Seriously injured in a Norfolk bicycle accident? Call 757-233-0009 or message our team. Free consultations. No legal fees unless we win.
As Norfolk’s roads become more bike-friendly, more people are choosing to ride to class, to work, and through their own neighborhoods. But it also means more cyclists sharing the road with drivers who aren’t always paying attention. When those two things collide, the cyclist is almost always the one who gets hurt.
At the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC, our Norfolk bicycle accident lawyers have spent decades fighting for the seriously injured throughout Hampton Roads. We understand the physical, financial, and emotional toll a bike crash inflicts and we know how hard insurance companies work to avoid paying what victims are truly owed.
If a driver’s negligence caused your injuries, we’re here to help you understand your options and pursue the compensation you’re entitled to.
Types of Norfolk Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle
Our firm represents cyclists injured in many different types of accidents, including:
- Car door collisions (“dooring”): A car door opens into a cyclist’s path
- Left-turn crashes: Drivers turning left across a cyclist’s lane of travel, one of the most common collisions
- Rear-end collisions: Drivers who fail to see a cyclist ahead and strike them from behind
- Distracted and texting drivers: Inattentive motorists who never see the rider before impact
- Unsafe passing: Drivers who don’t follow the required three-foot minimum passing clearance
- Wrongful death: When a cyclist is killed, we help surviving family members pursue a claim
Why Choose the Serpe Firm for Your Norfolk Bicycle Accident Case
Attorney Richard J. Serpe
is a nationally recognized Virginia personal injury attorney with more than 40 years of experience representing injured victims. Consistently listed in Best Lawyers (2005 – present) and Super Lawyers (2006 – present), and named Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year for Norfolk by Best Lawyers (2020), Mr. Serpe has built his reputation on thorough preparation and genuine advocacy for the people he represents.
He also holds the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, which is the highest honor available for legal ability and ethics. The Serpe Firm has been ranked Tier 1 in Norfolk for Personal Injury Litigation — Plaintiffs by Best Law Firms.
Attorney Ashley E. Strandjord, is known for her meticulous approach to case development, her readiness for trial, and the genuine care she brings to every client she represents. Her clients consistently describe her as someone who listens, communicates directly, and never loses sight of what the case means to the person going through it.
Because we are selective about the cases we take on, we can invest real time, attention, and resources into each client’s case. When you work with us, you receive:
- Decades of proven experience
- Direct communication and personalized attention
- Comprehensive case preparation
- No legal fees unless we win
What compensation can you recover after a bicycle accident?
The amount of compensation you may recover after a Norfolk bicycle accident depends on the severity of your injuries, your financial losses, insurance coverage, and other factors unique to your case. You may be entitled to:
- Medical expenses: Costs of treatment directly tied to the accident, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, assistive devices, and reasonably anticipated future medical needs.
- Lost wages and earning capacity: Compensation for income lost while recovering from injuries, as well as any permanent reduction in your ability to earn a living if the injuries prevent you from returning to your prior occupation.
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and reduced enjoyment of life caused by the accident. These damages can be substantial when injuries are permanent or disabling.
- Wrongful death: When a cyclist is killed, certain family members may recover for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of the deceased’s companionship and care through a wrongful death claim.
What happens after I hire a bicycle accident attorney?
We thoroughly investigate and prepare every case to build the strongest possible claim and pursue the full compensation our clients deserve.
- Case investigation: We gather all available evidence: police and incident reports, medical records, photos and video footage, witness statements, and expert opinions where needed. For complex cases, we work with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts who can explain the full impact of your injuries to a jury.
- Insurance company management: Once you retain us, all communication with adjusters flows through our office. We protect you from the stalling, lowball offers, and liability-shifting tactics insurers use to undervalue claims.
- Injury valuation: We will not push for an early settlement before understanding the full scope of your injuries. For serious cases, that means waiting until you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement, the point at which doctors can assess your long-term prognosis, before calculating what your case is actually worth.
- Negotiation and trial: Most cases settle through negotiation, but some go to court when insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement.
Virginia’s Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accident Claims
Virginia law imposes a two-year deadline, starting from the date of the accident, to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline extinguishes your legal right to compensation permanently, regardless of how strong your case may be. Important exceptions may apply, including cases involving government vehicles or entities, which can have shorter notice deadlines, and claims involving injured minors, which may be subject to different rules.
Do not wait to consult an attorney. The earlier you reach out, the more time our team has to preserve evidence and build the strongest possible case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have a case if I wasn’t wearing a helmet? Virginia does not require adult cyclists to wear helmets, and failing to wear one does not prevent you from recovering compensation. However, an insurer may argue that a helmet would have reduced your head injuries. How that argument plays out depends on the specific nature of your injuries. An experienced attorney can assess how this issue affects the value of your case.
What if the driver says I was at fault? Drivers and their insurers often argue that a cyclist was partially at fault because Virginia follows a strict contributory negligence rule, which can prevent an injured cyclist from recovering compensation. Our job is to build an evidence-based account of the accident, address allegations that you were at fault, and present the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
How long will my Norfolk bicycle accident case take to resolve? It highly depends. Minor injury cases with clear liability can settle within a few months. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or multiple parties often take longer. Our focus is on achieving the best possible outcome, not the fastest one.
What does it cost to hire a Norfolk bicycle accident lawyer? Nothing unless we win. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Your initial consultation is free and carries no obligation.
Where Bicycle Accidents Most Commonly Occur in Norfolk
According to the City of Norfolk’s crash data, the following areas commonly see bicycle accidents in Norfolk:
- Downtown–Old Dominion University–Naval Station Norfolk
- Llewellyn Avenue and Lower Granby Street / Boush Street
- Granby Street – Willow Wood Drive to Ocean View Avenue
- Olney Road – Sentara Norfolk General to Norfolk State University
- Cromwell Drive and Robin Hood Road
These are the routes Norfolk’s students, commuters, and residents ride every day.
Cyclists’ Rights Under Virginia Law
Virginia law classifies bicycles as vehicles. Norfolk cyclists have the legal right to use public roads, occupy travel lanes, and receive the same protections afforded to any motor vehicle operator. Drivers bear a legal obligation to respect those rights. Key Virginia statutes that frequently apply in Norfolk bicycle cases:
- Minimum passing distance: Drivers must pass cyclists with at least three feet of clearance and at a safe speed. If a lane is too narrow to allow that gap, the law requires changing lanes entirely.
- Left-turn duty to yield: Drivers making a left turn must yield to any oncoming cyclist, just as they would to an oncoming car. Failure to yield is a violation of Virginia law.
- Dooring prohibition: No person may open a vehicle door into moving traffic unless it is safe to do so. A cyclist injured by a suddenly opened door has a valid legal claim against the person who opened it.
- Right-of-way at intersections: Cyclists proceeding lawfully through an intersection have the same right-of-way as any vehicle.
When a driver violates these duties and injures a Norfolk cyclist, they can be held liable for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
Contact Our Norfolk Bicycle Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love was hurt in a bicycle accident in Norfolk or anywhere in Hampton Roads, contact the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC today. We offer free, no-pressure consultations. You have nothing to lose by calling.
