Why a Bicycle Lawyer is Different
After a coffee, one morning and a great talk about cycling advocacy, my friend and fellow cyclist Fred Sexton asked me to post this. Thanks, Fred!
As a cyclist, you are part of a greater community of people who have a similar set of interests and values. You should know that as a member of that community you have rights and resources that are meant to help and protect you while you are riding. In the case of an accident here are some things you should know about cycling and the law, and the attorneys who relentlessly work to protect cyclists.
Bike Attorneys are Advocates for All Cyclists
First and foremost, cycling attorneys are advocates for all cyclists. That means commuters, racers, beginners, and advanced riders. If you ride a bicycle for any reason, for pleasure, for transportation, for sport, you should know these attorneys are looking out for your best interests.
Bicycling lawyers are here to protect you on the road. By going after the texting teenagers or the speeding sports car driver who hits you, you are sending a message to other drivers and also insurance companies. You are saying we aren’t going to take it anymore! Drivers and cyclists need to be mindful, drive carefully, and share the road. We both pay for it with tax dollars and we both need to obey the rules established on the road.
Bike Lawyers are Cyclists Too
Lawyers in the Bike Law network that specialize in representing cyclists are cyclists too and all of them are really nice! They understand the joys of cycling and the dangers as well. If you ride a lot, it is probably not a bad idea to get to know one. You may even be lucky and find one to ride with!
Write Down License Plates & Report Close Calls
Writing down license plate numbers for drive-by swooshes can be helpful in ID-ing aggressive drivers, (always carry at least a marker with you while cycling). As a community of cyclists if we are able to better police the streets if someone does plow you over when you are on your bike. If this driver has been reported before for erratic driving around cyclist; it makes the case much easier for you and your cyclist attorney. (There is a guy that rides around Charlotte with a video camera mounted on his bike at all times for this reason. Someone is in jail due to his video evidence. Without it, the defendant most likely would have gotten away.) If you are interested in installing a bike camera I recommend you look at getting a cycling camera mount to use with your existing video camera (like a flip) or get a whole new cycling camera system. In Charlotte, report aggressive drivers at:
http://www.charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Transportation/CDOTrequests/Pages/BicyclistReportonAggressiveDrivers.aspx
Protect Yourself with Better Insurance
Cycling lawyers will always recommend getting more UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance). Every cyclist should increase his or her UM/UIM coverage so if an uninsured or underinsured motorist hits you on your bike you are covered. (talk to your cycling attorney about the laws that apply in each state!)
Did you know you may have rights against a homeowner whose dog bites you or knocks you off your bike? I’m not suggesting you ride around with kibbles and bits in your jersey, (certainly avoid attracting attention of our four-legged friends when cycling if possible), but I’ve heard of a number of people getting bit or crashing to avoid getting bit (then, all-too-often getting bit) without any recourse to the dog’s homeowner. You do have rights!
Understanding North Carolina Contributory Negligence
You should know that NC is one of only 4 states that follows the principle of contributory negligence. Meaning, if you are even just 1% at fault in an accident, (yeah, I know) then the driver’s insurance will try to avoid responsibility for your damages. But even if you think this could be your situation, if you are in NC (or any State) and get hit by a motorist, talk with a cycling attorney to see what your options might be.
Bicycle law attorneys can be an enormous benefit to you as a rider and you should be aware that you have that resource at your disposal should you need it. Not only are these great lawyers required when an accident happens, they continue to advocate for bicyclists and their rights when it comes to the road.
North Carolina lawyer and Bike Law founder, Ann Groninger, has advocated at the state level on behalf of bicyclists in North Carolina for over 15 years. Ann has offices in Charlotte and Durham and has helped bike accident clients in Asheville, Raleigh, Durham, Greenville, Wilmington, Fayetteville, and throughout the state. Read more about Ann on her bio page.
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From Winner to Advocate: One Cyclist’s E-Bike Journey
Two years ago, on a family trip to Switzerland, my wife and I rented two electric-assisted mountain bikes, or e-MTBs, to tackle some steep trails near the Matterhorn. The salesperson said, in no uncertain terms, that the new e-MTBs were the way of the future, and we should give them a try. So we did.
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A Comprehensive Guide to E-Bikes in Louisiana: Laws, Tips, and Choosing the Best E-Bike
E-bikes are popping up everywhere. If you’re riding one in Louisiana or thinking about getting one, you may have questions about the laws, safety tips, and how to pick the right bike. That’s exactly what this post is here for! We’ll break down what you need to know about riding e-bikes in Louisiana, from legal
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The Lisa Torry Smith Act: A Win for Cycling Safety in Texas?
The Lisa Torry Smith Act brings important changes to Texas law. It makes clear that cyclists can ride in crosswalks and now requires drivers to stop and yield before entering a crosswalk with a pedestrian or cyclist. A gap in Texas law is allowing some drivers who hit people in crosswalks to get off scot-free,
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Far Right?! I was taking a LEFT!
Even Bike Law lawyers get hassled. Like many of us, riding for me is stress relief; it’s an escape from conflict and a busy schedule. Sometimes incidents on the road have the opposite effect and one incident this weekend made me question the state of humanity. It was not an unusual event, nor a particularly
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E-BIKES ARE LEGAL IN NC (WELL, SOME OF THEM)
Love them or hate them, e-bikes continue to rise in popularity. At the same time, lawmakers struggle to keep up with the developing technologies. Every week I get multiple inquiries from people trying to navigate North Carolina’s e-bike laws. If you’re confused, you’re not alone. We could easily fill a book with all the latest
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BIKES & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Many of our cycling clients find themselves having to interact with the criminal justice system. Typically, it’s because the driver who hits them (or their family member) is charged with a crime or traffic offense. Occasionally bicyclists themselves are charged with traffic offenses! Every state’s criminal laws are different, but there is a lot of
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Another Successful Road Defect Case, This Time a $750,000 Settlement in Georgia
We recently shared the story of a trial victory from the State of Texas where a bicyclist was injured due to a defect in a road maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation. Texas Road Defect We now can tell the story of another huge win in a road defect case, this time from our Bike Law
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One Million Dollars for Texas Road Defect
The Texas Department of Transportation had offered cyclist Mike Bagg $0. Recently, attorneys with the Bike Law network took a case to a trial against a titan of a defendant: the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT was represented by the Attorney General’s Office, one of Texas’ largest legal teams. We had a great client, but it was
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More Roads = Better Transportation, And Other Myths
2023 got off to a rough start for Charlotte, North Carolina, particularly in the context of road safety. Within about a week, we lost a young woman who was riding her bicycle, a pedestrian killed in the same area of town, and four people were killed in a car wreck on I-85 in the University
