A bicycle ride through Minneapolis can change in seconds when a driver fails to see you, turns across a bike lane, or passes too close. Without the protection of a vehicle around you, the impact can result in a head injury, broken bones, surgery, or months away from work.

Minneapolis has invested heavily in making bicycling part of the city’s transportation network, yet riders remain disproportionately represented in the most serious crashes. According to the City of Minneapolis, bicycles account for about 3% of trips in the city, but bicyclists account for 10% of severe traffic injuries and deaths.

If you were hit while riding, a Minneapolis bicycle accident lawyer at Meshbesher & Spence can investigate the crash, deal with the insurance companies, and pursue compensation for the injuries and financial losses you have suffered. Our firm has represented injured Minnesotans since 1961 and has recovered more than $1.1 billion for our clients.

Contact Meshbesher & Spence for a free consultation at (612) 339-9121. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Minneapolis

Drivers and bicyclists regularly share streets throughout Minneapolis, including downtown streets, neighborhood roads, designated bicycle routes, and intersections where bike lanes cross vehicle traffic. A serious collision can happen when a driver does not account for the bicycle traveling beside or approaching them.

Common causes include:

Drivers failing to yield at intersections
Vehicles turning across a bike lane
Drivers opening a vehicle door into the path of a bicyclist
Unsafe passing or failing to leave enough room
Distracted driving
Speeding
Drivers entering or crossing bike lanes without checking for riders
Running red lights or stop signs
Impaired driving
Vehicles backing out of driveways, alleys, or parking spaces
Poor visibility at intersections
Road hazards or unsafe street conditions

One crash may involve more than one contributing factor. A driver could claim they never saw the bicycle before turning, for example, while video or witness accounts show the rider was visible and had the right-of-way.

Determining the cause may require reviewing more than the driver’s account or the initial crash report. For a Minneapolis bike accident lawyer investigating the collision, traffic-camera footage, nearby surveillance video, vehicle damage, witness statements, and the design of the intersection can help establish what happened in the seconds before impact.

What Injuries Are Common After a Minneapolis Bicycle Accident?

The injuries from a bicycle crash can extend well beyond cuts and bruises. A rider can be thrown onto pavement, hit a vehicle, become trapped beneath it, or suffer another impact after the initial collision.

Common bicycle accident injuries include:

Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
Skull and facial fractures
Spinal cord and back injuries
Broken arms, wrists, legs, hips, or ribs
Shoulder and knee injuries
Internal bleeding and organ damage
Severe road rash and scarring
Dental injuries
Nerve damage
Soft-tissue injuries

Some injuries require emergency surgery or hospitalization. Others become more apparent in the days following the collision. A concussion can affect concentration and memory. An orthopedic injury can make walking, driving, working, or caring for your family difficult. A spinal cord injury can permanently change a person’s independence.

Those longer-term effects need to be accounted for when evaluating the claim. Medical records can establish the treatment you have already received, while your doctors and other professionals may provide information a Minneapolis bicycle accident attorney can use to evaluate future treatment, rehabilitation, lost earning capacity, and permanent limitations.

Minnesota Bicycle Laws You Should Know After a Crash

Minnesota law gives bicyclists many of the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. Under Minnesota Statutes § 169.222, a person riding a bicycle generally has the rights and duties that apply to someone driving another vehicle.

The law also addresses several situations that can become important after a Minneapolis collision:

Position on the road: A bicyclist must ride as close to the right side as the rider determines is safe. Minnesota law allows riders to move away from the right edge to pass, prepare for a left turn, avoid vehicles or road hazards, use a bike lane or shoulder, and in other specified situations.
Stop signs: Minnesota allows a bicyclist approaching a stop sign to proceed without coming to a complete stop after slowing sufficiently to stop if there is no vehicle in the vicinity. Right-of-way rules still apply.
Sidewalks and crosswalks: A bicyclist lawfully using a sidewalk or crosswalk generally has the rights and duties of a pedestrian. Riders must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and in crosswalks.
Riding together: Bicyclists may ride no more than two abreast on a roadway or shoulder and must remain within a single lane on a laned roadway.
Night riding: Minnesota requires specified lights and reflective equipment when a bicycle is operated at night or when visibility is limited.
Brakes: A bicycle must have braking equipment that meets the requirements established by state law.

These rules can become part of an insurance company’s investigation after a collision. An insurer may argue that the rider was outside a bike lane, failed to stop, or was difficult to see. The circumstances need to be compared with what Minnesota law actually requires rather than assuming the bicyclist was at fault simply because they were riding in the roadway.

How Is Liability Proven After a Minneapolis Bicycle Crash?

Evidence from the scene can disappear quickly. Vehicles are repaired, surveillance footage can be erased, and witnesses may become harder to locate. When serious injuries prevent you from collecting information yourself, your legal team can handle the investigation.

Evidence in a bicycle accident case may include:

Police and crash reports
Traffic or surveillance camera footage
Photographs of the intersection, roadway, bicycle, and vehicle
Vehicle damage
Witness statements
Driver phone records when distraction is suspected
Medical records
Data from the involved vehicle when available
Measurements or reconstruction of the crash scene

A Minneapolis bike crash lawyer investigating liability may look beyond the moment of impact. Did the driver check the bike lane before turning? How fast was the vehicle traveling? Who had the right-of-way? Was the rider visible? Were parked vehicles, construction, or other conditions affecting sight lines?

Minnesota follows a modified comparative fault system. That means a bicyclist can potentially recover compensation even when they share some responsibility for the crash, provided their fault is not greater than the fault of the person from whom they seek recovery. Any award is reduced according to the bicyclist’s percentage of fault.

That makes the percentage of responsibility assigned to each person financially important. If an insurer claims you were 30% responsible, for example, a $100,000 award would be reduced to $70,000. Evidence that changes that percentage can directly affect how much you recover.

Were You Blamed for Your Bicycle Crash?

A driver or insurance company may try to put part of the responsibility on you. Meshbesher & Spence can investigate what happened, review the evidence, and determine how Minnesota’s comparative fault law applies to your case.

Call (612) 339-9121 or contact us online for a free consultation. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

More Than a Case Number

Being injured on a bicycle can affect your ability to work, get around Minneapolis, care for your family, and return to activities that were part of your normal life. Meshbesher & Spence has spent more than 60 years representing injured people throughout Minnesota, and our attorneys know that the details of your life after the crash are part of the case too.

Hear more about how Meshbesher & Spence approaches the people who trust the firm with their cases:

What Should I Do After a Minneapolis Bicycle Accident?

Your health should be the priority after a serious collision. You are not expected to build a legal case from the pavement, especially if you have been taken to Hennepin Healthcare or another Minneapolis-area hospital for treatment.

Once your immediate medical needs have been addressed, there are several things that can help protect your claim:

Continue with recommended medical care. Follow-up visits can identify injuries that require additional treatment and create a medical record of your recovery.
Keep the bicycle and damaged equipment. Do not repair or throw away your bicycle, helmet, clothing, lights, or other damaged items before they have been properly evaluated. The damage itself may provide evidence about how the collision occurred.
Save information about the crash. Keep the driver’s insurance information, police report information, photographs, witness contact information, and any correspondence you receive.
Be careful with insurance requests. The driver’s insurer may ask for a recorded statement, medical authorization, or information about your injuries before you know their full extent. Before providing a broad medical authorization or recorded statement, you can have a Minneapolis bicycle crash lawyer review what the insurer is requesting and why.
Keep track of the financial impact. Save medical bills and receipts and document time missed from work or other expenses associated with your injuries.
Talk with an attorney before accepting a settlement. An early offer may arrive before you know whether you will need surgery, extended rehabilitation, or additional time away from work.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Minnesota?

Minnesota generally gives you six years to bring a personal injury claim arising from a bicycle collision. Minnesota Statutes § 541.05 establishes a six-year limitation period for many actions involving injury to another person.

Six years can sound like plenty of time, but evidence rarely lasts that long. Video from a Minneapolis business may be overwritten, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and the bicycle or vehicle involved in the crash may be repaired or disposed of.

There are also situations where a different deadline or additional requirements can apply, particularly when a claim involves a government entity. If a dangerous Minneapolis street condition contributed to the crash, for example, the potential defendant and applicable requirements need to be identified rather than assuming the standard deadline applies.

The filing deadline is something a Minneapolis bicycle accident attorney can determine from the facts of the case, including when the crash occurred, who may be responsible, and the legal claims being pursued. Once that date is identified, the investigation can focus on preserving evidence that may disappear much sooner.

What Compensation Can I Recover After a Minneapolis Bicycle Accident?

A serious bicycle injury can affect your finances before you have had much time to process what happened. You may be dealing with hospital bills while missing work, paying for follow-up care, or trying to replace a bicycle that was destroyed in the collision.

Depending on your injuries and losses, compensation may be available for:

Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, medical equipment, and future care related to your injuries.
Lost wages: Income you lost because your injuries prevented you from working.
Reduced earning capacity: Compensation for injuries that permanently affect your ability to work or earn what you did before the crash.
Pain and suffering: The physical pain and emotional effects associated with your injuries.
Permanent disability: Compensation when an injury results in lasting physical or cognitive limitations.
Disfigurement and scarring: Including scarring caused by road rash, surgery, or other injuries.
Property damage: The cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle and other damaged property.
Replacement services: Expenses associated with tasks you cannot perform because of your injuries.
Wrongful death damages: Compensation that may be available to qualifying family members when a bicyclist is killed.

The cost of the crash may continue to grow after you leave the hospital. A fractured leg could require surgery followed by months of physical therapy. A brain injury may affect whether you can return to the same job. Permanent injuries can mean future medical care, reduced income, or help with tasks you previously handled yourself.

Those future losses need to be evaluated before a claim is resolved. Once you accept a settlement and release the claim, you generally cannot return to the insurer later because your injuries required more treatment than expected.

A Martindale-Nolo survey found that more than 90% of people who had legal representation received a settlement or award, compared with about half of those who proceeded without an attorney.

How Can Meshbesher & Spence Help After a Bicycle Accident?

Insurance companies begin evaluating a crash soon after it is reported. They may examine how the collision occurred, whether the bicyclist complied with Minnesota traffic laws, the medical treatment received, and whether the injuries are consistent with the crash.

Meshbesher & Spence can conduct its own investigation and build the evidence needed to support your claim. Our attorneys can:

Obtain police and crash reports
Look for traffic-camera or surveillance footage
Locate and interview witnesses
Preserve evidence involving the bicycle and vehicle
Review available insurance coverage
Gather medical records documenting your injuries
Work with medical and other experts when necessary
Calculate lost income and future financial losses
Respond to allegations that you contributed to the collision
Negotiate with the insurance company
Prepare the case for trial when a fair settlement cannot be reached

The medical records tell part of the story. We also need to know what changed when you left the hospital and went home. You may no longer be able to bike to work, pick up your children, manage stairs, return to your job, or participate in activities that were part of your life before the crash.

That information helps establish losses that may never appear on an emergency room bill.

“From the start, Pam took the time to get to know me as a person as well as a client. She was timely with responses, great with details, patiently answering questions and explaining things in a way I could understand.”

– Dennis D. | Client

The Lawyer You Choose Makes a Difference®

The insurance company has adjusters, investigators, and attorneys protecting its interests. Meshbesher & Spence has represented injured individuals and families throughout Minnesota for more than 60 years and has recovered more than $1.1 billion for clients.

Our attorneys also know Minnesota. We represent people injured on Minneapolis streets and throughout the state, and we have the resources to investigate serious crashes and take on insurers that dispute responsibility or the value of a claim.

You do not pay attorney fees upfront. Meshbesher & Spence works on a contingency fee, which means we only collect attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

If you were injured while riding in Minneapolis, contact Meshbesher & Spence at (612) 339-9121 for a free consultation. Tell us what happened, what injuries you are dealing with, and how the crash has affected your life. We can review the circumstances and explain your legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Minneapolis Bicycle Accidents

• Do I Need a Police Report to File a Bicycle Accident Claim?

A police report can provide useful information about the collision, including the people involved, witnesses, location, and initial observations made at the scene. It is not the only evidence that can establish what happened.

If police did not respond or you do not have a copy of the report, that does not necessarily prevent you from pursuing a claim. Photographs, video, medical records, witness testimony, vehicle damage, and damage to your bicycle can also provide evidence of how the collision occurred.
• Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Bicycle Accident Case Is Pending?

The answer depends on the insurance coverage available and the circumstances of the crash. Medical bills can arrive well before a liability claim against the responsible driver is resolved.

Your own health insurance may initially pay some treatment costs, and other insurance coverage may also apply depending on how the collision happened. Keep your medical bills, insurance statements, explanation-of-benefits documents, and related correspondence so the payments and outstanding balances can be accounted for when your claim is resolved.
• Can I File a Claim If the Driver Who Hit Me Left the Scene?

You may still have options after a hit-and-run bicycle crash, even if the driver has not been identified. Finding the vehicle can require looking for nearby surveillance footage, witnesses, debris from the vehicle, license plate information, or descriptions provided by people who saw the collision.

Your own insurance coverage may also become important if the driver cannot be located or does not have insurance. The available options depend on the policies and coverage that apply to the crash.
• What If a Pothole or Dangerous Road Condition Caused My Bicycle Crash?

A bicycle crash does not have to involve a car. Potholes, damaged pavement, unsafe construction zones, debris, defective roadway features, or other hazards can cause a rider to lose control and suffer serious injuries.

Responsibility depends on who controlled the roadway or property, what created the hazard, and what was known about the condition before the crash. If the City of Minneapolis or another government entity may be responsible, additional procedural requirements can apply. That makes identifying the responsible party particularly important in a road-defect case.

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