Sioux Falls Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Fighting for Bicycle Accident Victims in South Dakota

Unlike occupants of motor vehicles who benefit from airbags, seatbelts, and a protective steel frame, bicyclists have virtually no physical protection against the force of a collision with a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle. This direct exposure to impact can lead to serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and internal organ damage. Bicyclists who are struck by vehicles frequently face consequences that extend far beyond immediate physical pain, including mounting medical expenses, lost income from missed work, and even long-term disabilities.

If you were harmed in a bicycle accident that wasn’t your fault, our team at King Law Firm can help you understand your rights and options for recovering compensation. Having recovered millions for injury victims, we have a track record of securing successful outcomes, and we understand how to effectively navigate personal injury claims involving bicycle collisions. We can fight aggressively to demonstrate negligence, negotiate with the insurance company, and litigate if necessary. Our goal is to earn your trust and build a lasting relationship by working diligently to get you every dollar you deserve. We generally take bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe our firm no legal fees unless we help you obtain compensation. 

We answer phones 24/7, so don’t wait to call (605) 250-3209 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our Sioux Falls bicycle accident lawyers. Se habla español.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in South Dakota?

The amount of time you have to take legal action for a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence is governed by South Dakota’s statute of limitations. Generally, you have three years from the date you were injured to bring a personal injury lawsuit. If you do not file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you will likely lose your right to sue or recover any damages.

Don’t delay getting legal advice just because you have up to three years to pursue a claim. The sooner you start the process of building your case, the better. Evidence can deteriorate or completely disappear, and it may become tougher to definitively link your injuries and their consequences to the collision. 

Promptly reaching out to our team at King Law Firm gives us more time to investigate, gather evidence, and accurately assess your damages. If your injuries prevent you from coming to our office, we can meet with you virtually.

South Dakota Bicycle Laws That Can Impact Your Claim

South Dakota law places specific duties and rights on both bicyclists and motorists that can directly impact the strength and outcomes of bicycle accident claims. Bicycles are generally considered vehicles, meaning cyclists must obey the same traffic laws as motorists. This includes obeying traffic signals and stop signs as well as riding on the right side of the road in the same direction as traffic. 

However, if riding slower than the normal speed of traffic, cyclists must ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. South Dakota also has a safe passing law requiring drivers to allow a minimum of three feet of separation when overtaking a bicycle on roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less and six feet for speeds over 35 miles per hour.

Right-of-way rules are crucial. Drivers must yield to cyclists in marked crosswalks, but cyclists cannot suddenly ride into a vehicle's path. 

If a cyclist is riding on a sidewalk, they are typically afforded the same rights and duties as a pedestrian, but they must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal when passing. Importantly, cyclists riding on sidewalks must also stop before entering a crosswalk or highway. South Dakota does not have a universal helmet law, meaning adult cyclists are not legally required to wear helmets, though doing so is advisable for safety.

Our attorneys are familiar with the local laws governing bicycles. If you’re not sure whether you have a strong case, we can assess what happened and review your legal options. 

Types of Compensation Available in Bicycle Accident Cases

When you suffer injuries in a bicycle accident caused by negligence, you can seek economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to quantifiable financial losses, while non-economic damages are meant to address the subjective, non-monetary impacts of bicycle accident injuries. 

Insurance companies tend to prioritize profit over people and look to pay bicycle accident victims as little as possible. They frequently scrutinize medical treatment, question the severity of injuries, or try to shift blame to the cyclist through comparative negligence arguments to reduce the amount they have to pay out or avoid liability entirely. We can anticipate and fight these strategies through aggressive negotiation or litigation. 

Our bicycle accident attorneys can work to get you full and fair compensation for your economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Medical bills
• Lost income and earning potential 
• Property damage
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive damages are only awarded in cases where it can be shown that the defendant acted with intentional malice or egregious recklessness. These damages are not meant to specifically compensate the injury victim but are instead meant to punish the defendant and discourage similar behavior in the future.  

You should never assume you don’t have a bicycle accident claim, even if you feel you may have been partially responsible for a collision. Call (605) 250-3209 or contact us online to request a free case evaluation.