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Shreveport Bicycle Accident Lawyers

A driver on Youree Drive isn’t paying attention and doesn't see you until it's too late, leaving you on the pavement with a broken bike, injuries, and an insurance adjuster already working against you. Since the 1970s, Rice & Kendig Injury Lawyers has defended injured Louisianans from insurance tactics used to minimize cyclist claims, like blaming riders for visibility, downplaying road rash, or rushing lowball settlements. Our Shreveport bicycle accident lawyers push back on all of it.

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See How We’ve Won for Others
  • Super Lawyers
  • Accredited Business
  • Preeminent
  • Avvo 10 Superb
  • Top 100
  • Top 10 shreveport
  • Advacates Forum
  • Top 100 2020
  • Seal of Shreveport Bar Association featuring a stylized column in navy blue.

Common Types of Bicycle Accidents We Handle in Shreveport

Bicycle accidents happen for many reasons, but some patterns show up again and again on Shreveport's streets. Below are some of the most common cases our Shreveport bicycle accident attorneys handle. If your accident doesn't fall into one of these categories, we can still help.

  • When drivers or passengers suddenly open car doors without checking for cyclists, the results can be catastrophic. These accidents often occur in busy areas like Texas Street in downtown Shreveport. We help injured cyclists prove driver negligence and recover compensation for injuries caused by careless door opening.

  • Right Hook Collisions

    These dangerous crashes happen when drivers make right turns without checking for cyclists in bike lanes or on the shoulder. Whether on Line Avenue or Kings Highway, right-hook accidents often result in serious injuries. Our team investigates thoroughly to establish driver fault and secure fair compensation.

  • Left Cross Accidents

    When drivers turning left fail to yield to oncoming cyclists, devastating collisions can occur. These accidents frequently happen at busy intersections like Youree Drive and Kings Highway. We work with accident reconstruction experts to prove driver negligence and fight for maximum compensation.

  • Rear-End Collisions

    Distracted or speeding drivers who fail to notice cyclists can cause catastrophic rear-end crashes. These accidents often result in severe spinal injuries, head trauma, and other life-changing injuries. Our attorneys gather evidence from traffic cameras, witness statements, and accident scenes to build strong cases.

  • Intersection Accidents

    Crashes at intersections often result from drivers running red lights, rolling through stop signs, or failing to yield. Our team understands Shreveport's traffic patterns and investigates thoroughly to establish liability and secure fair compensation.

  • Sideswipe Accidents

    When drivers pass too closely or drift into bike lanes, cyclists can suffer serious injuries from sideswipe collisions. We help victims document their injuries, prove driver negligence, and recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries We Handle

Bicycle accidents often result in severe injuries due to cyclists' vulnerability on the road. At Rice & Kendig Injury Lawyers, we understand how these injuries affect your life and future. We handle cases involving:

Our team works closely with medical experts to document your injuries and fight for full compensation that covers both your current and future medical needs.

Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries We Handle

Steps You Should Take After a Bicycle Accident

Your actions after a bicycle crash can significantly impact your health and legal case. Here's what you should do:

Prioritize Your Safety and Health

Get to a safe location and seek immediate medical attention, even if you think your injuries are minor. Some injuries, like concussions or internal trauma, may not show symptoms immediately. Prompt medical care creates documentation that supports your case later.

Document Everything

Call the Shreveport Police Department to file an official report, even for a minor-seeming crash. If you're able, take photos of your bicycle damage, vehicle damage, road conditions, your injuries, the accident scene, and the driver's license plate and insurance information. Get contact information from witnesses and note the weather conditions. This evidence strengthens your case significantly.

Preserve Evidence

Don't repair or dispose of your damaged bicycle. It's evidence that matters to your claim. Keep all damaged gear, including your helmet, protective equipment, torn clothing, and damaged shoes. These items help prove the crash's impact and support your claim for damages.

Watch What You Say

Never apologize or discuss fault, even if you think you might have contributed to the accident. Don't post about the crash on social media or give statements to insurance companies without your attorney present.

Contact Our Lawyers Before the Insurance Company

Insurance adjusters often try to minimize bicycle accident claims or blame cyclists. Let our experienced Shreveport bicycle accident attorneys handle all communication with insurance companies to protect your rights.

Types of Compensation Available After a Bicycle Accident

At Rice & Kendig Injury Lawyers, we fight to recover all available compensation you're entitled to after a bicycle accident. Louisiana law recognizes various forms of damages to make injured cyclists whole again.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover the actual financial losses you've experienced and will face in the future:

  • Current and future medical expenses;
  • Lost wages and earning capacity;
  • Bicycle and equipment replacement;
  • Transportation costs;
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation;
  • Home modifications, if needed.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages cover the personal impact of your injuries beyond financial losses:

  • Pain and suffering;
  • Emotional distress;
  • Loss of enjoyment of life;
  • Permanent disability or disfigurement;
  • Mental anguish;
  • Loss of consortium for your spouse.

Our experienced bicycle accident attorneys know how to document and prove these damages, using expert testimony, medical records, and compelling evidence to maximize your compensation. We consider both immediate and long-term impacts so your settlement or verdict reflects all your losses.

Your Rights as a Cyclist in Louisiana

Cyclist Rights and Responsibilities

Under Louisiana law RS 32:194, cyclists have the same rights and duties as motor vehicle drivers. This means:

  • Right to use public roads.
  • Right to occupy the full lane when necessary.
  • Right to a safe passing distance of at least 3 feet pursuant to Louisiana RS 32:76.1.
  • Requirement to follow traffic laws.
  • Right to compensation when injured by negligent drivers.

Specific Cycling Laws in Louisiana

Louisiana RS 32:197 establishes clear safety standards for cyclists and motorists alike.

  • Required equipment: Working brakes, night lights, reflective gear.
  • Road position: Ride right, with exceptions for passing, turning, and hazards.
  • Lane rights: Can take the full lane when needed and ride two abreast.

Louisiana's Comparative Fault System

Louisiana's fault-sharing rule changed on January 1, 2026. For accidents that happened before that date, Louisiana used a pure comparative fault system: you could recover damages even if you were mostly at fault, just reduced by your percentage of fault.

For accidents on or after January 1, 2026, Civil Code Article 2323 now applies a 51% bar: if you're found 51% or more at fault, you can't recover damages at all, but if you're found 50% or less at fault, your recovery is still reduced only by your percentage of fault. Which rule applies to your case depends on when your accident happened, not when you file, so this is worth discussing with an attorney early.

Time Limits for Filing Claims

Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1 sets a two-year filing deadline for accidents that happened on or after July 1, 2024. Accidents before that date fall under the prior one-year deadline. Don't wait to take action, because evidence disappears and witness memories fade fast.

Our Process for Handling Your Bicycle Accident Claim

You focus on healing. We handle the rest. Here's what that looks like:

  1. Free case review: We listen to what happened, answer your first questions, and tell you honestly where your case stands.
  2. Investigation: We pull the police report, canvass the scene, interview witnesses, and preserve traffic-camera footage before it's overwritten.
  3. Medical documentation: We work with your treating providers to connect your injuries to the crash, not just today's symptoms but what you'll need down the road.
  4. Demand and negotiation: We build a demand package the insurer can't wave off, and we negotiate from a position of strength.
  5. Trial, if it comes to that: Most claims settle, but we prepare every file as if it's headed to a Caddo Parish courtroom, because that's what gives us leverage at the negotiating table.

Insurers Blame Cyclists First. We Prove Otherwise.

Adjusters often argue you weren't visible or shouldn't have been on the road. We gather the evidence that shows what the driver should have seen.

TESTIMONIALS

Stories from Cyclists
We've Helped

  • They were there to support me all the way. Even when I wanted to give up, honestly.

  • I genuinely feel like Rice & Kendig had my best interest at heart and they made sure that nothing was left out.

  • I knew that they would take care of us, and I would definitely recommend them to anybody.

  • Rice & Kendig are very good at seeing what the weakness in our case is and what the strength is and developing both sides of the case.

  • They take great care of you. They care, and they make sure that you get what you need, they make sure that you're okay.

  • I suggest Rice & Kendig if you want someone who cares about you and your situation.

  • They did such a good job fighting for us and not dragging it on... Thanks to Rice & Kendig, the matter was over within a year.

  • He called me every day, made sure I was okay... he was just perfect. You couldn't ask for a better attorney.

  • They took care of us right away. They were loving.

BENEFITS

Why Choose Rice & Kendig Injury Lawyers for
Your Bicycle Accident Case

  • A Track Record You Can Verify
    Our record includes a $16 million wrongful death settlement and Louisiana's largest reported Fibromyalgia jury verdict, Kessler v. Southmark Corp. As AV Preeminent-rated Super Lawyers and Million Dollar Advocates Forum members, we know how to build powerful cases against insurance companies.
  • A Network Built Over Nearly 40 Years
    Our attorneys have spent nearly 40 years building relationships with accident reconstruction specialists, medical providers, and other professionals who strengthen a case. When your claim needs outside expertise, we already know who to call.
  • Clear Communication in Your Preferred Language
    Whether you speak English or Spanish, our bilingual team is here to support you throughout your case. Your voice matters, and we’re here to amplify it in the language you’re most comfortable with.
  • Personal Attention, Not a File Number
    Our senior attorneys handle bicycle accident claims directly rather than handing your file off to an associate. You'll have a clear point of contact and a strategy tailored to your case from day one.
  • Contingency Fee Representation
    We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. You can focus on your recovery while we handle the legal process.
Your Local Advocates

Serving Northwest Louisiana's
Cycling Community

Rice & Kendig Injury Lawyers has successfully represented injured Louisianans since the 1970s. Our Shreveport bicycle accident lawyers serve cyclists throughout:

  • Union Parish
  • Caddo Parish
  • Winn Parish
  • Jackson Parish
  • Lincoln Parish
  • Ouachita Parish
  • Claiborne Parish
  • Bienville Parish
  • Red River Parish
  • Natchitoches Parish
  • Webster Parish
  • Bossier Parish
  • Grant Parish
  • DeSoto Parish
  • Sabine Parish

Office Address

912 Kings Highway Shreveport, Louisiana 71104

Your Rights and Recovery Matter

Take Action Now: Don’t Settle for Anything Less

If a negligent driver put you in the hospital or worse, you don't have to sort out the insurance fight on your own. Our Shreveport bicycle accident attorneys will investigate what happened, deal with the insurance company on your behalf, and build the case that holds the at-fault driver accountable. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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    Thank you for your interest. Please note that Rice & Kendig is a personal injury law firm. If your claim is not injury related, we recommend you contact a legal professional in the correct practice area or your local legal aid for general assistance.

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    Bicycle Accident FAQs