Richmond Cycling Accident Attorney
Across the country, cycling is a common form of transportation, especially in more urban areas, and it’s also an extremely popular sport. Whether you cycle to get to work or to stay in shape, you’re likely riding on the streets and sharing them with cars. Unfortunately, collisions between cyclists and cars have become increasingly common and often result in catastrophic injuries or death. Infrastructure to support cycling in the United States—like bike lanes or bike paths—is lackluster, and drivers frequently act with aggression towards cyclists on the roads. As a passionate cyclist himself, Gianni Puglielli of Puglielli Injury law understands the risks of cycling and how a collision with a car can be devastating. If you’ve been hit and injured on your bike by an irresponsible driver, speak to a lawyer who can truly empathize with your experience.
Why hire a Richmond cycling accident lawyer?
Cycling accidents with cars can happen unexpectedly, and if you’ve been hit, you’ve probably sustained significant injuries. Given the general attitude towards cyclists in the United States, you may find the driver and their insurance company trying to unfairly blame you for what happened. However, in Virginia, cyclists are entitled to use the roads with cars, so all parties must follow the same general rules of the road. The insurance company may be trying to convince you that the accident is your fault—don’t let them gaslight you or push you around. If you’ve been seriously injured on a bike at no fault of your own, you deserve compensation, and a lawyer would help ensure you receive what you’re entitled to.
As an experienced cycling accident lawyer and cyclist, Gianni Puglielli understands the fear and anxiety that can be caused by a cycling accident on the road. He also understands how disappointing and frustrating a serious injury can be if cycling is a passion of yours, if you’re a competitive rider, or if you need to cycle to keep your job.
If you’ve been hurt in a cycling accident, you can give Gianni a call to discuss your potential case. You can also browse some helpful, in-depth FAQs and information below. Please see our general FAQs page too.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are cyclists required to ride on the roads?
Generally, in Virginia, cyclists are allowed to ride on both roads and sidewalks; however, a local ordinance (that is, a law passed by a city, town, or county) may prohibit riding a bike on the sidewalk in that jurisdiction. You should also pay attention to whether there is a sign that prohibits riding in that particular area—for example, some downtown areas may have a “no bikes” sign, and many highways don’t permit bikes either.
How can I better ensure my safety while riding a bike?
Riding a bike can be dangerous, especially when you’re around cars, so it’s important to take make sure you maximize your safety on the bike.
Always Wear a Helmet. Since we first learned how to ride bikes as kids, we’ve been taught to always wear a helmet. You should do this even as an adult because it significantly reduces the chances of sustaining a traumatic brain injury, facial injuries, and death. A Norwegian study published in 2024 found that cyclists who wear a helmet are 62% less likely to sustain a head injury compared to those who don’t.
Increase Your Visibility. Unlike cars, bicycles typically don’t come equipped with taillights or headlights that automatically turn on, and a cyclist has a much smaller profile than a car on the road too. And, given the prevalence of distracted drivers, you must ensure you’ve made yourself visible to all motor vehicles. You can increase your visibility by purchasing a headlight and taillight for your bike, and also by wearing a reflective vest or other reflective clothing. Something that’s available today is a “taillight radar,” which is a light that attaches to your bike and alerts you when cars are approaching you from behind.
Always Act Predictably. Cyclists are entitled to share the roads with cars—this means that cyclists must generally follow the same traffic rules and laws as cars. Cyclists who don’t adhere to these rules and act unpredictably are more likely to be involved in an accident with a car. So, when cycling, come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs, obey yield signs, use proper turning lanes (and signal your turns), always ride in the same direction as traffic, etc.
Use Available Bike Lanes. If there is a designated bike lane available, you should use it and only use the road if it becomes appropriate (such as to make a turn).
Ride in Groups. Cyclists who ride with at least one other person are less likely to be struck by a motor vehicle because their visibility is greater and they take up more space, making a driver less likely to pass them. Invite friends or family members to join you on your next ride, or if you ride your bike to work, find out if any coworkers can ride along the same route as you.
How common are bicycling accidents and injuries?
In the United States, injuries from cycling accidents with cars have become increasingly frequent. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation published data about 2022 cycling incidents. The DOT found the following:
1,105 cyclist fatalities occurred, which accounted for 2.6% of all traffic fatalities
46,195 cyclists were injured, an 11% increase from 2021
37% of all cyclist crash fatalities involved alcohol—consumed by either the driver or the cyclist. However, about 24% of those cyclists had consumed alcohol.
Over half of all cyclist fatalities occurred at night, dusk, or dawn
What happens if I’m partially at fault?
Like with all personal injury cases, including cycling accidents and car accidents, Virginia has a rule of “contributory negligence,” which means that if you’re partially at fault, even slightly, for causing the accident or your injuries, then you can’t recover any money. Whether you’re at fault may be a complex question and would benefit from the expertise of a cycling accident lawyer, but because cyclists on the road generally must follow the same rules as cars, the analysis looks similar to a car accident injury claim.
Can I still recover if I wasn’t wearing a helmet when the accident happened?
Virginia law doesn’t require adults to wear helmets while riding a bike, so if you weren’t wearing one but injured your head in the accident, that may not necessarily mean that you were contributorily negligent. However, it may be relevant evidence in the case.
