After a frightening bicycle accident caused by a reckless driver, we help injured riders secure the money to pay for a full recovery.
If you’ve been hurt, please contact CCD Law of Coeur d’Alene for a free case review. It’s a no-obligation meeting with a real Coeur d’Alene personal injury lawyer. Find out what your cycling accident is worth and how to make sure car insurance companies take full blame.
We can also help bicycle accident victims who were hurt while visiting Idaho from another state.
When You Might Need a Coeur d’Alene Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you are knocked from your bike and somehow only suffer minor scrapes and bruises, you may not need a lawyer’s help with your claim. But if your injuries are more serious, including things like bone fractures, neck, back, knee, chest, and hip injuries, and/or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), it’s a good idea to go over your case with a lawyer.
These injuries are especially devastating for someone who enjoys bike rides. And unfair car accident lawyers can even delay the money riders need to fully recover. They might also try to shift blame in the accident to get away with tossing out claims. They may downplay how badly victims are hurt to justify offering less in a settlement.
You have the right to file a claim yourself, but when an expensive injury is involved, a skilled attorney can often protect your case and win you much more than you could win yourself. An experienced lawyer will investigate your case and the driver involved, and use the evidence to force insurers to do the right thing.
Take Advantage of a Free Case Consultation
Your case review with a real Coeur d’Alene Bicycle Accident Attorney is…
- Completely free with no strings attached.
- Never comes with any obligation for you and your family.
- Completely confidential.
- A way to determine if a lawyer could help you earn much more.
- A way to determine if you’ll need a lawyer to fight back against the insurer’s tactics.
If you don’t need our help with your case, we’ll tell you that too. We will point you in the right direction for successfully handling your case yourself.
What’s more, you should know that anyone can afford to hire CCD Law. We work on a contingency basis. It means we aren’t paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check a car insurance company must write for you.
What Your Bicycle Accident Injury Claim Is Worth
Calculating what your case should be valued at is difficult before we’ve heard from you about the circumstances of your case and the severity of your injuries. Every case is different, and every person heals at their own pace.
The totals on your medical bills, how long you’ll need medical support in the future, and the time you lose at work will all be major factors in what you bring home. But the changes a major accident brings to your life, including time off your bike, should also factor in.
Your attorney would seek the maximum in compensation for you for these hardships and more:
- All medical bills, current and future
- All physical therapy sessions
- Lifetime support for victims left with a permanent disability
- Travel out of town to see specialists
- The physical pain bicycle accident victims endure
- The emotional trauma caused by a scary collision and difficult recovery
- The loss of enjoyment of life (e.g., loss of time on bike, inability to participate in family activities)
- The lost income and benefits while victims can’t work
These are all damages a dangerous driver and the insurer should be liable for. But they’ll do their best to deflect blame and reduce settlements. A skilled attorney can help you build a strong case that can’t be picked apart.
Bike Accident Dangers in Coeur d’Alene
Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County are beautiful places to live and visit. Plenty of cyclists have found the many beautiful trails in the area and downtown bike routes. They take them to work and on family trips. People also show up from across the country to see the lake views along the paved Trails of the Coeur d’Alene and other incredible paths.
Bike trails usually keep riders far away from the rush of traffic. But in places where riders must cross streets, ride near traffic on bike lanes (as on 15th Street), or take a lane beside distracted drivers where bike lanes don’t exist, they can be in real danger.
Cyclists have just as much right to the road as motorists, but a driver who doesn’t know this or isn’t paying attention can erase these protections in a moment.
Drivers might commit these mistakes and others to cause a frightening Coeur d’Alene bike collision:
- Fail to yield the right-of-way
- Pass without keeping a safe distance
- Make left or right turns in front of cyclists
- Back out of driveways and hit the rider they didn’t look for
- Parked drivers and passengers open car doors in front of riders, “dooring”
These all leave a driver liable, but victims will need proof of what happened. CCD Law will examine and preserve all evidence. We will collect powerful eyewitness testimony. We can also call in accident reconstruction teams to determine exactly who was at fault.
Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Laws to Protect Cyclists
Right to Idaho Roads: Idaho Code 49-714. The most important piece of safety legislation for Idaho cyclists, the right to the road, even when bike lanes are present.
“(1) Every person operating a vehicle propelled by human power or riding a bicycle shall have all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the provisions of chapters 6 and 7 of this title, except as otherwise provided in this chapter and except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application.”
Generally, riders in Coeur d’Alene can use the lanes in any street, even when a bike lane is provided. They are asked to keep to the far right of the road if they are not traveling at the speed of vehicle traffic.
“Idaho Stop” for Bicyclists: Idaho Statute 49-720. Idaho allows bicyclists to treat red lights as stop signs, and stop signs as yield signs. It means that when there is no traffic coming from the left or right, or straight ahead, cyclists don’t have to stop for stop signs and can proceed. They do have to stop for red lights, but if no one is coming, they are permitted to turn or proceed straight.
Bike Helmet Law in Coeur d’Alene: Idaho does not have a statewide law requiring riders to wear helmets. Coeur d’Alene generally doesn’t require helmets for riders of any age. Of course, it’s always wise to wear a helmet when on a bike. It’s a critical way to protect your head and brain when you are sent off of your bike.
Sidewalk Riding: Coeur d’Alene Code of Ordinances Section 10.28.030. People can ride on sidewalks in Coeur d’Alene, except in certain busy downtown areas (like along Front Avenue) and in certain parks. Riders must always yield to pedestrians.
See: The rules for E-bike riders in Coeur d’Alene.
The Types of Bike Lanes in Coeur d’Alene
Coeur d’Alene provides a great network of trails and lanes for bicyclists. The map of lanes and paths can be found here, but the routes continue to grow.
This is a look at some of the types of bike paths the Coeur d’Alene Parks & Rec Department maintains:
Class I Paved & Separated Trails (Multi-Use Pathways): Paved paths completely separated from motor vehicle traffic, often running through parks, greenbelts, or along rivers and old rail lines. This includes the Centennial Trail (between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene) and the many greenways in the area used by pedestrians as well.
Class II Painted Bicycle Lanes: Conventional lanes located directly on the roadway, marked with a solid white line, bicycle stencils, and signage to separate cyclists from vehicle traffic. These are the most common types of bike lanes and can be found along streets like those found along parts of Government Way.
Class III “Share the Road” Bike Routes (Sharrows): Shared roadways without a dedicated lane, marked with shared-lane pavement markings (“sharrows”) and signs to alert drivers and guide cyclists. The term Sharrows comes from combining the words Share and Arrows. And that’s what drivers are supposed to do. They are reminded to expect cyclists in the lane and to make room for them. You’ll see “share the roads” signs along parts of 3rd Street.
Buffered Bike Lanes: Coeur d’Alene also provides some “buffered” lanes. These are like standard Class II lanes, but have extra lines painted to provide more space between the lane and traffic.
Protected Bike Lanes: These are found in some parts of Idaho. They are like normal bike lanes, only they have more than just white lines protecting riders. They utilize plastic bollards, curbs, or even allow riders to pass behind parked cars to provide more security from drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a Coeur d’Alene bicycle accident claim?
You have up to two years in Idaho to file an injury claim. But don’t wait years to explore your options. You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible so that evidence isn’t lost and witnesses don’t become harder to track down.
Can I receive support for a bicycle accident if I was partially to blame?
Yes, in many cases. Drivers are held to a special “duty of care” when it comes to riders. Because of the cyclist’s vulnerability, drivers must slow down upon seeing them and do everything possible to avoid them. Drivers can be found partially liable, even if riders are cited for making an error in judgment. In Idaho, drivers and bicyclists can also share blame for an accident. They’d each be assigned a percentage of blame. Under the modified comparative negligence rule, if riders are found 50% or less responsible for an accident, they could still receive some compensation.
What if I can’t afford to pay a Coeur d’Alene bicycle accident lawyer?
You can still hire strong legal representation. CCD Law only gets paid if we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check a car insurance company must write for you.
Contact a Coeur d’Alene Bike Accident Attorney
If you’ve been struck by a careless driver, contact us to set up a free case consultation. It’s an easy way to find out if you need a lawyer and what your next step should be.
We serve victims in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, and across Northern Idaho. We are advocates for completely safe rides for all cyclists. We can help parents who have had a child struck while riding in a local neighborhood. We stand up for all bicycle accident victims and can represent victims who were visiting from out of state when they were hit and injured.
Additional Resources:
Support for Families Who Lose Loved Ones in Fatal Bicycle Accidents