Minnesota Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Are Bicycle Accidents Increasing in Minnesota?

Minnesota saw 580 reported bicycle crashes involving motor vehicles in one recent year. That’s down from 795 ten years previously, but it reflects a concerning trend. The number of bicycle crashes has started trending upward again and has increased by 27% in the state since 2020, showing a reversal of earlier improvements, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

In the same year, six people died and 522 others were injured in reported crashes involving bicycles and motor vehicles in Minnesota. These numbers don’t even include single-bicycle crashes or collisions with pedestrians, so the actual risk may be much higher.

Despite safety campaigns and traffic reforms, urban areas remain high-risk zones. Nearly two-thirds of Minnesota bicycle accidents happen in cities with more than 25,000 people. Cyclists in places like Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester face daily exposure to high-speed traffic, distracted drivers, and poor visibility at intersections.

What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents With Cars?

Cyclists remain vulnerable on Minnesota roads even with bike lanes, helmets, and lights. Many accidents happen because a driver failed to see, yield to, or properly share the road with a bicycle. Others occur when road conditions are unsafe for two-wheeled travel.

Here are some of the most common causes of Minnesota bicycle collisions involving motor vehicles:

• Drivers failing to yield at intersections
• Distracted or texting drivers
• Motorists opening car doors into bike lanes
• Unsafe lane changes or merging without checking mirrors
• Poor road design or lack of proper bike infrastructure.

These crashes aren’t “accidents” in the traditional sense. They are preventable events that often stem from someone else’s carelessness. If you were hit by a vehicle while riding your bike, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim and pursue damages.

Who Is Legally Responsible After a Bicycle Accident in Minnesota?

Minnesota uses a no-fault insurance system for car accidents, but that doesn’t always mean the driver’s insurance pays your full damages automatically. If your injuries are serious, you may be able to step outside the no-fault system and hold the at-fault party financially responsible.

To file a claim outside of no-fault, your injuries must meet a “threshold” under Minnesota Statutes § 65B.51, such as:

• A permanent injury
• Medical expenses over $4,000
• 60+ days of disability or loss of normal function.

Once your injuries cross that threshold, you can pursue damages from the other party’s liability insurance. You can also seek non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and future loss of enjoyment of life.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Minnesota Bicycle Accident?

When someone else’s carelessness causes a bicycle crash, the financial effects can last far beyond the first hospital visit. A personal injury claim allows you to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.

Many injured cyclists recover damages for the following:

• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• All accident-related medical expenses, including future medical costs
• Follow-up treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy
• Assistive devices like crutches or wheelchairs
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life.

Some claims may also involve property damage to your bicycle, phone, or gear that was damaged in the crash.

What to Do After a Bicycle Crash in Minnesota

If you were hit while cycling and you’re now home or receiving treatment, there are key steps you can take to protect your legal rights. These actions can help strengthen your injury claim and avoid common issues with insurance adjusters.

Start with the most important step: legal representation.

• Hire a lawyer as soon as possible to manage communications with insurance companies and investigate fault.
• Keep all medical appointments and follow through on treatment to show your commitment to recovery.
• Document your experience by journaling symptoms, pain levels, and how the injury affects your daily life. Doing this supports your claim for pain and suffering, which could be substantial.
• Save receipts and medical bills related to your injuries, bike repair, transportation, and other expenses.
• Avoid posting on social media about the accident or your physical condition, which insurers may try to use against you.

Taking these steps early can reduce stress and make it easier to pursue a fair outcome if you decide to file a personal injury claim.

How Bicycle Claims Differ From Car Accident Cases

Although cyclists and drivers both share the road, legal claims involving bicycle injuries often raise different challenges. Bicyclists typically suffer more severe injuries and are more likely to require long-term care. Insurance companies may also try to blame the cyclist or minimize how serious the injuries are.

For example, in many cases:

• The driver claims they didn’t see the cyclist
• Road design or signage is inadequate
• The cyclist is blamed for “darting out” or riding too fast
• Surveillance footage or police reports are incomplete.

These factors can make bicycle accident claims harder to prove, especially when no clear witnesses or footage are available. That’s why working with an attorney experienced in bicycle injury cases can be so valuable.

A knowledgeable Minnesota bicycle accident lawyer can help gather medical records, hire reconstruction experts, and preserve critical evidence before it disappears.

Serious Injuries Often Lead to Long-Term Consequences

Bicycle collisions don’t always end with a quick recovery. Because cyclists lack the protection that motor vehicle occupants have, their injuries are often more severe, and their impact can linger for months or years. Some severely injured bicycle accident victims may never return to the life they had before.

Cyclists commonly suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions
• Spinal cord damage, partial or full paralysis, and mobility issues
• Complex fractures requiring multiple surgeries
• Chronic nerve pain and soft tissue damage
• Emotional trauma, including PTSD or anxiety, when returning to the road.

Long-term care often involves physical therapy, assistive equipment, and psychological support. The emotional toll of losing your independence or physical mobility can’t be overstated. These effects matter just as much as your ER bills, and Minnesota personal injury law allows you to account for them when filing a personal injury claim.

Why No-Fault Doesn’t Mean “No Lawyer Needed” in Minnesota

Under Minnesota’s no-fault insurance law (Minn. Stat. § 65B.44), your own auto insurance covers your medical bills, lost wages, and some out-of-pocket expenses regardless of who caused the accident. However, this system only provides limited benefits, and it does not prevent you from suing the at-fault driver in many situations.

You need a Minnesota bicycle accident lawyer when:

Your injuries meet the “threshold” to file a liability claim

To step outside the no-fault system and pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, your injuries must meet at least one of these legal thresholds (Minn. Stat. § 65B.51):

• Over $4,000 in medical expenses (excluding diagnostic imaging)
• A permanent injury or disfigurement
• Disability for 60+ days
• Death.

Once the threshold is met, you can pursue damages like pain and suffering, future medical care, loss of earning capacity, and more. A lawyer is critical for documenting these damages and protecting your right to full compensation.

The insurance company undervalues or denies their claim

Even no-fault benefits are often contested or delayed. Insurance companies may dispute the necessity of certain treatments or the extent of your wage loss. Our personal injury lawyers can challenge these denials and fight for your benefits, both under your own policy and in any liability claim against the other driver.

The at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured

Minnesota requires drivers to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, but these claims can be complicated. Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law’s team of experienced personal injury lawyers can help file a UM/UIM claim, negotiate with your insurer, and position you to recover fair compensation for your injuries and losses.

Multiple parties are involved or the fault is disputed

If your accident involved more than one vehicle, a commercial driver, or a government vehicle, the legal issues can get complicated quickly. A lawyer can help determine who’s liable and build a strong case for damages.

There are long-term consequences or future expenses

No-fault only covers up to $20,000 in medical expenses and $20,000 in lost wages. If your injuries require surgery, rehabilitation, or time off work that exceeds these limits, you need a lawyer to help pursue compensation through the liability system.

Local Representation That Knows Minnesota Law

Minnesota has unique traffic laws that affect bicycle accident cases. For example, bicyclists are legally required to obey all traffic signals and ride as far to the right as practicable under Minnesota’s bicycle laws. But drivers must also give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing, per Minn. Stat. § 169.18, subd. 3.

When drivers violate these rules, injury claims often hinge on who had the right-of-way, whether the cyclist was visible, and how the crash unfolded.

At Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law, we understand the nuances of Minnesota personal injury law. We’ve worked on cases throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, including Coon Rapids, Shakopee, and surrounding areas, where heavy traffic and limited bike lanes pose serious hazards to cyclists.

We know the judges, court systems, and local road conditions that may play a role in your case. This matters when it comes to building credibility and maximizing your chances for a positive outcome.