St. Louis Bicycle Accident Lawyer That Advocates for Injured Cyclists
If you were hit by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in St. Louis, you may be able to pursue compensation for injuries and other losses caused by the crash. A St. Louis bicycle accident lawyer at Roach Law can investigate what happened, preserve available evidence, deal with the insurance companies and help you understand your options under Missouri law.
Free consultation. No fee unless we recover compensation for you.
A collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle can leave a cyclist with little protection from the impact and serious injuries can mean medical treatment, time away from work and a recovery that extends far beyond the crash itself.
Missouri law gives people riding bicycles on streets and highways many of the same rights and duties that apply to drivers. Drivers also have specific responsibilities when passing bicycles, and Missouri law requires a motorist overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction to leave a safe distance and maintain clearance until safely past.
When a driver fails to yield, turns across a cyclist’s path, passes without sufficient clearance or otherwise causes a collision, determining what happened can require more than one person’s account of the crash.
Roach Law can investigate the circumstances, identify available evidence and help you understand whether another party may be legally responsible for your injuries.
Talk to Roach Law About a Bicycle Accident Claim
Meet the Attorney Behind Roach Law
Kevin Roach has practiced law since 2000 and founded Roach Law to represent people injured because of someone else’s negligence.
Bicycle accident cases can raise questions about right-of-way, where the cyclist was riding, what the driver could see, how the vehicles moved before impact and whether either party is accused of contributing to the collision.
Understanding those details matters when liability is disputed.
- No Fee Unless We Recover Compensation for You
- 20+ Years Handling Serious Missouri Injury Claims
- Hundreds of Millions Recovered for Clients
- Free Consultations
Results From Bicycle and Cyclist-Related Cases We’ve Handled
$325,000 Settlement — Pedestrian Struck While Walking a Bicycle
Roach Law secured a $325,000 settlement in 2025 for a client who was struck by a vehicle while crossing the roadway on foot with her bicycle at the intersection of US Highway 67 and Route CC in Jefferson County.
A vehicle changing lanes entered the intersection and struck our client before she could clear the roadway. Missouri State Highway Patrol responded, and eyewitnesses confirmed the sequence of events leading up to the collision.
Our client sustained severe orthopedic injuries, including fractures to the tibia and fibula that required surgical fixation with rods, as well as multiple lumbar disc injuries. She was transported by EMS to a hospital, underwent surgery and required extensive follow-up care.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its individual facts and circumstances.
How Can a St. Louis Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help?
A bicycle crash can generate several different types of evidence but some of the most useful evidence may not remain available indefinitely. Video can be overwritten. Vehicles and bicycles can be repaired. Witnesses can become harder to locate. The physical scene itself can change.
When Roach Law investigates a bicycle accident claim, we may:
- Review police and crash reports
- Examine photographs and video footage
- Look for surveillance, traffic-camera or dash-camera footage where available
- Identify and speak with witnesses
- Examine the bicycle and vehicle damage
- Review medical records and document injuries
- Investigate the movements of the cyclist and driver before impact
- Determine whether traffic or bicycle-specific laws may be relevant
- Identify potentially responsible parties and available insurance
- Respond to allegations that the cyclist caused or contributed to the crash
- Document financial and other losses associated with the injuries
- Build the evidence needed to negotiate the claim or pursue it further when necessary
The goal is to establish what happened, why it happened and what the evidence shows about responsibility.
What Rights Do Bicyclists Have on Missouri Roads?
Missouri law specifically recognizes bicyclists as roadway users.
Under Missouri Revised Statutes §307.188, a person riding a bicycle on a street or highway is generally granted the rights and subject to the duties applicable to a vehicle driver, except where bicycle-specific rules apply or where a motor-vehicle rule cannot logically apply to a bicycle.
That matters after a crash because the fact that someone was riding a bicycle rather than driving a car does not, by itself, mean they had less right to use the roadway.
Missouri law on the rights and duties of bicyclists
How Much Space Must a Driver Give a Bicycle in Missouri?
Missouri law requires drivers overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction to leave a safe distance when passing and maintain that clearance until safely past the bicycle.
The statute does not specify a universal number of feet. Instead, it requires a safe distance, which means we should not turn this into a “three-foot rule” or another fixed-distance claim on the page.
In a collision involving a passing vehicle, the circumstances can include the available road width, traffic conditions, the position of the bicycle and vehicle, and how the driver attempted to pass.
Missouri law on safely passing bicycles
Do Drivers Have to Yield to Bicycles in Bike Lanes?
Missouri’s Model Traffic Ordinance addresses designated bicycle lanes.
It provides that a designated bicycle lane should not be obstructed by a parked or standing motor vehicle or other stationary object. When a driver makes a lawful maneuver that requires traveling in or crossing a designated bicycle lane, the driver must yield to a bicycle in that lane.
This can become particularly relevant when a collision happens as a vehicle turns across or enters a designated bicycle lane.
Missouri law on designated bicycle lanes and yielding
Do Bicyclists Always Have to Ride at the Far Right of the Road?
No.
Missouri law generally requires a cyclist traveling slower than the posted speed or flow of traffic to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as is safe.
But the law contains important exceptions, including when the cyclist is:
- Making a left turn
- Avoiding hazardous conditions
- Riding where the lane is too narrow to safely share with another vehicle
- Riding on a one-way street
Missouri law also permits bicyclists to ride abreast when they are not impeding other vehicles.
This matters because an insurer or driver may argue that a cyclist was simply “too far into the road.” The cyclist’s position needs to be considered in light of the actual roadway conditions and Missouri’s bicycle laws.
Missouri law on where bicyclists may ride
What Should You Do After a Bicycle Accident in St. Louis?
The aftermath of a bicycle crash can be chaotic, particularly when you’re injured. Your immediate priority should be your safety and medical care.
Where possible, the following steps can also help preserve information about what happened.
Get Medical Attention
Bicycle crashes can cause head, spinal, orthopedic and internal injuries. Some symptoms may also become more apparent after the initial shock of the collision.
Seek appropriate medical attention and follow the treatment recommendations you receive.
Report the Crash
Call law enforcement and make sure the collision is reported where appropriate.
A crash report can provide an early record of the people and vehicles involved, location, witnesses and other information.
Photograph the Scene
If you’re physically able or someone else can do it for you photographs may capture:
- Vehicle and bicycle positions
- Damage
- The roadway
- Traffic signs and signals
- Bicycle lanes
- Skid marks or debris
- Visibility and lighting
- Your injuries
Get Witness Information
If someone saw the collision, get their name and contact details where possible.
Preserve Your Bicycle and Equipment
A damaged bicycle, helmet, clothing and other equipment may contain useful evidence. Avoid repairing or disposing of them before you’ve considered whether they may be relevant to the claim.
Be Careful With Insurance Statements
An insurance company may ask for a recorded statement soon after the collision. You don’t need to speculate about something you don’t remember or make assumptions about injuries that are still being evaluated.
What Causes Bicycle Accidents in St. Louis?
Bicycle collisions can happen in many different ways.
Common circumstances can include:
- Drivers failing to yield
- Drivers turning across a cyclist’s path
- Unsafe passing
- Vehicles entering or crossing bicycle lanes
- Drivers failing to check blind spots
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Running traffic lights or stop signs
- Impaired driving
- Vehicles opening doors into a cyclist’s path
- Poor visibility
- Hazardous roadway conditions
How Do You Prove Negligence After a Bicycle Accident?
A bicycle accident claim generally requires evidence connecting another party’s conduct to the collision and resulting injuries.
Depending on the case, relevant evidence may include:
- Police and crash reports
- Photographs of the scene
- Surveillance or dash-camera footage
- Witness statements
- Vehicle and bicycle damage
- Traffic signals and signs
- Roadway markings
- Medical records
- Cellphone or other records where relevant and obtainable
- Expert analysis in appropriate cases
The investigation may also consider whether a driver violated a traffic rule or bicycle-specific law, such as failing to leave a safe distance while passing.
The evidence needs to establish more than the fact that a collision occurred. It needs to help answer what the other party did, whether that conduct was negligent and whether it caused the injuries and losses being claimed.
What if the Driver Says the Bicycle Accident Was Your Fault?
Drivers and insurers sometimes argue that the cyclist contributed to the collision.
They may claim, for example, that the cyclist:
- Was riding too far into the roadway
- Failed to yield
- Was difficult to see
- Entered an intersection improperly
- Failed to signal
- Was otherwise partly responsible for the crash
Missouri follows pure comparative fault in negligence cases. That means fault can be allocated between the people involved, and an injured person’s share of fault can proportionally reduce an award of damages rather than necessarily preventing recovery altogether.
For example, if damages were assessed at $100,000 and a cyclist was found 20% at fault, the award would be reduced by 20% to $80,000.
An insurer alleging that you contributed to the accident does not establish that you did. The evidence and Missouri law still matter.
What Injuries Can a Bicycle Accident Cause?
A cyclist has little physical protection when struck by a motor vehicle or thrown onto the roadway. Serious bicycle accident injuries can include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Head injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Pelvic injuries
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Road rash
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
A fatal bicycle collision may also give rise to a wrongful death claim by eligible family members.
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What We’ve Learned From Handling Serious Injury Claims
The damage visible at the crash scene doesn’t always tell you how significantly an injury will affect someone’s life.
A cyclist may leave the hospital expecting recovery to take weeks and later find that additional treatment, rehabilitation or surgery is required. An injury can affect someone’s ability to work, drive, exercise, care for themselves or return to activities that were part of everyday life before the crash.
That’s why we look beyond the initial medical bills.
We consider the medical evidence, treatment, recovery, effect on work and independence, and what healthcare providers say about future needs when evaluating the losses associated with a serious injury.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Bicycle Accident?
If another party is legally responsible for a bicycle accident, recoverable losses may include:
- Past medical expenses
- Reasonably anticipated future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of normal life or diminished quality of life
- Other losses supported by the circumstances
There is no standard value for a St. Louis bicycle accident claim.
The value depends on factors such as the nature and severity of the injuries, medical treatment, recovery, effect on employment and everyday life, future needs, available insurance, liability and the strength of the evidence.
What Happens When Roach Law Handles a Bicycle Accident Claim?
1. We Start With the Crash
We listen to what happened, where the collision occurred, what you remember and what happened immediately afterward.
2. We Preserve and Investigate the Evidence
Depending on the case, this can include crash reports, photographs, video, witnesses, vehicle and bicycle damage, roadway evidence and other available records.
3. We Examine the Applicable Rules
Missouri has laws specifically addressing bicyclists’ roadway rights and duties, safe passing and designated bicycle lanes. We consider which laws may be relevant to the circumstances.
4. We Document Your Injuries
We review medical treatment and evidence showing how the injuries have affected your work and everyday life.
5. We Identify Responsible Parties and Insurance
We investigate who may be legally responsible and what insurance coverage may be available.
6. We Build and Pursue the Claim
Once the evidence and medical picture are sufficiently developed, we assess the losses supported by the case, deal with the insurer and discuss the options available if liability or compensation is disputed.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Missouri?
Missouri generally provides five years for an action involving injury to a person, which can apply to many bicycle accident personal injury lawsuits.
However, you should not assume that five years applies to every bicycle accident claim. Different deadlines or procedural requirements may apply depending on the circumstances and parties involved.
And the legal deadline isn’t the only reason to act sooner.
Evidence doesn’t wait.
Video can be overwritten. Vehicles and bicycles can be repaired or disposed of. The crash scene can change. Witnesses can become harder to locate.
Getting legal advice early can help identify the deadline that may apply and evidence that should be preserved.
Missouri’s five-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims
Frequently Asked Questions About Missouri Bicycle Accident Claims
Generally, bicyclists riding on Missouri streets and highways are granted the rights and are subject to the duties applicable to vehicle drivers, subject to bicycle-specific rules and provisions that cannot apply to bicycles.
Missouri’s statewide statute does not specify a fixed three-foot passing distance. It requires a motorist overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction to leave a safe distance and maintain clearance until safely past.
Yes, depending on the circumstances. Missouri law generally requires slower-moving bicyclists to ride as near to the right as is safe, but provides exceptions including left turns, hazardous conditions, lanes too narrow to safely share and one-way streets.
Not seeing a cyclist does not by itself determine who was responsible for a collision. The investigation may consider visibility, lighting, road conditions, vehicle movements, bicycle positioning, traffic controls and what each person was doing immediately before the crash.
Potentially. Under Missouri’s pure comparative-fault system, an injured person’s share of fault may reduce an award of damages proportionally rather than necessarily eliminating recovery.
Missouri’s Model Traffic Ordinance provides that when a driver makes an otherwise lawful maneuver requiring the vehicle to travel in or cross a designated bicycle lane, the driver must yield to a bicycle in that lane. The precise law applicable at the crash location and the facts of the collision still need to be considered.
There is no reliable average that determines the value of an individual claim. Liability, injury severity, medical treatment, lost income, future limitations, insurance coverage and the available evidence can all affect the value.
Roach Law handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. There is no upfront attorney’s fee, and you do not pay an attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
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Injured in a Bicycle Accident in St. Louis? Let’s Work Out What Happened.
A bicycle crash can leave you dealing with injuries while questions about the driver, insurance and responsibility are still unresolved.
You don’t have to work through those questions alone.
Roach Law can investigate the collision, assess the available evidence, explain the Missouri laws that may apply and help you understand your options.
Talk to a St. Louis bicycle accident lawyer today. Your initial consultation is free, and there is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.