the shortest: two years, per CC 3493.1.

This means you only have 365 days from the date of your bike crash to initiate a lawsuit. During this short time, there are many things to accomplish, such as:

Seeking treatment and a prognosis for your injuries
Choosing an attorney to represent you, if you plan to do so
Collecting evidence of the accident and negligence
Building a case against the liable party
Submitting a claim to the insurer and beginning negotiations
Filing a lawsuit if negotiations fail

That doesn’t leave you much time to recover and handle other responsibilities in your life, which is why many accident victims hire a bicycle accident attorney serving Lafayette to take care of their legal matters.

Talk to a Louisiana Local Attorney Today

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person on ground after falling off bicycle

How a Lafayette Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Compensation Claim

When we represent a bicycle accident victim, we handle every aspect of their claim or lawsuit. Some of the tasks our Lafayette bike accident lawyers can handle for you include:

Identifying the liable party to file a claim against
Interviewing witnesses about the incident
Requesting the accident report and video footage of the crash
Filing necessary legal paperwork in your case
Communicating with all parties involved in your case, including other attorneys
Calculating your case’s worth based on the damages you suffered
Representing you in all meetings and hearings about your case
Evaluating any settlement offers you receive
Taking your case to trial, if necessary

Our Lafayette law firm will be there to support you through every step in your bike accident case, so you never have to feel lost or overwhelmed by the legal system.

Our Law Firm Has Recovered Over $1 Billion for Our Injury Clients

The personal injury attorneys with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers collectively have more than 350 years of experience and have helped clients recover more than $1 billion in cash settlements and verdicts. We know the laws in Louisiana and protect our clients’ rights while fighting for the compensation they deserve. We want to do the same for you.

Previous Clients Praise Our Legal Services

Our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers receives consistent feedback about the value and quality of our legal support. This is just a sample of our Google reviews from clients:

“I have had nothing but excellent service with this firm, they keep me updated on my case, are easy to get ahold of and my paralegal Mallory Marsh goes above and beyond for myself and my mother, she’s kind caring and truly concerned about us and regularly checks in to see how we are doing.” Kori Peeters
“I know they heard and understood what I was going through. My calls and texts were returned and everything was explained clearly to me. If I had to do it over I would do the same thing and chose them to help me.” Geo Moore
“This law firm is amazing. I traveled about an hour and thirty minutes to their location. I was nervous because this was my first time having to acquire a lawyer. As soon as I entered I was welcomed with open arms. Very comfortable. Nice southern hospitality. During my meeting, Ms. Larke was very thorough and explained everything until I was comfortable with the information. I was very pleased with the service I received today. Ms. Larks is amazing If you’re looking for an automobile/injury lawyer Laborde Earles Injury Law firm is the place to go!!!” – Renesha Daggs
“My experience with Laborde Earles has been awesome. They are great professional personable people who care about my well-being.” – Joe Colquette
“They were very empathetic and informative with my situation. I would highly recommend them as a
law firm.” -Mary Smith

Yes, You Can Afford to Hire a Lawyer to Take on Your Bicycle Case in Lafayette

We know many people may consider passing up hiring a Lafayette bike accident attorney to take their case because of concerns about legal fees. We understand this concern, so we work with our clients on a contingency basis.

This payment arrangement allows us to work on your injury case without charging you upfront fees. If you win your case, we will take our fee from your settlement or court award—we’ll discuss this predetermined percentage before you decide to hire us. Alternatively, if we don’t secure a financial recovery for you, you don’t have to pay us. Our personal injury attorneys believe that anyone who suffers an injury should be able to hire representation without facing an additional financial burden.

Client Testimonials Hear from locals like you.

I had an amazing experience working with my paralegal, Wesley Guillory, at Laborde Earles Law Firm. Wesley went above and beyond for me throughout the...

Jaine Fisher

Lafayette

Working with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers was an incredible experience from beginning to end. Jeanne and Kaitlyn were absolutely amazing - profession...

Melody Johnson

New Orleans

I highly recommend Derek Hebert to anyone in need of a skilled and trustworthy attorney. From the very beginning, Derek was professional, honest, and ...

Brylan Cormier

Lafayette

Renee McCaslin goes above and beyond to help the clients. Her attention to detail is unmatched! Her kind heart and sweet spirit both go a long way in ...

Sylvia Roy

New Iberia

Trudy Dupuy is a wonderful asset to the team. She does an amazing job.

Annabelle D.

Toni is the absolute BEST!!!! Not only is she the best paralegal but she’s also the best person I know. She is so intelligent, knowledgeable, ca...

Sarah Jorden

Marksville

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs...

Tracie M.

Over the past 3 years I have encountered one of the best Law Firms in Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers which have been handling my Lejeune Contaminated T...

Stephan C.

Michelle Brouillette is always so pleasant whenever I call or stop by the office. She always has a smile on her face.

Christine G.

Over 1,700 5-Star Reviews

Establishing Who’s Responsible for Your Bicycle Accident in Lafayette

One important task we help clients with is identifying liable parties in their bicycle accidents. We also must prove those parties demonstrated negligence. Liable parties in your case could include:

The driver who hit you with their vehicle
The company that hired the driver
The bicycle’s manufacturer (if the bicycle is found to be faulty)
Cities or municipalities responsible for the upkeep of their roadways

How Do I Prove Negligence in a Lafayette Bicycle Accident Claim?

The grounds for a bicycle accident claim are often difficult to understand. Many bike accident victims believe their injuries must be life-threatening for a lawsuit or insurance claim to be warranted. However, this is not the case. You may be eligible for compensation if someone else’s negligence caused the accident. To prove negligence caused the accident, your Lafayette bicycle accident attorney must establish the four elements of negligence, which are:

Duty of Care

The defendant must have owed you a duty of care. All drivers on the road owe bicyclists a duty of care to protect them from harm.

Breach of Duty

The motorist must have breached their duty of care in some way, such as through distracted or reckless driving.

Causation

The defendant’s breach of duty of care must have caused the bicycle accident.

Damages

The bicycle accident victim must have suffered damages to be entitled to financial compensation.

If you are still unsure whether you have grounds for a claim, consider whether someone else is or could be responsible for your injuries. If this is true, and if the accident has significantly affected your life, you could have grounds for a bicycle accident insurance or civil claim.

Our Legal Team We fight for our own.

Meet Our Team

Digger Earles

Founding Partner

Hunter, fisherman, and aggressive trial attorney, most recently securing a historic $5 million bad faith excess verdict.

Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers
Acadiana Profile Top Lawyer
Top 100 National Trial Lawyers

David Laborde

Founding Partner

In addition to owning a ranch and hunting on the weekends, David is recognized as a top trial lawyer in Louisiana, most recently winning a $7.2 million settlement.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Acadiana Profile Top Lawyer
Multi–Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Alexis Davis

Attorney

Personal injury attorney at Laborde Earles, Alexis combines award-winning legal writing with diligent advocacy, focusing on protecting clients’ interests throughout Louisiana.

Best Case Note
Law Review award winner

Aaron Bergeron

Attorney

Personal injury attorney Aaron Bergeron brings a client-first approach shaped by courtroom and judicial experience.

Law Clerk, 27th Judicial District Court
Graduated cum laude, Southern University Law Center

Ben Alexander

Attorney

Litigation attorney Ben leverages years of experience defending catastrophic, maritime, and insurance cases, including those involving the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Deepwater Horizon MDL
Rising Star 2013–2018
Top 100 honoree

Cade Melancon

Attorney

Cade brings judicial and court experience, as well as catastrophic injury litigation skills developed from pre-suit preparation through trial support and appeals.

Federal court internship
District staff attorney

Carolina De La Pena Rogers

Attorney

Carolina represents motor-vehicle crash victims, applying nationwide immigration litigation experience with a proactive strategy, clear communication, and client-focused guidance.

Spanish speaker
Immigration courts admitted
Louisiana Association for Justice

Daniel Snellings

Attorney

With more than 30 years in complex litigation, Daniel represents injured victims in auto, maritime, product liability, toxic tort, and class matters.

Martindale-Hubbell rated
Best Maritime Attorneys 2022
NITA skills certificate

David Charles Laborde Jr.

Attorney

DC handles diverse injury matters, using prior insurance-defense and entertainment-law experience to anticipate tactics, strengthen claims, and guide clients through every step.

Former defense attorney
Louisiana Bar admitted
Tulane football letterman

Derek B. Hebert

Attorney

Personal injury attorney Derek Hebert takes a proactive, detail-driven approach, building cases early to apply pressure and pursue strong results.

Full-Tuition Merit Scholarship Recipient
Certificate in Civil Law Studies

Frances Gossen O'Neal

Attorney

Fran is an experienced litigator with strong research roots, clerkship experience, and broad court admissions, providing thoughtful, steady representation for injured clients.

23rd JDC clerkships
LSU Law J.D.

Jeanne Laborde

Attorney

Personal injury attorney Jeanne has spent decades guiding clients through treatment, billing, and insurance issues with diligence, clarity, and compassion.

Bilingual English/Spanish
20+ years serving clients

Jennifer Coussan

Attorney

Lafayette native Jennifer brings sharp judicial perspective from federal and appellate clerkships, strengthening litigation strategy, motion practice, and outcomes for clients.

Federal law clerk
Third Circuit attorney

Jonathan Chatwin

Attorney

Jonathan focuses on workers’ compensation and personal injury, combining accounting training and Army service with practical, disciplined advocacy for Louisiana clients daily.

U.S. Army veteran
Fifth Circuit admitted

Kade Stutes

Attorney

Storm claim attorney Kade serves Acadiana homeowners with local roots, judicial-clerkship experience, and a steady, responsive approach to complex insurance disputes.

27th JDC judicial clerk
Society VP
Louisiana Bar 2023

Kelby Rasmussen

Attorney

Kelby practices personal injury law, drawing on courtroom insight from district-judge clerkships, to provide clear answers and steady guidance to clients following serious accidents.

36th JDC law clerk
LAJ member

Kristen Broussard Guidry

Attorney

Kristen brings more than 25 years of experience and deep insurance-defense insight, now using industry knowledge to zealously advocate for injury clients.

Top 15% LSU
Outstanding Young Lawyer
Past YLA President

Mary Cryar

Attorney

Mary turns two decades of insurance and injury defense experience into advocacy for people facing serious injuries or denied insurance claims today.

NITA instructor
Taught LSU trial advocacy
Multi-state bar admissions

Nicholas R. Rockforte

Attorney

Nicholas represents clients in injury, complex litigation, and class actions, bringing a first-in-class mindset and underdog focus to every case for clients.

Top 40 Under 40
Levee counsel

Paul Laborde

Attorney

Personal injury attorney Paul Laborde brings a thorough, disciplined approach shaped by strong legal training and a deep respect for the profession.

LSU Law Graduate
Judicial & Legislative Experience

Robert (“Rob”) Marionneaux Jr

Attorney

Trial lawyer Rob focuses on catastrophic injury and wrongful death, delivering proven courtroom results while supporting families through life-changing tragedies today.

$20.6M verdict
Million Dollar Advocates
Hall of Fame inductee

Ryan Saunders

Attorney

Ryan brings first-responder experience and trial-driven precision to complex matters, dedicated to helping clients who need a prepared, strategic advocate always today.

First responder 10+ years
Felony defense
Patent bar passed

Scott Higgins

Attorney

Scott is a seasoned injury litigator handling wrongful death, maritime, and complex multi-party cases, valuing client relationships as much as results always.

AV Preeminent rated
Licensed in Louisiana/Texas

Shawn Bordelon

Attorney

Shawn is a personal injury litigator with defense-side insight, representing clients through trial and appeals, including matters that reach the Louisiana Supreme Court level.

Former defense counsel
Louisiana Supreme Court experience

Victor Rushing

Attorney

Victor is a pre-litigation attorney who guides injured clients through early case strategy, providing clear communication and responsive, detail-oriented representation.

Western District admitted
Knights of Columbus

Wesley Elmer

Attorney

Wesley evaluates claims from both sides, helping clients understand strengths and risks while pursuing fair outcomes in personal injury matters statewide fully.

Dual-perspective counsel
Fifth Circuit admitted
Former parish bar president

Will Casanova

Attorney

Will devotes his practice to Louisiana workers’ compensation, providing injured workers with steady, informed guidance to navigate benefits, treatment, and claims.

Past Acadia Bar President
Southern graduate

Amit Gulati

Attorney

Attorney Amit Gulati brings courtroom-tested advocacy and a trial-first mindset to personal injury and criminal defense cases.

Former Orleans Public Defenders Attorney
Extensive Felony Trial Experience

Causes of Lafayette Bicycle Accidents That You Can Sue For

Investigating the accident and identifying all liable parties is the first step your lawyer will take while claiming compensation for a bicycle accident in Lafayette. In many bike wrecks, the fault may be glaringly evident – driver error is frequently cited as the cause of traffic collisions. However, there may be other factors, including other parties involved who also may be accountable. It is also vital to remember that not wearing a helmet or any other risky behavior may raise the biker’s level of negligence, but it does not mean they will be prevented from seeking compensation, per CC 2323.

Bike Lane Crashes

Quite often, motorists do not respect bike lanes and can cause accidents. Whenever a driver fails to notice a bike lane and drifts across the lines, they put bikers at risk. However, debris left on the road after road work or an 18-wheeler not noticing someone on a bike can also cause an accident.

Intersection Collisions

A common reason for bike accidents in a crosswalk or intersection is distracted or drunk driving. However, there are instances where a construction crew or a government agency is responsible for causing such an accident due to a poorly designed intersection or a malfunctioning traffic light.

Dooring Accidents

It is a clear case of negligence if a car owner opens their door into the path of a biker, known as “dooring.” However, it is also possible that the driver was distracted by a passenger, or a property owner left an obstruction that hindered the driver’s view, resulting in a dooring incident.

What Is the Average Bicycle Accident Settlement?

Every bicycle accident claim has different circumstances that will affect the value of a settlement, so there is no “average” amount of compensation you can expect. Online claims calculators are not accurate. The best way to find out how much your case may be worth is to contact us for a free consultation.

How Do Bicycle Accident Insurance Settlements Work?

Dealing with the insurance company is a necessary part of bicycle accident claims. You need to be aware of a few key details as you navigate the insurance claims process. These include negotiating with the insurance company and what to expect from your insurance payout.

Negotiating With the Insurer

Negotiating with the insurance company may be more difficult than you thought. Some insurance companies care about their financial interests above anything else. The insurance company may challenge your claim in the hopes of reducing their financial loss. Your attorney can ensure the insurance company does not lowball you or pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.

Your Insurance Payout

Insurance payouts are based on the amount of coverage purchased by the policyholder. If your damages exceed the amount of coverage purchased by the policyholder, you may only recover your remaining damages via other means. You may need to file a lawsuit in addition to filing an insurance claim so you can recover fair compensation for your damages.

Consult With a Lafayette Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

A cyclist has a difficult road to recovery after an accident with an automobile. A bike accident will have an impact not just on your mental and physical well-being, but also on your financial condition.

A Lafayette bike accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can fight on your behalf to help you seek fair compensation. We serve clients in Lafayette from our office at 1901 Kaliste Saloom Road. Call today or complete a free case evaluation form to learn more about how we can help you.

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