A bicycle accident can upend your life in an instant. One moment you’re riding your bike, the next you’re facing fractures, a traumatic brain injury, or worse. Recovery is often painful, prolonged, and costly.
A common tactic by insurers and negligent drivers is to place blame on the cyclist, arguing you were hard to see, riding improperly, or somehow responsible for your own injuries.
Under Virginia’s contributory negligence doctrine, if you are found even partially at fault, you could be barred from recovering any compensation at all. That’s why having a knowledgeable Virginia bicycle accident attorney in your corner can make all the difference.
For nearly four decades, attorney Richard J. Serpe has fought for the rights of seriously injured accident victims. From Hampton Roads and Richmond to Northern Virginia and beyond, our firm is prepared to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Consultations are free, and you owe us nothing unless we win.
Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle
Cyclists have almost no physical protection when a vehicle hits them. The consequences can be life-altering, and in some cases tragically fatal. Our Virginia bicycle accident lawyers handle cases involving:
- Intersection collisions with motor vehicles
- Distracted, inattentive, or texting drivers
- Drunk or impaired driving accidents
- Dooring accidents from parked vehicles
- Excessive speed by drivers
- Commercial trucks and delivery vehicles
- Wrongful death of a loved one
When a cyclist is seriously hurt due to someone else’s negligence, we help to build the strongest possible case.
Why Choose the Serpe Firm
Selecting the right attorney after a serious bicycle accident is one of the most consequential decisions you’ll face. Our personal injury law firm brings together decades of experience and a deeply personal commitment to every client we serve.
We know what it’s like to be on the other side of this situation: unable to work, watching medical bills pile up, and feeling pressured by an insurance adjuster pushing you toward a quick, undervalued settlement. Our job is to relieve that burden and pursue what you are truly owed.
At the heart of our law firm is attorney Richard J. Serpe, a nationally recognized personal injury attorney with more than 40 years of experience representing injured victims. Consistently honored by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, Mr. Serpe is known for his disciplined case preparation and unwavering advocacy for injured clients.
Complementing his work is Ashley E. Strandjord, an accomplished attorney recognized for her detailed case development, readiness for trial, and genuine care for her clients. Ashley brings the same rigor and dedication to bicycle accident cases.
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 to Expect After You Reach Out
Your first step with our firm is a free, no-pressure consultation. We’ll listen carefully to your situation, review what happened, and determine if we are a good fit for your case.
If we move forward together, here’s how the process works:
- Thorough Investigation: We collect police and incident reports, medical records and bills, eyewitness accounts, traffic and surveillance footage when necessary, and any other evidence that supports your claim.
- Insurance Company Management: Once retained, we handle all communication with adjusters on your behalf. You won’t have to fend off pressure tactics, stalling, or lowball offers on your own. They’ll have to go through us to get to you.
- Case Assessment: We take time to understand the complete scope of your injuries including ongoing treatment needs, lost income, and long-term impacts, before pursuing a settlement. We won’t rush to resolve your case before you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
- Negotiation and, When Necessary, Trial: While most cases settle out of court, if an insurer won’t offer fair value, we may need to take your case to court.
Virginia’s Statute of Limitations (Legal Deadlines)
In most cases, Virginia law gives injured cyclists two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline typically means losing your right to compensation permanently.
Some situations, such as accidents involving government vehicles or entities, may involve shorter deadlines. Don’t wait to get legal advice.
Cyclists’ Legal Rights Under Virginia Law
Virginia law treats bicycles as vehicles. This means cyclists are entitled to use public roadways, occupy travel lanes, and exercise all the same rights that apply to drivers. Drivers are legally obligated to respect those rights.
Common legal violations that lead to bicycle accidents include:
- Left-turn collisions: Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming traffic including cyclists. A driver who cuts across a cyclist’s path is in violation of Virginia law, and left-turn crashes are among the most frequent types of bicycle accidents.
- Unsafe passing: Virginia requires drivers to pass cyclists at a reasonable speed with a minimum of three feet of clearance. If the lane doesn’t allow for that gap, the driver must change lanes.
- Dooring: Opening a car door into moving traffic is prohibited unless it is safe to do so. Cyclists struck by a suddenly opened door have a valid legal claim against the person who opened it.
Any driver who violates these duties and injures a cyclist can be held liable for their injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a Virginia Bicycle Accident Case Take? There is no single timeline. Straightforward claims may resolve within several months, while cases involving complex injuries or disputed liability can take considerably longer. Our focus is always on achieving the best outcome possible, not simply the fastest one.
What is my Virginia bicycle accident case worth? Case value depends on the nature and severity of your injuries, total medical expenses, lost income, future care needs, lasting impairment, and available insurance coverage. Because cyclists are completely unprotected in collisions, injuries tend to be serious, and the associated damages can be substantial.
What types of compensation can I recover? You may be eligible to recover damages for current and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability or disfigurement, and other losses directly tied to your accident.
What Our Clients Say About Us
“Mr. Serpe is a kind, considerate professional I would recommend to anyone who needs legal help recovering from an auto accident or other personal injury. I really enjoyed working with him and felt he had my best interest at heart.” — Google Review
“It was a pleasure to hire Richard as our attorney to help with my mom’s case. Richard was incredibly kind and patient throughout the whole process. He and his team kept us updated every step of the way to ensure we understood everything and were well-prepared. The result was more than we expected. My family highly recommends Richard’s firm.” — Google Review
Contact Our Virginia Bicycle Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love was hurt in a bicycle accident anywhere in Virginia, you don’t have to face the insurance companies alone. The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC is ready to evaluate your situation, answer your questions, and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Your consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call 757-233-0009, use our chat, or email us to schedule your free case evaluation.
