Wyoming Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Many drivers do not respect the presence of cyclists and can become impatient or aggressive. According to the 2023 WYDOT traffic accident report, there were 42 cycling crashes in 2023 that resulting in forty injuries and two fatalities. While that number is smaller compared to the various types of motor vehicle crashes, vehicle-to-bicycle accidents cause far more injuries and fatalities than the average vehicle-to-vehicle crash.

A serious bicycle accident can be devastating for you and your family. It can cause life-altering injuries, not to mention the financial struggles that these injuries often cause. However, you have legal options if the accident was someone else’s fault. If someone else’s reckless actions have caused you or a loved one harm, you should not have to pay for it. You have the right to seek compensation, and Shafner Law is ready to help.

We at Shafner Law understand how devastating a bicycle accident can be, and we want to take some of the burden off your shoulders. We provide both effective legal tactics with compassionate counsel to ensure you receive the greatest possible compensation for your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Most bicyclists know that drivers often fail to see cyclists on the road. Common precautions bicyclists take include wearing reflective gear and installing lights onto their bikes. However, some drivers simply refuse to or do not know how to drive safely around cyclists. In addition, bicycles have much less protection and fewer safety features than cars or trucks. There are no airbags or steel shock cages. This why bicycle crashes are extremely dangerous.

Making a point to maintain a safe distance between one’s own vehicle and any other vehicle on the road is crucial for driving, but is especially important when driving near a bicycle. Wyoming’s safe passing laws require motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing. Vehicles must be prepared to stop quickly to avoid accidents, as cyclists can move unpredictably. A driver making a careless decision on the road also greatly increases the risk of a serious, even fatal, bicycle accident.

Some of the most common ways drivers cause bicycle accidents include:

• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Failing to keep a proper lookout
• Failing to use headlights and turn signals
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Leaving too little space while passing
• Speeding
• Turning into the path of a cyclist

Not all bicycle accidents involve a collision with a vehicle, either. Poorly maintained roads or insufficient street lighting can also be very dangerous for cyclists. In cases like these, your attorney may be able to seek compensation from a property owner or municipality for their negligent property design or maintenance. Statutes of limitations will apply, so it is important to call an attorney soon after the accident.

While every bicycle accident is different, there are categories that legal experts use to describe accidents clearly to opposing attorneys, judges, and insurance companies.

Some of the most common types of bicycle accidents include:

• Backing accident: a bicycle is hit by a vehicle in reverse
• Cross accident: a bicycle is hit by a vehicle crossing into its path while turning
• Hook accident: a bicycle is hit by the side of a vehicle, typically while passing. Sometimes involves the side of the vehicle hooking onto the bicycle.
• Open-door accident, or “dooring”: a bicycle is hit by car door opened in their path, typically while the car is parallel parked.
• Rear-end accident: a bicycle is hit by a vehicle from behind
• Red light accident or intersection accident: occurs when a driver does not yield the right of way to a cyclist or does not see a cyclist before stopping or turning.
• Road defect accident: a cyclist falls or loses control of their bicycle due to potholes, cracks, or other road damage.

These terms are useful for describing accidents clearly. However, your specific bicycle accident may not neatly fall into any of these categories, and that’s okay. We here at Shafner Law can still help you seek fair compensation.

Bicycles provide much less protection than typical vehicles. While helmets protect the head, the rest of your body is still fully exposed and vulnerable to injuries. In particularly serious accidents, a helmet might not be enough to prevent a skull or brain injury.

Some common types of injuries from bicycle accidents include:

• Bruises
• Broken or shattered bones
• Internal organ damage
• Lacerations
• Neck injuries
• Sprains, strains, and dislocations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Whiplash

Some of the most serious injuries resulting from a bicycle accident can lead to paralysis, coma, amputation, or death.

If your family member was killed in a bicycle accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be able to make a wrongful death claim. Again, statutes of limitations will apply, so it is a good idea to contact an attorney soon after a tragic loss.

According to Wyoming statute §31-5-702, every cyclist has the same rights and duties as any other vehicle driver. This means that other drivers must respect a cyclist’s use of the road as they would any other car.

Cyclists also must follow a few additional laws to protect their own safety, outlined in Article 7. These include:

• Bicycles may only transport the number of passengers the bike was designed for.
• An adult rider may carry a child if the child is secured to the adult, such as in a backpack or sling.
• Cyclists must ride their bike on the road, and should stay as far to the right of the road as possible.
• Cyclists on a road must only be two people wide, except in designated bike lanes. People riding two abreast need to stay within a single lane and not impede normal traffic
• Cyclists must always keep at least one hand on the handlebars.
• At night, all bicycles must have a front lamp and a rear reflector that follow set specifications as described in §31-5-706.
• Bicycles can’t have sirens or whistles, and cyclists can’t use sirens or whistles while riding bicycles.
• Every bicycle must have a brake mechanism that can stop the bicycle from 10 miles per hour in twenty-five feet on dry, clean, level pavement.

Section 7 of Article 7 outlines specific rules for electric bikes.  As an overview, electric bikes are considered bicycles and not vehicles, so they follow many of the same rules as traditional bicycles.

But the burden of avoid accidents isn’t just on cyclists. Even the safest cyclist can fall victim to a serious accident due to the actions of another driver.

If someone else’s recklessness or negligence caused your bicycle accident, they may owe you financial compensation for your injuries. The compensation you may receive as part of a judgement or settlement depends on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of your accident.

Bicycle injury claims can cover damages including:

• Loss of future income
• Lost income due to time off work
• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Rehabilitation services
• Repairs or replacement of your bicycle or other property
• Temporary or permanent disability
• Transportation fees to medical appointments

A knowledgeable bike accident attorney can determine the amount of compensation you are owed by the at-fault party. Shafner Law is ready to fight for your compensation and your rights.

The skilled attorneys at Shafner Law are ready to work on your case. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to help you achieve the compensation you deserve. We’ve helped accident victims across Wyoming and Colorado, and are ready to do the same for you. Call us today at (307) 277-6956.

“Thank you so much for being so thoughtful and helpful with my family. We are so happy to have found you and your team.”

-Joanne