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.
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:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI);
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis;
- Broken bones and fractures;
- Amputation injuries from crush impacts;
- Road rash and severe skin abrasions;
- Internal injuries;
- Joint injuries;
- Facial injuries and dental trauma;
- Psychological trauma and PTSD.
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.

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:
- Free case review: We listen to what happened, answer your first questions, and tell you honestly where your case stands.
- Investigation: We pull the police report, canvass the scene, interview witnesses, and preserve traffic-camera footage before it's overwritten.
- 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.
- Demand and negotiation: We build a demand package the insurer can't wave off, and we negotiate from a position of strength.
- 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.
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