Eight years ago today, Rachael Maney became the Director of Bike Law and helped co‑found the Bike Law Foundation, our non-profit arm. Today, we celebrate her success in transforming Bike Law from a national network of bicycle crash lawyers into a leading voice in bicycle advocacy and safety. When Rachael joined, Bike Law’s focus was…
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Rachael: 8 Years At Bike Law!
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Paul, My Brother, Rest in Peace.
If there’s one thing we know at Bike Law, it’s that behind every cycling fatality there’s grief and a longing for justice. And sometimes justice is just understanding what happened. Paul Rucker’s story reminds us of the importance of putting aside assumptions and finding the truth. Paul wasn’t perfect. None of us are. But his family…
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Update On The Kalamazoo Cycling Tragedy
On June 22, 2016, the driver who ran down and killed five Kalamazoo cyclists and injured four others was officially brought into a Kalamazoo courtroom and charged with five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment. At that court proceeding, it was also revealed that the driver, 50-year-old Charles Pickett Jr.,…
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Does Auto Insurance Cover Bicycle Crashes?
Yes, often your car insurance will cover a . Before heading out for a ride most of us intuitively check our air, brakes, chains and cranks and do a once over of our bikes. We confirm our helmets are secure, our cell phones and Garmins are charged, and that we have lights if we think…
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Kalamazoo, a hopeful lament.
In light of the Kalamazoo, Michigan tragedy, it’s so easy to focus on what’s wrong with the world. Several similar incidents this year have hit too close to home. Some friends in North Carolina were also run down in group. As were clients in in North Augusta, SC. As our community grows, we experience more…
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The Tragedy In Kalamazoo
Since early this morning, my phone has been blowing up with calls, text messages, and e-mails from cyclists concerned, outraged, and simply wanting more information about the recent tragedy in Kalamazoo. It’s hard for me to think about this tragic collision, but at the same time, it is impossible to escape. Here is just one…
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Louisiana VRU Law Defeated Today
The notorious Rep. Kenny Havard killed the bill. He legislates in favor of thin, young strippers, and against bikes. *** 2d UPDATE, June 5, 2016, noon *** A cyclist emailed Havard to ask him to change his anti-bike position; Havard responded. His parents not only taught Havard “not to play in the road,” they apparently…
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Pat nominated for 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada
Your vote can help! Patrick Brown of Bike Law Canada has been nominated for Canadian Lawyer Magazine’s 25 Most Influential! We would not only like to congratulate Pat, but ask that you take the time to vote for him due to his efforts advocating for cyclists. Pat is a proud founding member and past director of Cycle Toronto (formerly Toronto…
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Fair Compensation For Bicyclist Who Ran A Red Light?
When I first met Richard a nurse was assisting him with the delicate task of using the hospital bathroom. He had just had surgery on his broken right leg, now wrapped in a heavy plaster cast. Defecation and its attendant tasks were proving a challenge. He needed help. The rest of his body was a…
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A Win in Colorado After a Bike Accident in Denver
Adding insult to injury is not just a cliche for cyclists, it is our reality after a crash. As lawyers who advocate for cyclists in Colorado, we try to effectuate change one case at a time. Recently in traffic court, we were able to make things better not just for a sole client, but also…
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Three Abreast: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Two’s Company, Three’s A Crowd. I recently had the chance to meet a passionate bicyclist named Max Mcallister. Max is, by all accounts, the real deal when it comes to bicycling and bike culture and is definitely a Bike Law kind of guy. He rides every day. He seeks out challenges. He rides through pain and,…
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Off-Duty Cop Bullies Cyclist (and Gets Schooled)
We deserve better routes to ride, and we deserve better trained police officers. Here’s a video of an off-duty Charleston police officer confronting a cyclist (who had been cycling against traffic on a one-way street), preventing him from leaving, and getting physical and ultimately schooled. The officer is currently on administrative leave pending investigation. There’s…
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Biking is a Civil Right
Folks who think cycling advocates are “Too White, Too Shrill” are missing the movement. It is very much a civil rights issue, as important as any, and more important than most, in its ability to positively change lives and communities. Despite a visionary mayor for decades and a promising new one for months, and despite…
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Felony Charges in NC Bike Crash
Better late than never. At Bike Law, we know too well that drivers are often not seriously charged for injuring cyclists in crashes. But in more and more of our cases, they are. Here’s a recent example from North Carolina in which the police correctly upped the charges from misdemeanor to felony. Thanks to the…
