Cleveland Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle Accidents in Cleveland, Ohio

While Ohio does not have a statewide helmet law for bicyclists, Cleveland requires cyclists under the age of 18 to wear helmets or face a fine. Despite these safety measures and the city’s efforts to create bike-friendly infrastructure, including bike lanes and trails, bicycle accidents remain a significant concern due to driver negligence and hazardous road conditions.

Cleveland’s roads, shared by cyclists, cars, trucks, and buses, present unique challenges. Understanding your rights as a cyclist and the local laws that apply can be crucial if you’ve been involved in a bike accident. At Kisling, Nestico & Redick (KNR), our experienced Cleveland bicycle accident lawyers are well-versed in local and state laws and are ready to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Bike Accidents in Cleveland

Bicycle accidents in Cleveland often occur due to negligent drivers or unsafe conditions. Some of the most common causes include:

• Speeding or Aggressive Driving: Drivers traveling at excessive speeds may fail to notice or react to nearby cyclists.
• Driving Under the Influence: Impaired drivers are less likely to yield to bicyclists or make safe decisions, leading to devastating collisions.
• Failure to Check Blind Spots: Drivers often overlook cyclists when changing lanes or making turns.
• Right or Left Turns in Front of Cyclists: Sudden or improper turns can cut off cyclists, causing serious crashes.
• Dooring Accidents: Passengers opening car doors into bike lanes can strike oncoming cyclists, leading to severe injuries.
• Running Stop Signs: Failing to stop at signs in urban or residential areas can result in collisions with cyclists who have the right of way.
• Failure to Yield: Drivers not yielding to cyclists at intersections or crosswalks often cause preventable accidents.
• Sideswiping: Vehicles passing too closely to cyclists may clip them, resulting in falls or crashes.
• Distracted Driving: Texting, talking on the phone, or other distractions can prevent drivers from noticing nearby cyclists.
• Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, debris, and lack of bike lane markings can force cyclists into dangerous traffic situations.

Cleveland Bicycle Accident Injuries

Cyclists are particularly vulnerable in accidents, as they lack the protection of enclosed vehicles. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Even with helmets, cyclists can suffer concussions, skull fractures, or other serious brain injuries.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis, chronic pain, or loss of mobility.
• Broken Bones: Fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, or collarbone are common in bike crashes.
• Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma can lead to internal bleeding or organ damage.
• Psychological Trauma: Anxiety, PTSD, or depression often accompany severe accidents, affecting victims’ mental health and quality of life.

These injuries often require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment, resulting in substantial financial burdens for victims and their families.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Cleveland

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Cleveland, taking the right steps immediately can protect your health and your legal rights. Here’s what to do:

• Call 911: Report the accident and ensure emergency responders and police arrive to file a report.
• Document the Scene: Take photos of the accident, including your injuries, damage to your bike, and the involved vehicle(s).
• Gather Information: Collect the contact and insurance information of the driver, and speak to any witnesses who can provide statements.
• Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, see a doctor to identify and treat potential injuries that may not be immediately apparent.
• Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer: Reach out to KNR for a free consultation. Our Cleveland bike accident lawyers can help you navigate the legal process, investigate the accident, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Cleveland Bicycle Helmet Laws

Ohio does not have a bicycle helmet law. However, Cleveland requires minors under 18 to wear a bicycle helmet or face a fine.

Who’s at Fault for Your Bike Accident?

Establishing fault and financial liability is critical if you hope to recover compensation for the damages related to your accident. This can be challenging in bicycle versus car accidents since multiple parties could share responsibility.

Your Cleveland bicycle accident attorney will be tasked with showing that another party’s negligent actions were the cause of your bicycle accident damages. To prove liability, the elements of negligence must be met.

How to Prove Negligence for a Bike Accident

The elements of negligence must be proven based on a preponderance of the evidence for your claim to be successful. The characteristics of negligence in bike crash claims include:

• The party accused of causing your injuries must have owed you a duty of care. For example, if you were struck by a car, motorists owe all pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers a duty of care.
• The defendant in your case must have reached their obligation to you, violating the duty of care. Anytime a motorist drives unsafely, this could be a breach of duty.
• The defendant’s violation of their duty of care must have directly or indirectly caused your bicycle accident injuries and resulting damages.
• Your accident lawyer must show that you have suffered considerable financial damages, emotional trauma, or physical injuries to pursue your bicycle accident insurance or civil claims.

Filing a Bicycle Accident Injury Claim in Cleveland

The claims process for a bicycle accident can be complex. However, once you move forward with a Cleveland bike accident claim, you can expect:

• Your lawyer to thoroughly investigate how your bicycle accident occurred, determine who is at fault, and obtain supporting evidence to prove liability based on a preponderance of the evidence
• Your attorney to review all the ways your life has been affected by your bicycle accident injuries to ensure you are being compensated fairly
• To pursue a claim with the defendant’s insurance company, where applicable, and for your attorney to handle the negotiations process on your behalf
• To file a lawsuit against the liable party if they do not have insurance coverage or your insurance settlement does not adequately cover your damages

Our Cleveland Bike Lawyers Will:

• Investigate, collect evidence, and find those at fault.
• Interview witnesses, medical professionals, and experts to show how your life was impacted.
• Communicate with the insurer, clarify liability, and pursue max compensation.
• Determine your accident’s full and fair value – what you lost and deserve.
• Keep you informed and involved. KNR is available by phone, text, email, or Zoom.
• Protect your rights and, if necessary, take your case to court.
• Never charge you upfront. If there’s no recovery, there’s no cost.

Cleveland Bike Accident FAQs

Contact a Bike Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a bike accident, KNR is here to help. With multiple locations across Ohio, we proudly serve Cleveland and offer free, no-obligation consultations. Call (216) 658-1330 today to schedule a free consultation.