Las Vegas Bicycle Injury Attorneys
After a driver hits a bicyclist, one of the first disputes may be where the bicycle was on the road. The driver may say the cyclist was too far in the lane, should have used a bike lane, or appeared too late to avoid the collision.
Those claims do not tell the whole story. Nevada law gives bicyclists the right to use the road, and drivers have specific responsibilities when approaching and passing them. Where each person was traveling, how much room was available, what the driver could see, and what happened in the seconds before impact can all matter when determining fault.
George Bochanis Injury Law Offices represents cyclists injured by negligent drivers throughout Las Vegas and Nevada. We investigate the circumstances of the collision and the evidence that can show what actually happened on the road.
“Drivers sometimes say they didn’t see the bicycle or that the rider should have been somewhere else on the road. We look at the roadway, the damage, the point of impact, and the other evidence to determine where each person actually was and what happened before the collision.”
– George Bochanis
Call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at (702) 388-2005 for a FREE consultation. Since 1985, we have represented injured people throughout Las Vegas and Nevada.
Why Choose Our Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Lawyers?
Nevada law entitles bicycle riders who are injured to seek compensation for damages when someone else’s negligence causes them to get hurt.
At the George Bochanis Injury Law Offices, our bicycle accident attorneys work on a contingency basis to help victims recover money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Bicycle claims can involve questions that do not come up in an ordinary car accident. Was there a usable bike lane? Where was the cyclist permitted to ride? Did the driver leave enough room to pass? Could the driver see the bicycle before turning or entering the roadway?
We examine the road where the collision occurred, vehicle and bicycle damage, available video, witness accounts, traffic controls, police reports, and other evidence that may answer those questions. We also investigate whether someone other than the driver may share responsibility and what insurance coverage may apply.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Las Vegas
Many bicycle collisions start when a driver fails to account for a bicycle already sharing the road. A motorist may pass without enough space, turn across a cyclist’s path, open a vehicle door into the rider’s path, or enter an intersection without yielding. Other crashes may involve unsafe road conditions or defective bicycle parts.
Unsafe Passing
A driver may cause a bicycle accident by passing too closely or failing to move over when there is enough room to do so. Nevada law generally requires drivers to leave at least three feet when passing a bicyclist on a single-lane road. On a road with multiple lanes traveling in the same direction, the driver may need to move into the lane immediately to the left when it is available and safe.
Failure to Yield
Drivers may collide with bicyclists when turning at intersections, entering a roadway, crossing a bike lane, or leaving a driveway or parking lot. A driver may fail to see the cyclist, misjudge the cyclist’s speed, or proceed without yielding the right of way.
Distracted Driving
A driver looking at a phone, navigation system, passenger, or another distraction may fail to notice a bicycle sharing the road. Even a brief distraction can prevent a driver from seeing a cyclist before turning, changing lanes, entering an intersection, or passing.
Dooring Accidents
A driver or passenger may open a vehicle door directly into a cyclist’s path without checking for approaching traffic. A cyclist may have little time to stop or move away, causing the rider to strike the door or be thrown into traffic.
Impaired Driving
Alcohol, marijuana, prescription medication, and other drugs can affect a driver’s judgment, reaction time, coordination, and ability to see a cyclist. An impaired driver may drift into a bicyclist’s path, fail to yield, or misjudge the distance needed to pass safely.
Unsafe Roads or Defective Bicycle Parts
Potholes, broken pavement, construction hazards, debris, poor lighting, and other roadway conditions may cause a cyclist to lose control or move unexpectedly into traffic. A defective brake, tire, wheel, or other bicycle component may also contribute to a crash.
Nevada Bicycle Laws and Accident Claims
A driver’s claim that a cyclist “should not have been there” does not resolve fault. Nevada law generally requires cyclists to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, but there are important exceptions. A cyclist may move away from the right side when surface hazards, parked vehicles, pedestrians, or other conditions make it unsafe, or when the lane is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side.
That is why the roadway itself matters. Lane width, bike-lane markings, parked vehicles, debris, construction, photographs, video, traffic controls, vehicle and bicycle damage, and the point of impact may help establish where the cyclist was permitted to ride and how the collision occurred.
Nevada’s bicycle laws address where cyclists may ride and how motorists must pass them. The rules that apply depend on the roadway and circumstances of the crash.
Injuries Common in Bicycle Accidents
A bicycle offers little protection when a rider is struck by a passenger vehicle or truck. Even when a cyclist takes precautions, the impact can cause serious injuries that require surgery, rehabilitation, and extended medical care.
Medical bills, time away from work, rehabilitation, and future treatment can add up quickly. When an injury causes permanent limitations, those losses may continue long after the collision.
Some of the most common of these may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Amputated limbs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fatal injuries
Who May Be Responsible for a Las Vegas Bicycle Accident?
The driver who struck the cyclist may be responsible, but some bicycle accident claims involve additional parties.
Those who often bear liability for bicycle accidents in Las Vegas include:
Negligent Drivers
A driver may be liable for an unsafe pass, failure to yield, distracted turn, impaired driving, or another traffic violation.
Employers and Commercial Drivers
If a delivery driver, truck driver, rideshare driver, or other motorist was working when the crash occurred, an employer or additional insurance coverage may also be involved.
Manufacturers
A defective bicycle, tire, brake, vehicle component, or other product may contribute to some crashes.
Government Entities or Other Responsible Parties
Dangerous roadway conditions may raise questions about who controlled or maintained the area. Different rules and deadlines may apply when a government entity is involved.
What to Do After Initial Treatment for a Bicycle Accident
By the time you’re searching for a bicycle accident lawyer, you have likely already left the crash scene and received initial medical care. What you do in the following days and weeks can still affect both your recovery and your claim.
Continue Recommended Medical Care
Attend follow-up appointments, physical therapy, specialist visits, diagnostic testing, and other recommended treatments. Medical records document your injuries and how your condition changes over time.
Preserve Your Bicycle and Equipment
Do not repair, sell, or throw away your bicycle, helmet, clothing, lights, or other damaged items before the crash has been investigated. Their condition may help show where the vehicle struck the bicycle.
Keep Records of Your Losses
Save medical bills, prescription receipts, insurance correspondence, documentation of missed work, and other records showing the financial effects of the accident.
Avoid Detailed Statements to Insurers
An adjuster may request a recorded statement, seek medical information, or make an early settlement offer. You may not yet know how long treatment will last or whether your injuries will cause permanent limitations.
Recovering Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicycle accident victims in Las Vegas may be entitled to compensation for:
Economic Damages
- Medical Bills
- Ongoing Medical Treatment
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
- In-Home Nursing Care
- Specialized Vehicle or Home Equipment
- Prescription Medications
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Scarring and Disfigurement
- Permanent Disability
Nevada law may also permit punitive damages in some cases when the responsible party’s conduct meets the required legal standard.
How Much Is Your Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
No lawyer can guarantee what a bicycle accident claim is worth. The value depends on the facts of the crash, the injuries involved, and the losses you suffered.
What Caused Your Crash?
We will look at whether a negligent driver, another bicyclist, a defective bike part, or poorly maintained roads caused your accident. In some cases, there may be more than one factor that contributed to your crash.
Who Are the Responsible Parties?
You may be able to file an injury claim against a negligent driver, another bicyclist, a product manufacturer, or the city or state to recover damages after a bike accident.
How Much Insurance Coverage Is Available?
When our injury lawyers help you file a claim against the responsible party’s insurance company, the policy limits play a role in the amount of compensation you may be able to recover.
Additional insurance coverage may apply when a commercial or rideshare driver causes the collision.
What If You Are Accused of Contributing to the Crash?
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You may still recover compensation if your share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the parties you seek recovery from, although your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
How Severely Were You Injured?
If your injuries result in ongoing medical treatment, multiple surgeries, or significant pain and suffering, your bicycle accident case may be worth more.
FAQs About Bicycle Accidents in Las Vegas
Nevada generally provides two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but different deadlines or requirements can apply to some claims.
A victim’s spouse, surviving children, or a victim’s parents may be able to file a wrongful death claim if their loved one was killed in a bicycle accident caused by someone else.
If more than one driver caused your bicycle accident, they may all be held liable in proportion to the amount they contributed to the crash.
If the driver cannot be identified, an attorney can review your insurance coverage and determine whether another source of compensation may apply.
Yes. The lack of a bike lane does not automatically make a cyclist responsible for a crash. The roadway, applicable Nevada law, and circumstances of the collision determine where the cyclist was permitted to ride.
Responsibility may depend on who controlled or maintained the road. Claims involving government entities can also have different procedures and deadlines.
“George Bochanis and his team of elite professionals are the only law firm in this town I would ever recommend and believe they always have my best interest at heart. George is genuine and fair and when I have so many other things on my mind when these unfortunate events take place just knowing he’s a call away and in my corner really puts things in their place that everything will be ok.”
Call a Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
Bicycle accident claims can turn on where the cyclist and driver were traveling and what happened before impact. Preserving the available evidence can help establish what caused the collision.
Call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at (702) 388-2005 for a FREE consultation about your bicycle accident claim. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.