On This Page
Marasco & Nesselbush Represents Bicycle Accident Victims in Woonsocket
Bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries that require emergency treatment, extended rehabilitation, and time away from work.
Cyclists have little protection from the force of a collision with a motor vehicle, leaving them vulnerable to fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and other lasting physical conditions.
When a bicycle accident results from a negligent driver, dangerous roadway conditions, or a defective bicycle component, injured cyclists may have grounds to seek compensation under Rhode Island law.
Compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, bicycle damage, pain and suffering, and future treatment costs, while fatal accidents may give rise to wrongful death claims.
Disputes over right of way, driver negligence, insurance coverage, or the extent of the injuries can complicate the claims process, particularly when the injured person is still receiving medical treatment.
At Marasco & Nesselbush, our Woonsocket bicycle accident lawyers represent injured cyclists and families in personal injury claims involving serious injuries, disputed liability, and insurance disagreements.
Our attorneys assess the circumstances of a collision, identify potentially responsible parties, and pursue compensation through insurance negotiations or litigation when appropriate.
Marasco & Nesselbush: Representing Rhode Islanders Since 1999
Marasco & Nesselbush represents injured cyclists across Rhode Island, handling complex bicycle accident claims involving negligent drivers, serious injuries, and disputed liability.
Our attorneys investigate the circumstances of each collision, gather evidence of negligence, and assess the resulting injuries and financial losses.
When liability or compensation is disputed, we pursue claims through settlement negotiations, arbitration, or court proceedings when necessary.
With more than 350 years of combined legal experience, our law firm has recovered over $500 million for clients across multiple practice areas.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, contact Marasco & Nesselbush for a free consultation.
Our attorneys can evaluate your claim, identify potential sources of compensation, and explain your legal options under Rhode Island law.
We handle qualifying bicycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Why Bicycle Accident Victims in Woonsocket Choose Marasco & Nesselbush
Bicycle accident claims may involve disputed driver negligence, serious injuries, and insurance coverage questions that affect the compensation available to an injured cyclist.
When a collision causes permanent injuries or an inability to return to work, evaluating the claim may also require medical and financial assessments of future losses.
Since 1999, Marasco & Nesselbush has represented injured Rhode Islanders in personal injury and wrongful death cases, recovering more than $500 million for clients across the firm’s practice areas.
Our attorneys bring more than 350 years of combined legal experience to claims involving serious injuries, disputed liability, and substantial financial losses.
Injured cyclists and their families choose Marasco & Nesselbush for several reasons:
- Experience with serious injury and pedestrian collision claims: Our attorneys have represented people injured while walking and traveling on Rhode Island roads, including clients who sustained traumatic brain injuries and permanent disabilities.
- Documented experience challenging insurance disputes: In a case involving a pedestrian who suffered a traumatic brain injury, our attorneys challenged disputed insurance policy language in Rhode Island Superior Court after the insurer initially offered $25,000. A favorable ruling was followed by a seven-figure resolution.
- Resources for complex injury claims: Our firm has experience working with medical specialists and other experts to evaluate the causes of serious injuries, future treatment needs, and the financial consequences of permanent impairments.
- Litigation and arbitration experience: Our published results include substantial settlements and arbitration recoveries in personal injury cases involving disputed liability and serious motor vehicle injuries.
- Local representation and bilingual support: Our office at 603 Park Avenue in Woonsocket provides access to attorneys representing injured Rhode Islanders, with English- and Spanish-language assistance available.
- Free consultations and contingency-fee representation: Our law firm offers free consultations and handles qualifying bicycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning attorney fees are not owed unless compensation is recovered.
Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys Get Results
Marasco & Nesselbush has obtained substantial recoveries in cases involving pedestrians struck by vehicles, traumatic brain injuries, and fatal motor vehicle collisions.
Although these results did not arise from bicycle accidents, they demonstrate the firm’s experience representing people who suffered serious injuries in roadway collisions.
Examples of recoveries obtained for injured clients and families include:
- $4.5 Million Settlement: Secured for a client who sustained a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident.
- $2.5 Million Settlement: Obtained for the estate of a woman following a fatal pedestrian accident.
- $1.4 Million Arbitration Award: Recovered for a family whose son died from a brain injury sustained in a high-speed motor vehicle accident.
- $1.025 Million Recovered: Obtained for a pedestrian who sustained a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a vehicle, following litigation over disputed insurance coverage.
These outcomes involved different circumstances and do not predict the value or result of an individual bicycle accident claim.
The compensation available depends on the injuries, liability evidence, insurance coverage, and other circumstances specific to each case.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Woonsocket
Bicycle accidents in Woonsocket often occur when motorists turn across the path of a cyclist, fail to yield at intersections, or pass without leaving sufficient clearance.
These situations often arise when drivers misjudge the speed or distance of an approaching bicycle or fail to notice a cyclist before making a turn.
Common causes of bicycle accidents on Rhode Island roads include:
- Right-hook turns: A motorist passes a cyclist and turns right across the path of the bicycle before allowing sufficient space for the rider to continue safely.
- Left-cross turns: An oncoming driver turns left without yielding to a cyclist traveling straight through an intersection.
- Dooring accidents: A driver or passenger opens a car door into approaching bicycle traffic, causing the cyclist to strike the door or fall while attempting to avoid contact.
- Unsafe passing: A motorist passes too closely, risking contact with the bicycle or forcing the cyclist toward the curb and nearby roadway hazards.
- Driver inattention: Phone use, impairment, or failure to check for cyclists can leave a motorist unaware of bicycle traffic before turning or changing lanes.
Potholes, unmarked construction hazards, or defective brakes and wheels can also cause bicycle accidents by making cyclists lose control and fall, even without contact with another vehicle.
In such cases, responsibility may lie with local governments or the contractor responsible for the unsafe road conditions, or the bicycle manufacturer if a defective part caused the accident.
Injured and not sure what your case is worth? Find out for free.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Woonsocket
Bicycle accident injuries commonly include fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and severe abrasions, often occurring together after a single collision.
While some injuries are immediately apparent, symptoms of head trauma or internal injuries may develop hours or days after the accident, even if the cyclist initially feels well.
Severe injuries can require emergency surgery, extended rehabilitation, or continuing medical treatment before doctors can determine whether permanent limitations will remain.
Common bicycle accident injuries sustained by cyclists and bicycle passengers include:
- Broken bones: Fractures of the wrists, arms, collarbones, legs, and pelvis may require surgery, immobilization, or several months of rehabilitation.
- Traumatic brain injuries: Concussions and more severe brain injuries can affect memory, concentration, balance, and other cognitive functions.
- Spinal and neck injuries: Damage to the vertebrae, discs, nerves, or spinal cord may cause persistent pain, restricted movement, loss of sensation, or paralysis.
- Road rash and scarring: Sliding across pavement can cause deep abrasions, skin damage, infection, and permanent scarring.
- Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, muscle strains, and torn ligaments can cause swelling, pain, and reduced movement, sometimes requiring physical therapy.
- Internal injuries: Blunt force to the chest or abdomen can damage organs or cause internal bleeding without immediate visible symptoms.
- Psychological injuries: A serious collision may cause anxiety, disturbed sleep, or fear of cycling that interferes with daily activities.
Cyclists may also suffer facial fractures, dental injuries, and nerve damage. Severe collisions can result in catastrophic injuries that require long-term medical care and rehabilitation.
Who May Be Responsible for a Woonsocket Bicycle Crash?
A bicycle collision may involve several parties whose negligence contributed to the accident, making it necessary to examine more than the actions of the driver involved.
Although a negligent driver may be primarily at fault, liability can also extend to a passenger who opened a car door, an employer whose employee caused the crash, or a bicycle manufacturer whose defective product contributed to the injuries.
Parties that may be responsible for a Woonsocket bicycle accident include:
- Negligent drivers: Careless drivers may face liability for speeding, distraction, unsafe turns, failure to yield, or dangerous passing maneuvers that cause a collision.
- Vehicle passengers: A passenger who opens a car door into approaching bicycle traffic may be responsible when that action causes a cyclist to strike the door or fall.
- Employers and public bodies: An employer may be liable for an employee driving within the scope of employment, while public entities and road contractors may face claims involving dangerous roadway conditions.
- Bicycle manufacturers: A defective brake, frame, fork, or tire may support a product liability claim when the defect caused or worsened the injuries.
Identifying all potentially liable parties helps establish the full scope of responsibility for the collision and determine which insurance policies may cover the resulting injuries.
Rhode Island Bicycle Laws That May Affect Your Claim
Rhode Island law generally grants cyclists the same traffic rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers, with additional rules governing bicycle operation, roadway position, equipment, and safety.
These laws may help establish whether a driver or cyclist violated a traffic requirement before an accident.
Important Rhode Island bicycle laws include:
- Safe passing: Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-15-18, drivers passing cyclists generally must leave sufficient clearance to avoid contact if the cyclist falls toward the vehicle, subject to the statute’s specified exceptions.
- Bicycle lanes: Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-15-17, motorists generally cannot drive in designated bicycle lanes except when making permitted turns, entering or leaving the roadway, or performing certain official duties. Drivers crossing a bicycle lane must yield to cyclists in the lane under § 31-17-9.
- Roadway position: Cyclists generally must ride as near the right side of the roadway as practicable while exercising due care, unless official traffic signs or pavement markings direct otherwise, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19-6.
- Bicycle brakes: Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19-10, bicycles generally must have brakes capable of stopping within 25 feet when traveling at 10 mph on dry, level pavement, with an exception for bicycles specially designed for off-road use.
- Lights and reflectors: Rhode Island requires specified bicycle reflectors and reflective equipment, along with a white front light when riding at night, under § 31-19-10.
- Pure comparative negligence: Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4, cyclists may recover compensation even when partially responsible for an accident, with damages reduced according to their assigned percentage of fault.
- Three-year filing deadline: Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years after the claim accrues, although exceptions and shorter notice requirements may apply in certain circumstances.
Rhode Island Bicycle Helmet Requirements
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19-2.1, bicycle operators and passengers aged 15 or younger must wear approved helmets in the public areas covered by the statute.
A separate law, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19.7-3, requires electric bicycle operators and passengers under 21 to wear approved helmets.
Both statutes provide that failure to wear a helmet cannot be treated as comparative negligence or admitted as evidence in a civil trial.
Bicycle Accidents on Sidewalks and Crosswalks
Rhode Island generally permits human-powered bicycles to operate on sidewalks and crosswalks unless prohibited by official traffic signs.
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19-12, cyclists using sidewalks and crosswalks have the rights and duties applicable to pedestrians under the same circumstances.
These provisions may be relevant when a collision occurs at an intersection, driveway, or crossing where the motorist and cyclist dispute who had the right of way.
Damages You Can Recover After a Woonsocket Bicycle Accident
Bicyclists injured through the negligence of another party may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and the lasting effects of the injuries.
Rhode Island personal injury law allows economic damages for financial losses and non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and changes to daily life.
Compensation available after a bicycle accident may include:
- Medical expenses and future care: Emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and reasonably anticipated continuing care.
- Lost wages and earning capacity: Income missed during recovery and future earnings affected by permanent physical or cognitive limitations.
- Bicycle and equipment damage: Repair or replacement costs for the bicycle, helmet, lights, clothing, and other damaged equipment.
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain, scarring, permanent impairment, and restrictions on ordinary activities.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Activities such as cycling, exercise, and hobbies that the injuries prevent or limit, particularly for an avid cyclist.
Medical records, employment documents, repair estimates, and specialist opinions can help establish these losses. A fatal collision may also support a wrongful death claim under Rhode Island law.
Insurance Coverage After a Woonsocket Bicycle Accident
The insurance available after a bicycle accident depends on who caused the collision, the insurance policies involved, and whether the injured cyclist qualifies for coverage under those policies.
When a negligent motorist causes a bicycle accident, the driver’s automobile liability insurance may provide compensation for the resulting injuries and losses.
Rhode Island generally requires automobile liability insurance of at least $25,000 per injured person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, although individual policies may provide higher limits.
Insurance coverage that may apply after a bicycle accident includes:
- The responsible driver’s liability insurance: A motorist’s liability policy may provide compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other qualifying damages, subject to the available coverage limits.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: An applicable automobile insurance policy may provide coverage when the responsible driver is uninsured or cannot be identified following a qualifying hit-and-run accident.
- Underinsured motorist coverage: When the responsible driver’s insurance is insufficient to cover the established losses, an applicable underinsured motorist policy may provide additional compensation.
- Medical payments coverage: Some automobile policies include optional medical payments coverage that may pay eligible medical expenses regardless of fault, depending on who qualifies as an insured.
An injured cyclist may qualify for uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits through their own automobile policy or, in some circumstances, a policy held by a household family member.
Coverage is not automatic, and the available benefits depend on the policy language, the circumstances of the accident, and Rhode Island insurance law.
Identifying applicable insurance early can be particularly important when a cyclist has sustained serious injuries and the responsible driver’s liability limits are insufficient to cover the losses.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident in Woonsocket
Bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries that leave cyclists unconscious, hospitalized, or physically unable to document what happened.
Medical treatment and immediate safety take priority over collecting evidence or communicating with insurance companies.
When an injured cyclist cannot handle these matters personally, a family member or another trusted individual may be able to assist with certain steps, depending on the circumstances.
Important steps following a bicycle accident include:
- Call 911: Report the collision and request emergency assistance. Provide responding officers with accurate details about the location, vehicles, drivers, and known injuries.
- Seek medical attention: Obtain a medical evaluation, describe all symptoms accurately, and follow the recommended treatment plan, even if the injuries initially appear minor.
- Document the scene and witnesses: Photograph the bicycle, vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic controls, and visible injuries. Collect contact details from the driver and witnesses when possible.
- Preserve the bicycle and equipment: Keep the damaged bicycle, helmet, lights, clothing, and available cycling application data without repairing or discarding them before they can be examined.
- Obtain the police report: Request a copy of the official crash report when available and review it for factual inaccuracies or missing information.
- Review insurance communications: Report the accident to any applicable insurer as required by the policy. Consider legal advice before giving a recorded statement to the opposing insurer or signing a settlement release.
- Contact a bicycle accident lawyer: An attorney can investigate disputed fault, request preservation of surveillance footage, review available insurance coverage, and assess settlement offers before a claim is resolved.
An injured cyclist who could not photograph the scene or collect witness information may still have a valid claim, although surveillance footage and other records can become unavailable over time.
Talk to a lawyer and get a free case evaluation today.
Contact Our Woonsocket Bicycle Accident Attorneys
A serious bicycle accident can leave an injured cyclist facing extensive medical treatment, lost income, and uncertainty about the long-term effects of their injuries.
Disputes over driver negligence, insurance coverage, or the extent of the injuries can make pursuing compensation more difficult.
Since 1999, Marasco & Nesselbush has represented injured Rhode Islanders in personal injury and wrongful death cases, including claims arising from motor vehicle collisions and serious roadway injuries.
Our attorneys evaluate the circumstances of bicycle accidents, the available insurance coverage, and the medical and financial losses involved in pursuing compensation under Rhode Island law.
With an office at 603 Park Avenue in Woonsocket and English- and Spanish-language assistance available, our firm provides local access to legal representation for injured cyclists and their families.
If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle accident, contact Marasco & Nesselbush to discuss your circumstances and legal options during a free consultation.
We handle qualifying bicycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney fees are owed unless compensation is recovered.
