New Orleans Bicycle Accident Lawyer: Protecting Cyclists’ Rights
New Orleans is a city of cyclists, but our historic streets and heavy traffic create serious hazards for riders. Too often, drivers fail to yield or respect the legal three-foot passing distance, leaving cyclists with devastating injuries and mounting medical bills. The Berniard Law Firm understands the bias riders often face from insurance companies and aggressively defends your right to share the road safely.
While cycling makes up a significant portion of local traffic, the rate of injury and death from bicycle-related accidents remains alarmingly high. Our firm deals with clients injured in these accidents every day, and we know how to fight the insurance companies who try to blame the cyclist.
The Rising Danger for Cyclists
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits occur annually due to bicycle accidents, with nearly 1,000 deaths reported each year nationwide. With these risks growing, it is critical for victims to know their legal options immediately after a crash.
Common Causes of Bike Accidents in Louisiana
Bicycle accidents happen all over Louisiana, often due to driver negligence. Our Louisiana bicycle accident attorneys fight for clients injured by:
- “Dooring”: When a driver opens their car door into a cyclist’s path.
- Failure to Yield: Drivers turning right or left without looking for bikes.
- Distracted Driving: Motorists texting or eating behind the wheel.
- Unsafe Passing: Drivers failing to give the required 3 feet of distance.
Your Rights Under Louisiana’s “3-Foot Rule” (R.S. 32:76.1)
Louisiana law specifically protects cyclists through Revised Statute 32:76.1. This law mandates that all motorists must leave a safe distance of no less than three feet when passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction. If a driver hits you while violating this statute, it serves as powerful evidence of their negligence.
Important 2025 Legal Deadlines
If you are injured in a bicycle accident after July 1, 2024, you now have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana. This is a crucial extension from the old one-year rule, giving victims more time to recover and assess their medical damages before filing. However, waiting is rarely advisable—evidence disappears quickly, and securing traffic camera footage often requires immediate legal action.
Contact the Bike Accidents Lawyers of the Berniard Law Firm
Contact Us for a Free Case Review.
You have rights on the road. If you were injured on a bike, do not accept a lowball offer from the insurance company. Call the Berniard Law Firm today at (504) 521-6000 for a free consultation. We handle all cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Louisiana Bicycle Law & Cyclist Protection Analysis
Cyclists face unique dangers from distracted drivers who fail to share the road safely. We maintain a comprehensive archive of over 200 accident research articles, focusing on the unique rights of cyclists and the legal precedents used to overcome the “bias against riders” that often arises during insurance negotiations.