Durham Bicycle Accident Lawyer

An Honest Bicycle Accident Attorney in Durham, NC

Durham boasts many scenic areas for bicycle rides, and many local riders use our city streets as an eco-friendly way to get to work. However, the city’s roads can be unforgiving for cyclists. If you have been hurt, you know firsthand that a single driver’s distraction can lead to life-altering consequences. A Durham bicycle accident lawyer at the Law Office of Jacob Goad provides comprehensive support to pursue the compensation and justice you deserve.

The Law Office of Jacob Goad: Your Knowledgeable Bicycle Accident Lawyer

I am personal injury attorney Jacob Goad, and I am the founding attorney of the Law Office of Jacob Goad. After a bicycle accident, I know that insurance companies often try to shift the blame onto the rider, leaving you to deal with mounting medical bills, wage loss, and physical pain. I understand the unique challenges that cyclists often face on our streets, and I am committed to pursuing the full compensation you deserve.

Orgullosos de servir a la comunidad hispana. I proudly assist all bicycle accident victims, including members of the community who speak Spanish. I speak fluent Spanish, and we can discuss your case completely in Spanish.

Bicycle Accidents in Context

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2024 alone, bicycle accidents claimed the lives of 1,075 riders. One year prior, there were 1,163 fatalities in bicycle-related crashes, and in the same year, there were roughly 341,774 nonfatal cyclist injuries, based on information from the National Safety Council.

A bicycle accident does not have to be fatal to disrupt your health, career, and future. Survivors of severe crashes often face life-altering injuries. Bicyclists have a right to share the road, yet careless drivers often cause accidents. If you are involved in a bicycle crash, it may happen because of:

• Distracted driving
• Aggressive maneuvers
• Traffic violations
• Poor visibility

After a bicycle accident in Durham, you can file a claim against the driver who caused your damages. Depending on the circumstances, related legal claims may involve Workers’ Compensation, Car Accident, Wrongful Deaths, Construction Accident, Spinal Cord Injuries, or Truck Accident.

Durham’s Bicycle Accident Hotspots

When many accidents happen repeatedly in the same spot, it is called an accident hotspot. In Durham, our bicycle accident hotspots include:

• Roxboro Street & Mangum Street. This area is a known hotspot, likely due to multi-lane speeding and a long-overdue need for an infrastructure overhaul to separate vehicular traffic from cyclists. You may be familiar with our city’s annual Ride of Silence in this area.
• Main Street & Ninth Street. This intersection sees significant friction between cyclists and vehicles. High-volume retail areas near Duke University’s East Campus and Brightleaf Square lead to heavy foot traffic combining with delivery trucks.
• Cole Mill Road, especially near West Wyndham Lane and Nancy Rhodes Drive intersections. Despite this road being one of the only ways to commute into Durham from the northwest, it severely lacks gravel paths, bike lanes, and protective barriers. Adding any of these would help shield bicyclists.
• Cheek Road. Running from industrial sites and newer suburban developments to downtown Durham, it is a dangerous area due to poorly marked crosswalks, dangerous speeding drivers, and inadequate infrastructure.
• NC-751. The rolling hills in this area attract experienced and novice bicyclists alike, but this secondary highway lacks paved shoulders, which makes it prone to severe hit-and-run accidents and crossover collisions. Just recently, a teen was killed in a fatal bicycle accident in this area.

It is important to know these areas so you can hopefully avoid getting involved in an accident in these risky areas. If you are unable to avoid a crash, contact a knowledgeable lawyer. At the Law Office of Jacob Goad, we have helped many locals recover against drivers in the area. Our firm also handles cases involving Catastrophic Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries, Burn Injury, and Nursing Home Abuse.

FAQs

What Is the First Step for a Bicycle Accident Claim?

Typically, the first step for a bicycle accident claim is gathering evidence. Whether someone hit you on a crowded highway like NC-751 or a quiet local road, it is critical that you document the scene of your accident, including taking photos of your bike, the vehicle that hit you, and your injuries. Then, consider meeting with a lawyer who can discuss important next steps. A lawyer can help with an insurance claim and build a court case on your behalf.

What Types of Injuries Do Bicycle Accident Victims Experience?

There are some common injuries that bicycle accident victims often experience, including:

• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Severed limbs
• Paralysis
• Surgical amputations
• Road rash and abrasions

This is not a complete list. If you have suffered injuries after a bicycle crash, discuss your specific injuries with a knowledgeable lawyer who can aid in your recovery.

How Does an Attorney Prove the Driver Caused My Bicycle Accident?

For a successful case, your attorney gathers a variety of evidence to prove the driver caused your bicycle accident. They must prove negligence, which means:

• The driver owed you a duty to drive safely
• They breached that duty
• Their breach caused you direct harm
• You suffered losses for which you can be compensated

Typically, a lawyer gathers compelling evidence to prove the at-fault driver is more likely than not responsible for your losses. This is called a preponderance of the evidence.

Do I Have to Hire an Attorney After a Bike Wreck?

While you are not required to hire an attorney after a bike wreck, most people find that working with an attorney is a very effective way to pursue compensation after a personal injury accident. People who represent themselves often leave money on the table or make costly mistakes. When you partner with a skilled lawyer, they can pursue all avenues of compensation on your behalf.

Hire a Top Rated Bicycle Injury Lawyer Serving Durham Today

When you need to hire a bicycle injury lawyer, the Law Office of Jacob Goad can be of service. As your Durham bicycle injury attorney, I have a well-developed understanding of North Carolina bicycle injury laws, and I bring extensive experience to every bicycle injury claim.

From Old North Durham to Hope Valley, Durham locals trust me with my personal injury cases, including Medical Malpractice, Motorcycle Accidents, and Pedestrian Accident.

Just steps from Bull City Burger and Brewery and The Daily, my law firm is in Downtown Durham with immediate access to I-85, NC-147, and I-885. Contact us for an initial consultation.