Minneapolis Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Seeking Justice for Injured Bicyclists in MN, WI, & ND

In the busy streets of Minneapolis, bicycle accidents are inevitable. If you were injured by someone else’s negligence on Minnesota roads, you deserve fair compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, and more. That’s why our bicycle accident attorneys are committed to pursuing justice for wrongfully injured bicyclists in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. 

At Fay & Associates, we understand how frustrating and overwhelming it can be to recover damages after a wrongful injury, especially while dealing with the physical, financial, and emotional fallout of a serious accident. With 27 years of experience, Our trusted advocates have over 27 years of experience and an in-depth understanding of personal injury law to aggressively protect your rights and advocate tirelessly for the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. 

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

A bicycle accident occurs when a cyclist riding a bicycle collides with another object, vehicle, or person, resulting in injuries or damage. Negligent drivers can contribute to these accidents in several ways.

Here are some common causes:

• Failure to Yield: Drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way to cyclists at intersections, crosswalks, or when merging, leading to collisions.
• Distracted Driving: When drivers are distracted by their phones, passengers, or other activities, they may not see cyclists or react in time to avoid a collision.
• Unsafe Passing: Drivers may attempt to pass cyclists without leaving enough space, leading to sideswiping or forcing the cyclist off the road.
• Dooring: Opening a car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist is a common cause of accidents, especially in urban areas with parked cars along the roadside.
• Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver's reaction time and increases the severity of accidents. Speeding drivers may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision with a cyclist.
• Aggressive Driving: Aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, honking, or cutting off cyclists can intimidate riders and increase the risk of accidents.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs have reduced coordination, judgment, and reaction times, making them more likely to collide with cyclists.
• Ignoring Traffic Signals: Running red lights or stop signs can lead to collisions with cyclists who have the right-of-way.
• Failure to Check Blind Spots: Drivers may not check their blind spots before changing lanes or making turns, putting cyclists at risk of being struck.

Minnesota Bicycle Laws

Cyclists are generally required to ride as near to the right-hand side of the road as practicable, except under certain conditions such as when passing another bicycle or vehicle, preparing for a left turn, or when necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand side. 

Cyclists must obey all traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings. They are subject to the same rights and duties as drivers of motor vehicles.

Cyclists must use designated bicycle paths or lanes where provided, but they are not required to use them if an alternate route is available.

Cyclists must signal their intention to turn or stop using hand signals. They should extend their left arm straight out to signal a left turn, extend their left arm out and bent downward at a right angle to signal a stop or decrease in speed, and extend their right arm straight out to signal a right turn.

While Minnesota does not have a statewide law requiring adults to wear helmets while riding bicycles, some local jurisdictions may have their own helmet laws, particularly for children under a certain age.

Recovering Damages in a Bicycle Accident

Various damages may be recovered in a bicycle accident. At Fay & Associates, we can thoroughly investigate the accident to determine available damages and ensure you’re compensated fairly. There are three types of recoverable damages, including:

• Economic damages: These compensate for financial losses, such as property damage, lost earnings, medical expenses, and treatment costs. 
• Non-economic damages: These compensate for non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
• Punitive damages: Unlike other damages, punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for especially harmful or reckless behavior. These are awarded in rare cases involving extreme malice to deter similar behavior by others. 

If you were injured in a bicycle accident, contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Pay nothing until we achieve a favorable settlement.