--- description: Washington, DC personal injury lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. represent victims of bikeshare accidents across the Metro area. Call for a free case review. title: Washington DC Bikeshare Accident Lawyer | Bikeshare Injury Attorneys --- Washington DC Bikeshare Accident Lawyer | Bikeshare Injury Attorneys # Bikeshare Accidents Last Updated: December 3, 2024 Reading Time: 4 minutes Trusted Content Legally Reviewed by Allan Siegel Updated 2 years ago [Home](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) » [Washington DC Bicycle Accident Lawyer](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/) » Bikeshare Accidents What's On This Page [Case Results](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/case-results/) $3.5 Million Bicycle Crash $ 1.8 Millon Bicycle Crash $1.5 Million Bicycle Crash $1 Million Bicycle Crash [View All Practice Areas](https://chaikinandsherman.com/practice-areas/) [Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) They truly cared about me as a person. Tracy Koretsky Bicycle Accident Contact Us Today! "*" indicates required fields Name* First Last Name* Last Email** Phone*Are you a new client?*Are you a new client? *Yes, I'm a potential new client.No, I'm a current existing client.I'm neitherCase TypeCase TypeMotor Vehicle AccidentSlip & FallAssaultMedical MalpracticeAbuseWork InjuryOtherWere You at Fault?Were You At Fault?NoYesUnknownWhere Did The Incident Occur?Where Did The Incident Occur?Washington, D.C.VirginiaMarylandOtherDid The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?Did The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?YesNoShare Brief Description of the Incident* Three of the firm’s attorneys discuss bicycle accident litigation in Washington, DC — including dooring, bike lane violations, and how the District’s Vulnerable User Recovery Act allows cyclists to recover damages even when partially at fault. The firm has secured over $3.5 million for a cyclist who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a dooring incident. Video Transcript **Speakers:** Joseph Cammarata, Stephen Ollar, Allan Siegel **Allan Siegel:** Being in the District of Columbia, which is a very bicycle friendly city, we get a lot of bicycle crashes. A lot of clients who are involved in bicycle crashes reach out to us and we’ve been handling them for years. Whether or not it’s somebody driving in a bike lane and somebody makes a turn and infringes upon the bike lane, whether it’s somebody who gets “doored” by another vehicle, in other words, a driver stops and opens his door while the bicyclist is driving with the right of way. That actually is against the law in the District of Columbia. You’re required to look before you open your door or whether or not it’s just a case where a bicycle’s riding on the roadway and with the right of way and a vehicle makes a turn or rear ends them. We get a lot of them, and we’ve been handling them for many, many years and very successfully. **Stephen Ollar:** Really, when you look at the law in DC what we talk about is vulnerable riders. So it’s not just bicyclists, it’s also motorcyclists. It’s people on e-scooters, even pedestrian, all of them who are, anybody who’s not inside a four wheeled vehicle, falls under that kind of category of a vulnerable user. And so the law in that area is consistent across the board. The law now in the District Columbia, is that if you fall into that kind of category, you could be up to 50% at fault and still be able to get a recovery. You can’t be more than 50% at fault, but as long as you’re 50% or less, you’re still eligible to get a recovery. So we do a lot of those cases and providing representation for people over hurt in those categories. **Joseph Cammarata:** So it’s important to reach out to a lawyer that knows what they’re talking about that’s going to be aggressive and going to be able to establish that your fault was slight, if any, and that you have a full opportunity to receive compensation for the harms and losses that you suffered. # Washington, DC Bicycle Accident Attorney ## Advocating for the Rights of Injured Bicyclists in DC 1.5% of people killed and 2% of people injured in traffic accidents are bicyclists. It is estimated that one in 20 bicyclists are injured each year. Although some bike accidents are the fault of the cyclist, studies estimate that over 90% are caused by reckless motorists. Sharing the road is the law in Washington DC. When a car fails to yield the right-of-way to a bicycle, the driver can and should be held responsible for any injuries that occur. Unfortunately, bicycle accidents tend to be a bit more complex than the average [car accident](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/) case, simply because the right-of-way – and who was violating it – is so often in question. Insurance companies may refuse to compensate bicycle accident victims by trying to pin a portion (or all) of the blame on the cyclist. If you have been seriously [injured in a bicycle accident](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/) caused by a reckless driver, our firm is here to help. We can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that the facts of your case are accurately represented. We will fight tirelessly to help you obtain the fullest measure of compensation that you are entitled to. **To learn more about how we may be able to help, call our team at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today for a FREE consultation: (202) 659-8600.** ## Proud Partners of WABA & the Local Cycling Community Our firm is a proud Partner and Legal Resource Member of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), an advocacy organization that works to improve safety for bicyclists throughout the DC Metro area. Having spent over 45 years representing victims and families in DC, Maryland, and Virginia after their lives were upturned by preventable [bicycle accidents](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/), our firm fully supports efforts to make public roadways safer for everyone. Our partnership with [WABA](https://waba.org/) allows our team to support not only legislative advocacy efforts, safety awareness campaigns, and community outreach programs, but also provide our experienced legal counsel to riders and their families who have suffered harm due to the negligence of others in Washington, DC. As part of our support of WABA and the cycling community, we encourage local bicyclists to do their part in helping compile data that can help further advocacy efforts and make public roads safer. The Bicycle Crash Reporting Form offered by WABA is designed to gather information about bicycle crashes that can aid in protecting the rights of cyclists. Even if you were not injured in a crash, your information is still helpful. [Click here](https://org.salsalabs.com/o/451/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=1200&_ga=1.198013420.215807795.1475010799) to visit the Bicycle Crash Reporting Form. ### Roadway Risks & the Rights of Cyclists It is important to keep in mind that having the right of way does not mean you will not be struck by a vehicle. Being “right” can also mean being killed or permanently injured. **Drivers have a legal responsibility to look out for bicyclists and respect their right of way as if they were other motor vehicles**, but when they fail to do so a bicyclist is far more likely to be catastrophically injured or killed than another driver or passenger. Reasons why your right-of-way may not always protect you: - [Distracted drivers](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/distracted-driving/) - [Intoxicated drivers](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/drunk-driving-accidents/) - Defective vehicles (such as brake failure) - Poor visibility due to weather conditions, visual obstructions, or blind spots - Road conditions (hydroplaning due to standing water, etc.) - Faulty traffic lights - Improperly marked roads and bike lanes - Drivers who don’t know the laws in your city, county, or state - Road rage ### Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents About one-third of bicycle accidents involve a collision with a motor vehicle. Although not the majority of bicycle accidents, auto collisions with a bicycle are responsible for most severe injuries and deaths. According to the [Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute](https://www.bhsi.org/), 92% of bicyclist deaths in 2005 were caused by collisions with motor vehicles. Automobiles can be involved in bicycle accidents without ever striking the cyclist – if it runs a bicycle off the road, there can be minor to severe injuries, and in some cases, death. **Bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles usually happen for one of three reasons:** - Drivers do not watch for or see bicyclists - Drivers do not respect bicyclists’ right to share the road - Inexperienced or uneducated bicyclists Bicyclists can also be injured by defective bicycles, due to design flaws or manufacturing errors. Roadway defects in bike paths, bike lanes, and other roadways can cause a crash. In some cases, other bicyclists or even pedestrians may be responsible. In any situation where a preventable bicycle accident was caused by the negligence of another, injured victims may have the right to pursue financial compensation for their damages. The legal process of obtaining the fair amount of compensation you deserve can be difficult and hotly contested by insurance providers that want to minimize payouts. For these reasons, working with an experienced lawyer who knows how to hold at-fault parties and insurers liable for the harm they caused is key to protecting your rights. ### Bicycle Accident Injuries [Traumatic brain injury](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/brain-injuries/) (TBI) is the most common cause of death in bicycle accidents. About 50,000 children in the U.S. sustain bicycle-related TBI each year, with over 400 dying from their injuries. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, two-thirds of all bicycle-related deaths are caused by a traumatic brain injury. The actual number of bicycle-related TBI may be much higher because [brain injuries](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/brain-injuries/) are not always readily apparent, and injuries from cycling accidents often seem too minor for emergency room treatment. Other common bicycle accident injuries include: - Crush injuries - Broken bones and fractures - Neck injury - Back injury - Knee injury - Paralysis - Amputation - Facial injuries - Severe road rash and scarring ### Call (202) 659-8600 for Your Free Consultation If you or someone you care about has recently been injured in a bicycle accident that was not your fault, allow a Washington, DC personal injury lawyer from Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. to review your case and determine if you may be eligible to recover compensation. Call (202) 659-8600 for a FREE consultation. [Watch Our Video Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) Get free advice about the compensation you deserve. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf. Speak to a Specialist Visit Us in Person 1232 17th St NW Washington, DC 20036 The bicycle accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. represent injured cyclists across the Washington, D.C. metro area, including Virginia ([Arlington bike accident cases](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/arlington-va/), [Alexandria](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/alexandria/), and [Fairfax County bicycle injury claims](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/fairfax-va/)) and Maryland ([Silver Spring cyclist injury cases](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/silver-spring/)), and we also handle [Capital Bikeshare claims](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/washington-dc-capital-bikeshare-accident-attorney/) and [e-bike injury matters](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/bicycle-accidents/electric-bicycles/) throughout the District. Top 10 Mistakes Made After an Accident Review these common auto accident mistakes to protect your rights. READ OUR E-BOOK Meet Our Team Learn More About Us Ira Sherman Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New York With over four decades of courtroom experience, **Ira Sherman** is a powerhouse trial lawyer who has won justice for countless victims of serious injury, discrimination, and medical malpractice. Known for his relentless advocacy, compassion, and proven results, he’s the attorney clients trust when everything is on the line. Ira Sherman's Bio Joseph Cammarata Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia A dual board-certified civil trial attorney, **Joseph Cammarata** is nationally recognized for his fierce advocacy, landmark legal victories, and relentless pursuit of justice for victims of serious injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, and civil rights violations. With wins against powerful opponents—including a historic U.S. Supreme Court case securing equal access to justice—he’s the attorney clients trust when they need skill, strength, and results that matter. Joe Cammarata's Bio Allan M. Siegel​ Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Allan M. Siegel** is a board-certified trial attorney and partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., known for securing justice in serious personal injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases. Recognized as one of Washington’s *Top 100 Super Lawyers®* and a *Best Lawyer®* in America, he combines strategic precision, courtroom skill, and relentless advocacy to win full and fair compensation for his clients. Allan Siegel's Bio Stephen Ollar Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Stephen Ollar** is an award-winning trial attorney and U.S. Army veteran dedicated to holding negligent individuals and corporations accountable. Recognized as a *Super Lawyers Rising Star* from 2020–2025, he’s known for his tenacity, precision, and unwavering pursuit of justice in personal injury, auto accident, and medical malpractice cases. Stephen Ollar's Bio ## Related Articles Read More Blog Articles E-Bike Injuries How Is An E-Bike Different From a Bicycle? Washington, DC, E-Bike Accident Lawyer DC Bike Accident Attorneys Do Bicycles Have To Obey Traffic Laws In Maryland? Do Bicycles Have To Obey Traffic Laws In Virginia? Bicycle Safety Tips Silver Spring Bicycle Accident Lawyer Bicycle Accident Attorney Fairfax, VA Dangers Of Riding a Bicycle at Night Biking at Night Imagine you’re pedaling down a quiet, tree-lined street as the sun sets. 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