Articles & Resources

The statute of limitations is two to three years in most states, but Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee give you only one. Maine and North Dakota allow up to six. Every state sets its own timeline, and no federal law applies. Some deadlines are even shorter than you’d expect. If a government entity vehicle or road defect caused your crash, you may have as little...

Since 2010, bicyclist deaths in the United States have increased by 87%. In 2023, 1,377 bicyclists died nationwide, including 937 in motor-vehicle crashes and 440 in other incidents, according to the National Safety Council. An additional 341,774 bicyclists suffered nonfatal injuries that same year. Cycling accounts for only 1% of all trips in the United States, yet bicyclists...

Yes, you can legally ride a bicycle on most highways in the United States, but not on all of them. No federal laws prohibit bicycle use on the interstate highway system or other expressways, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Each state sets its own bike laws and regulations. Controlled-access highways and freeways typically ban bicycles with posted...

Are bikes allowed on sidewalks? As of 2026, sidewalk cycling is legal in many areas but is often discouraged due to safety risks and is regulated by local ordinances. According to the League of American Bicyclists Sidewalk Riding Laws Table, most states either explicitly permit sidewalk riding or remain silent, deferring to local ordinance. Only a handful of states prohibit...

Arizona remains one of the most dangerous states in the country for bicyclists, and its 37th-place ranking on the League of American Bicyclists’ 2024 Bicycle Friendly State Report Card reinforces that concern. In 2024, the Arizona Department of Transportation recorded 1,379 bicycle crashes statewide, the highest figure in five years and a 21% increase over 2023. About...

In most NYC bicycle accident cases, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront, and your lawyer only gets paid if they recover compensation for you. In many cases, the fee is 33 1/3% of the final settlement or verdict. The amount you actually receive can also be reduced by case costs, medical liens, and other deductions. How...

In most bicycle-vehicle incidents, the driver bears primary blame. Car vs bicycle accidents are among the most common cycling crashes across NYC. New York law holds motorists to a heightened duty of care to protect cyclists and pedestrians. However, the question of who is responsible is not always all-or-nothing. New York’s shared-blame system allows both parties to...

In 2023, 1,155 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, the highest recorded number and an 86% increase from the 2010 low point. Cyclists account for just 1% of all trips, yet they represent 2–3% of all motor-vehicle-related deaths. Most fatal bicycle crashes occur in urban areas, at non-intersection locations, and increasingly involve light...

In most parts of the United States, wearing headphones while biking is generally legal. There is no federal law that addresses this issue, and only 7 states have specific laws that restrict or prohibit using headphones while cycling on public roads. The remaining 43 states and D.C. have no specific prohibition. In states like California and New York, riding with one earbud...

Every cyclist should know three essential bike hand signals. To go left, extend your left arm straight out to the side. For a right turn, point your right arm straight out, or raise the left one upward at a 90-degree angle. To signal a stop, lower it downward with your palm open and facing behind you. These universal gestures are recognized across all 50 states and should...

Bicycling is on the rise in the U.S. In 2024, a record 112M Americans rode a bike at least once. While such popularity brings overall positive signals, there is room for safety concerns, too. After all, cyclist fatality rates account for almost 3% of all traffic fatalities recorded in the country. There are multiple contributing factors to this unfavorable trend, and a...

A cycling accident caused by a pothole and poor road maintenance can leave you facing serious injuries and mounting costs, but many of these accidents go unreported. Over 13% of bicycle accidents caused by potholes, debris and other road hazards result from riding into a surface defect. States, counties, and cities owe a duty of care to maintain public roads in reasonably...

A bicycle accident claim is how you recover money for what the crash cost you: hospital bills, lost income, bike repairs, and the injury that was not your fault. The process looks simple on paper. In practice, it involves deadlines that vary by state, coverage rules that overlap across four or five policies, and adjusters whose job is to pay you as little as possible. What...

Yes, you can get a DUI or BUI (Bicycling Under the Influence) on a bicycle in most states, especially if your state defines a bicycle as a “vehicle.” Riding while intoxicated on a traditional bike or electric bicycle can lead to fines, jail time, criminal charges on your record, mandatory alcohol education, and losing your driver’s license. Bike rules...

If you hit a cyclist with your car, whether it was a dooring, a right hook at an intersection, or a rear-end collision, you may face a police report, traffic citations, an insurance claim, civil liability for medical expenses lost during recovery, higher insurance premiums, and possible criminal prosecution. If you are found at fault, you may also be responsible for the...

After a bike accident, move out of the traffic lane, call 911, and do not admit fault. Photograph the place, your injuries, and property damage, then collect witness contact details and exchange policy details with the motorist. Seek medical attention within 24 hours, whether you were doored, struck in a lane, or hit at an intersection. Adrenaline masks concussions, fractures,...

After a bicycle accident in Phoenix, Arizona, law limits the time to file a personal injury claim. You may seek compensation for injuries, lost income, and related damages, but the statute of limitations is strict. Missing the deadline can result in dismissal of your case and loss of recovery rights. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file...

Bicycle accident settlement amounts generally range from $10,000 to over $100,000, with the average settlement falling between $45,000 and $50,000. Minor harm typically resolves for $5,000 to $25,000, moderate conditions for $25,000 to $125,000, and severe personal injury matters with permanent impairment can exceed $1 million. Your settlement amount depends on how badly...

Over 340K cyclists were injured on local roads across the USA in 2023. More crucially, 1,377 persons lost their lives in these accidents. At the same time, a 10-year Emergency Department visit survey (from 2009 to 2018) showed that over 600K ER visits were made by injured bicyclists suffering from a traumatic brain injury. These figures demonstrate that bike crash injuries...

After a bicycle accident leaves you injured, the idea of hiring legal representation can seem like just another burden on top of overwhelming medical expenses. In reality, having an experienced attorney on your side can relieve that pressure, as they are equipped to secure far greater compensation than you would likely be able to obtain on your own. There are various ways...