A crash with a car can throw you from your bike in an instant, and you have nothing but a helmet and your clothes between you and the pavement. Afterward you may be dealing with injuries and a damaged bike.
Minnesota law gives a person riding a bicycle the same rights and duties as the driver of any other vehicle. Our Minneapolis-area personal injury office handles bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Minnesota’s Rules of the Road for Cyclists
The same rights as drivers
Every person operating a bicycle has all of the rights and duties that apply to the driver of any other vehicle, and that includes a bicycle on the shoulder of a roadway (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 1(a)).
Three feet when passing
A driver passing a bicycle going the same direction must leave a safe distance, and never less than 3 feet of clearance, and must keep that clearance until safely past (Minn. Stat. § 169.18).
Bike lanes belong to cyclists
A motorist must not drive in a bicycle lane except to park, to enter or leave the road, to prepare for a turn, or for a school bus to stop to pick up or drop off passengers (Minn. Stat. § 169.18). A driver also may not pass another vehicle on the right by driving in a bicycle lane (Minn. Stat. § 169.18, subd. 4).
Where cyclists may ride
Cyclists ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge of the road as the rider determines is safe, with exceptions that include narrow lanes and surface hazards (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 4(a)). In other words, the law leaves room for you to move away from the curb to avoid potholes, debris or a lane too narrow to share.
Lights at night
At night, a bike must have a front lamp with a white light visible from at least 500 feet and a red reflector on the rear (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 6(a)). If you had this equipment, photos of your bike after the crash can help show it.
Insurance, Fault and Deadlines
How no-fault insurance can affect your claim
Minnesota auto policies must pay basic economic loss benefits, often called personal injury protection or PIP, regardless of who caused the crash (Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 1). Minnesota also limits pain and suffering claims arising from motor vehicle crashes unless medical expenses are more than $4,000 or the crash caused a permanent injury, permanent disfigurement, death or at least 60 days of disability (Minn. Stat. § 65B.51, subd. 3). How these no-fault rules apply after a bike crash depends on your insurance and the vehicles involved (Minn. Stat. § 65B.46; Minn. Stat. § 65B.47).
Minnesota drivers must carry at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage (Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3). Auto policies must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3a). If you were not occupying a motor vehicle or motorcycle at the time of the crash, you can select the limit for any one vehicle on a policy under which you are insured (Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3a(5)).
Shared fault
Being partly at fault does not automatically end a Minnesota claim. Under Minnesota’s comparative fault rule, you can recover if your share of fault is not greater than the share of the person you are making a claim against, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault (Minn. Stat. § 604.01, subd. 1). Save evidence such as video, photos of the bike damage and the position of the vehicles.
Filing deadlines
For most injury claims based on negligence, Minnesota allows 6 years to file a lawsuit (Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5)). Even so, the deadline depends on the type of claim, and some deadlines are much shorter. If a city bus, county vehicle or other public property was involved, Minnesota generally requires notice to the city, county or other local government body within 180 days after the injury is discovered (Minn. Stat. § 466.05). Claims against the State of Minnesota require notice to the Attorney General within 180 days (Minn. Stat. § 3.736, subd. 5). For claims arising on or after July 1, 2009, damages against cities, counties and the state are capped at $500,000 per claimant and $1,500,000 for all claims from a single occurrence (Minn. Stat. § 466.04; Minn. Stat. § 3.736, subd. 4). A pothole or broken pavement on a city street is one example where the shorter notice rule can matter.
How Bicycle Accidents Happen
Right hooks and left crosses
NHTSA links bicycle crashes to driver moves such as turning across a rider’s path.
Close passes
Crashes where a driver overtakes a cyclist are the most common fatal crash type for bicyclists in both urban and rural areas, according to NHTSA.
Opening car doors
NHTSA also links bicycle crashes to drivers or passengers opening a car door.
Distracted and impaired driving
In 2020, 125 of the 930 crashes that killed a bicyclist involved an alcohol-impaired driver, and NHTSA notes that inattention or distraction can increase crash risk.
Bicycle Accident Injuries and Compensation
Cyclists are unprotected road users and are more susceptible to crash forces than motorists, according to NHTSA. The Minnesota Department of Health lists Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis as a Level 1 trauma center.
The losses we document in a bicycle claim often include:
- Emergency care, surgery and follow-up treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost income while you recover
- Repair or replacement of your bike and gear
- Pain, limits on daily life and time away from activities you enjoy
If you were hit while walking your bike or crossing on foot, our Minneapolis pedestrian accident page explains how those claims work.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Minneapolis
- Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel fine
- Get the driver’s name, insurance and plate number
- Ask for the police report number
- Photograph your bike, helmet, injuries and the scene
- Collect names and phone numbers from witnesses
- Look for cameras on nearby buildings, buses or other cyclists
- Keep your damaged bike and gear as they are
- Save every medical bill, receipt and pay stub
- Hold off on recorded statements to the driver’s insurer until you get advice
How 844-SEE-MIKE Helps After a Minneapolis Bicycle Accident
When you call 844-SEE-MIKE, you talk with our team about what happened, and there is no cost to find out where you stand. If we take your case, we negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and gather the records and evidence for your claim.
- Free consultation, available 24/7
- No fee unless we recover money for you
Preguntas frecuentes
Was I allowed to ride on the sidewalk?
When lawfully riding on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, a cyclist has all the rights and duties of a pedestrian in the same circumstances (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 1(b)). Riding on a sidewalk in a business district is not allowed unless local authorities permit it (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 4(d)). Tell us exactly where you were riding when you were hit.
Do cyclists have to come to a full stop at stop signs?
A cyclist approaching a stop sign must slow to a speed that allows stopping, and if no vehicle is in the vicinity, may turn or go through the intersection without stopping (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 4a(b)).
Can two cyclists ride side by side?
Yes. Minnesota allows cyclists to ride two abreast (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 4(c)).
What if I was riding an e-bike?
An electric-assisted bicycle may be ridden in the same manner as other bicycles, but a person under 15 must not operate one (Minn. Stat. § 169.222, subd. 6a). Write down the make and model of your e-bike.
What does a bicycle accident lawyer cost?
The consultation with 844-SEE-MIKE is free, and we work on a contingency fee. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
If you were hurt riding a motorcycle instead, see our Minneapolis motorcycle accident page.
If you or someone you love was hurt in Minneapolis, contact 844-SEE-MIKE anytime for a free, no-pressure consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
This information is general and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
