Louisiana Bicycle Accident Lawyer
A driver turns across a bike lane, a door swings open into your path, or a pickup drifts onto the shoulder where you were riding, and suddenly you are on the pavement with a broken collarbone and a bike that is worthless. Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC represents injured people across Louisiana, and when a cyclist is hurt on the job or in a crash that involves someone else’s negligence, we handle the injury claim alongside any benefits the law provides.
Cyclists absorb the full force of a collision. There is no frame around the rider, which is why a Louisiana bicycle accident lawyer is often dealing with fractures, spinal injuries, head trauma, and road rash deep enough to need grafting. Medical bills pile up quickly, and the insurance company on the other side is already building its argument that you were riding where you should not have been.
That argument matters more now than it used to. Louisiana changed its fault rules, and a cyclist assigned too much blame can lose the claim entirely. How the first weeks after a crash are handled often decides how the case ends.
Why Choose Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC for a Louisiana Bicycle Injury Claim
Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC is a Mississippi and Louisiana firm that represents injured workers and accident victims across South Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, and north Louisiana. The firm has recovered more than $100 million in settlements for clients. Consultations are free, we advance the costs of the case, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Phones are answered 24 hours a day, and Hablamos español.
Why does that background matter on a bicycle case? Because insurers fight these claims the same way they fight comp claims: they dispute how the crash happened, point to a prior condition, and push for a quick, small settlement. We have spent years answering exactly those moves with medical evidence, witness accounts, and a clear record of the injured person’s work and earning history.
Our results include a $385,000 settlement for a project manager with back injuries after he was struck in his work vehicle, a $685,000 settlement for a surgical tech with a lower back injury, and $600,000 for a construction worker with a complex back injury. Spinal and orthopedic injuries are what a serious bicycle crash produces, and we know how to value them.
Rob Lunsford, Founding Partner, has spent his entire legal career representing injured workers. Brad Baskin and Jennifer Priebe, Partners, have been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers, and the firm was ranked by Best Law Firms in 2026 for Workers’ Compensation Law, Claimants, in Jackson. Andrew Rueff has successfully tried dozens of jury and bench trials to verdict, which matters when an insurer will not make a fair offer. Keaton Belk and Erin Heimlicher round out the team. Clients consistently describe lawyers who listen and who stay in the fight with the insurance company at every step.
Common Louisiana Bicycle Crash Situations and Injuries
- Right-Hook and Left-Turn Collisions: A driver turns across a cyclist who is traveling straight, often at intersections where bike lanes run beside turning traffic. These crashes happen in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette, and the driver frequently claims they never saw the rider.
- Dooring Crashes: A parked driver opens a door into a bike lane. Dense, parked-car streets in New Orleans neighborhoods make this a recurring hazard, and the fall can send a rider into moving traffic.
- Rear-End and Sideswipe Crashes on Rural Roads: Narrow shoulders on two-lane highways in the Acadiana region, along the bayous, and in north Louisiana leave little room, and speed makes a collision far more severe.
- Road Defects and Hazards: Potholes, broken pavement, drainage grates, and construction debris can throw a rider. Claims against a parish, city, or state agency carry their own notice requirements and rules, so these cases should be reviewed quickly.
- Hit-and-Run Crashes: When a driver flees, the claim may depend on uninsured motorist coverage, either your own or a household policy. Prompt reports and any camera footage become critical.
- Cyclists Hurt While Working: Delivery riders, couriers, and workers who ride between job sites may qualify for workers’ compensation in addition to a claim against the at-fault driver. Coordinating the two claims is something this firm does regularly.
- Serious Head, Spine, and Orthopedic Injuries: Traumatic brain injury, herniated discs, fractured wrists, hips, and ankles, and shoulder tears are common. These injuries can mean surgery, months away from work, and permanent limits.
What to Do After a Bicycle Crash in Louisiana
Get medical care first, even if you feel mostly fine. Adrenaline hides concussions and soft tissue damage, and a gap between the crash and your first treatment gives the insurer room to say the injury came from somewhere else. Tell the doctor exactly how the crash happened and every part of your body that hurts.
Call the police so a report is made, whether the local police department or the sheriff’s office for the parish. Get the other driver’s name, license, plate, and insurance information. Photograph the scene, your injuries, the vehicle, your bike, and your helmet before anything is repaired or replaced. Collect names and numbers of anyone who saw the crash. Keep the bike, the helmet, and the damaged clothing in the condition they were in.
Be careful with the other driver’s insurance adjuster. You do not have to give a recorded statement, and early statements are often used to assign you a share of the blame. Do not sign a release or accept a quick check before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Deadlines are strict. A personal injury claim in Louisiana generally must be filed within two years for injuries on or after July 1, 2024, running from the day the injury is sustained. Earlier injuries remain under the older one-year period. If the crash happened while you were working, you should report the injury to your employer within 30 days, and a formal workers’ compensation claim generally must be filed within one year of the date of injury. A claim involving a government body can carry shorter notice requirements, so do not wait to find out.
How Fault Is Decided and Why It Matters More Now
Louisiana changed its comparative fault rule for causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026. A claimant found 51 percent or more at fault now recovers nothing, and a juror is told so. Below that line, your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Earlier claims remain under pure comparative fault, where recovery is reduced but not barred.
For a cyclist, that makes the fault fight the center of the case. Insurers argue the rider was in the wrong lane, ran a light, wore dark clothing at night, or was not paying attention. We counter with the police report, witness accounts, physical evidence from the scene, vehicle damage patterns, traffic camera or business surveillance footage, and, where it helps, reconstruction of how the crash unfolded. Every percentage point matters, because at 51 the claim is gone.
The damages themselves include medical expenses, future treatment, lost wages, reduced ability to earn, pain and suffering, and the loss of activities you used to enjoy. When a family member dies in a cycling crash, a wrongful death claim is governed by a period of one year from the date of death or two years from the injury, whichever is longer.
Bicycle Accident Questions Louisiana Cyclists Ask
Do I need a lawyer after a bicycle accident in Louisiana?
If you were badly hurt, if fault is disputed, or if the insurer is offering something that does not cover your treatment, yes. Under the 51 percent rule, the way fault is documented in the first weeks can decide the entire claim.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. Consultations are free, we advance case costs, and we are paid only if we recover for you.
How long do I have to file a bicycle injury lawsuit in Louisiana?
For injuries on or after July 1, 2024, the period is two years from the day the injury is sustained. Injuries before that date fall under the former one-year period. A wrongful death claim runs one year from the death or two years from the injury, whichever is longer.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
For causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026, a claimant who is 51 percent or more at fault recovers nothing. Below that, the award is reduced in proportion to your share. Earlier claims remain under pure comparative fault.
Does it matter if I was not wearing a helmet?
The insurer will likely raise it. Whether it affects the claim depends on the injuries and the facts, and it should not be treated as a reason to give up the claim. We evaluate it case by case.
What if the driver who hit me fled?
Report it immediately and look for cameras and witnesses. Uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy or a household member’s policy may still provide recovery.
Can I recover if I was riding for work when I was hit?
Possibly on two fronts. Workers’ compensation can cover medical care and wage benefits, and you may also have a claim against the negligent driver. We coordinate both so one does not undercut the other.
Will my health insurance pay for treatment while the claim is pending?
Often yes, and many people use it to avoid gaps in care. The health insurer may later seek reimbursement from a settlement, which we address when resolving the case.
What if a pothole or road defect caused my fall?
Claims against a parish, municipality, or state agency can involve special notice rules and shorter timelines. Contact us quickly and keep photographs of the defect and its location.
Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a smaller injury?
Injuries that seem minor can turn into surgery or lasting pain. A free consultation costs nothing, and we can tell you honestly whether the claim justifies representation before you settle for less than it is worth.
What happens if the insurer will not make a fair offer?
We prepare the case for litigation. Andrew Rueff has tried dozens of jury and bench trials to verdict, and insurers know which firms are willing to go to court.
Serving Louisiana Bicycle Accident Clients Statewide
We represent injured cyclists throughout Louisiana. In South Louisiana that includes New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harvey, Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Houma, Thibodaux, and the communities of the Northshore and the river parishes. In the capital region we serve Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Gonzales, Denham Springs, Zachary, and Baker.
Across Acadiana and Southwest Louisiana, our clients come from Lafayette, Broussard, Youngsville, New Iberia, Opelousas, Crowley, Lake Charles, Sulphur, and Jennings. Farther north, we serve Alexandria, Monroe, Ruston, Shreveport, and Bossier City, along with the rural highways between them. Wherever the crash happened, the claim is built on the same foundation: documented fault, thorough medical proof, and a clear picture of what the injury has cost you.
Talk to a Louisiana Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
The insurance company is already working on its version of how the crash happened. A Louisiana bicycle accident attorney at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC can start protecting your side of that story right away. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, consultations are free, and you pay no fee unless we recover for you. Call us to talk through what happened and what the claim may be worth.
