A bike accident can quickly turn a routine ride into a life-altering event. When you suffer injuries due to someone else’s negligence, the resulting physical pain is just the beginning. Financial troubles from the accident can begin almost immediately, and the stress of recovery can quickly become overwhelming. If you’ve been hurt while cycling, you deserve an advocate who will fight for maximum compensation and help you rebuild your life.
At Attorneys of Idaho, we are known in Boise and throughout the Gem State for being both aggressive in the courtroom and compassionate with our clients. Our motto, “Great Attorneys. Great People.,” defines how we approach every injury case: with decades of litigation experience, and with empathy and respect for the people we help. This has led to over 400 5-star reviews from satisfied clients and a reputation for legal excellence.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a reputable Boise bicycle accident attorney. You pay nothing for us to start working on your case, and there are no fees unless we successfully resolve your matter.
Benefits of Hiring a Boise Attorney for Your Bicycle Accident Claim
While the law does not require you to work with an attorney, pursuing a bicycle accident claim without legal representation can put you at a significant disadvantage. Insurers have a pattern of taking advantage of unrepresented claimants, often resulting in minimal or no settlements.
When you hire Attorneys of Idaho for your bicycle accident case, you get a legal team that has the following:
- Local Knowledge – We understand Boise’s streets, traffic patterns, and bicycle infrastructure, which helps us investigate your accident more effectively.
- Insurance Experience – We know how insurance companies operate and will prevent them from using tactics designed to minimize your compensation.
- Evidence Preservation – We will quickly secure critical evidence before it disappears, including surveillance footage, witness statements, and physical evidence from the scene.
- Medical Connections – We have long-standing relationships with medical specialists who can provide treatment and expert testimony for your case.
- Negotiation Skills – Our seasoned attorneys can fight for the maximum compensation possible, whether through settlement negotiations or by going to trial.
Our collaborative, team-based approach means your case will benefit from multiple legal minds working together. Our firm is big enough to fight powerfully for your rights but small enough to provide the personalized attention you deserve.
Contact us today to learn how our attorneys can make a difference in your case.
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident?
Knowing what to do in the aftermath of a bicycle accident injury can better position you to secure the compensation you deserve. You should take the following steps:
- Seek Medical Attention – Even if you believe your injuries are minor, get a medical evaluation immediately. Some serious injuries may not show symptoms right away.
- Call the Police — Official accident reports provide crucial documentation for your claim. Make sure officers document the scene and gather statements.
- Gather Information – Collect contact information and insurance details from all involved parties, as well as contact information from any witnesses.
- Document Everything – Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, your damaged bicycle, and any hazardous conditions that contributed to the accident.
- Preserve Evidence – Keep your damaged bicycle and equipment in their post-accident condition, as they will be crucial physical evidence for your case.
- Limit Communications – Avoid discussing the accident on social media or providing recorded statements to insurance companies without legal representation.
- Contact an Attorney – Reach out to a bicycle injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and begin building a compelling case.
You can trust our law firm to guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you don’t make mistakes that could compromise your claim.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Bicycle Accident?
A successful bicycle accident lawsuit can provide compensation for losses such as:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and future medical needs related to your injuries
- Lost income for the time you had to miss at work during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity if you are unable to return to your previous job
- Replacement or repair costs for your bicycle, helmet, clothing, and other damaged personal items
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
Our bicycle accident lawyers in Boise can thoroughly assess all aspects of your losses to ensure we seek the full compensation you deserve for your bicycle accident. We’ll work with medical and financial experts to calculate not just your current expenses but the actual lifetime cost of your injuries. Moreover, we will be honest and transparent about what bicycle accident compensation you can expect.
How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Idaho?
Idaho’s timeframe for filing a personal injury lawsuit (known as the statute of limitations) is two years from the date you sustained your bicycle accident injuries.
While two years may seem like a long time, contacting a bicycle accident attorney in Boise as soon as possible is important to initiate legal proceedings. It takes time to prepare a compelling case, and there are other important considerations, including the following:
- Evidence Preservation – Critical evidence like surveillance footage and road conditions may disappear quickly.
- Witness Statements – Memories fade over time, making early witness interviews essential.
- Medical Documentation – Establishing the connection between the accident and your injuries requires prompt medical attention and the accompanying documentation.
- Insurance Notification – Many insurance policies require prompt notification of accidents, typically within a few days.
Additionally, the filing deadline may be shorter or longer under specific circumstances. These include cases where the injured person is a minor or mentally incapacitated, or if a government entity is involved. No matter the deadline, the court can dismiss your case if you miss it, even if you have a rock-solid case.
To preserve your rights, contact Attorney of Idaho today.
What Are Idaho’s Bicycle Laws?
Idaho’s bicycle laws can help establish liability in your accident claim. They include the following:
- Idaho Stop Law – Cyclists are legally permitted to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs, but must still yield to vehicles with the right of way.
- Road Positioning – Cyclists must ride as far to the right as practicable except when turning left, passing, avoiding hazards, or when the lane is too narrow to share safely.
- Equipment Requirements – Bicycles must have working brakes and, when used at night, a front white light visible from 500 feet and a rear reflector or light visible from 600 feet.
- Helmet Laws – Idaho does not have a statewide bicycle helmet law, but some local ordinances may require helmets for specific age groups.
- Hand Signals – Cyclists must signal turns and stops when it is safe to do so.
- Sidewalk Riding – Rules vary by location, but cyclists riding on sidewalks must yield to pedestrians and give audible signals before passing.
Our reputable bicycle accident law firm stays current on all relevant laws and regulations to build the strongest possible cases for our clients.
What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
Understanding the cause of your accident is crucial for establishing liability and determining who is at fault. Typical causes include the following:
- Driver Inattention – Distracted driving, such as texting or other phone use, is a leading cause of bicycle accidents.
- Dooring Incidents – Motorists opening car doors without checking for approaching cyclists can cause serious injuries.
- Failure to Yield – Drivers who don’t respect cyclists’ right of way at intersections or when making turns put riders at risk.
- Unsafe Passing – Vehicles passing too closely to cyclists can cause accidents through direct contact or by forcing riders off the road.
- Road Hazards – Potholes, debris, uneven surfaces, and poor road design can lead to single-bicycle accidents.
- Poor Visibility – Accidents frequently occur at dawn, dusk, or night when cyclists are harder to see.
- Impaired Driving – Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs have impaired judgment and reaction times.
When you hire our law firm, we can thoroughly investigate the bicycle accident to identify all potentially liable parties and hold them accountable.
What Are Common Types of Injuries from Bicycle Accidents?
Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries due to limited protection. Some of the most common injuries include the following:
- Head Injuries – Even when bicyclists are wearing helmets, head trauma from accidents is common and can have long-lasting effects.
- Fractures – Broken bones frequently occur in the wrists, arms, collarbones, ribs, and legs when cyclists fall or are struck by vehicles.
- Road Rash – Skin abrasions often involve deep wounds requiring surgical cleaning and skin grafts.
- Soft Tissue Injuries – Damage to muscles and connective tissues can cause significant pain and require extensive physical therapy.
- Facial Injuries – Facial fractures, dental damage, and eye injuries can result in permanent disfigurement and impairment.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – SCIs can cause paralysis and lifelong disability.
- Internal Injuries – Trauma to internal organs may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.
Our Boise bicycle accident attorneys understand the toll that these injuries take on every aspect of a bicyclist’s life. As we build your lawsuit, we can determine a realistic case value that addresses all aspects of your recovery.
Contact a Boise Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a bicycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, the respected team at Attorneys of Idaho is ready to help. As battle-tested litigators, our most valued qualities are both legal excellence and genuine compassion. With our law firm, you’ll get legal representation that’s both powerful and personal.
Let our team of respectful legal professionals fight for the justice and compensation you deserve at this challenging time. Call us today or fill out our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Boise bicycle accident lawyer. We charge nothing to get working on your accident case, and you pay no fees unless we successfully resolve your matter.