Hurt at an Intersection on Your Bike? Know Who’s at Fault
Intersections are the most dangerous places for cyclists on the road. Turning vehicles, distracted drivers, and blind spots create a perfect storm for collisions. And when a car meets a bike, the cyclist almost always loses.
If you’ve been hit while riding through an intersection, figuring out who’s responsible for your injuries is the first step toward getting the compensation you deserve.
Why Intersections are so Dangerous for Cyclists
Drivers are required to yield to cyclists in many intersection scenarios, but that doesn’t mean they do. Left-turning vehicles are one of the most common causes of bike-car collisions—a driver misjudges a cyclist’s speed, or simply doesn’t look for one at all, and turns directly into their path. Right hooks, where a vehicle turns right across a cyclist’s lane without checking for riders, are just as common and just as devastating. Both scenarios happen fast, often leaving the cyclist with no time to react.
Determining Fault
Ohio law treats bicycles as vehicles entitled to the same road rights as cars, which means drivers owe cyclists the same duty of care they owe other motorists. When a driver fails to yield, misjudges a cyclist’s position, or simply isn’t paying attention, that failure can establish negligence. Fault often comes down to:
- Who had the right-of-way at the time of the collision
- Whether traffic signals or signs were obeyed
- Whether the driver was distracted, speeding, or turning improperly
- Witness statements and available traffic camera or dashcam footage
Insurance Companies Will Try to Shift the Blame
It’s common for insurers to argue the cyclist was riding unpredictably, ignored a signal, or was otherwise at fault—anything to avoid paying out a claim.
These arguments often rely on assumptions rather than facts, and cyclists are an easy target because there’s a persistent (and false) bias that bikes don’t belong on the road the same way cars do. Proving what happened at the intersection means countering that bias with hard evidence: the physical evidence, the traffic patterns, and the law itself.
5 Intersection Safety Tips for Cyclists
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing, especially at turn lanes
- Avoid riding in a driver’s blind spot as you approach an intersection
- Use hand signals early to make your intentions clear
- Wear bright or reflective clothing to increase visibility
- Never assume a driver sees you, even if you have the right-of-way
Cyclists Have Rights at Intersections
Bike accidents at intersections leave riders with serious injuries and mounting medical bills, while insurance companies look for any excuse to deny your claim. You need someone who will fight to prove fault and hold the responsible driver accountable.
If you’ve been injured in an intersection bike accident, the Law Offices of Tim Misny can help. When a driver’s failure to yield leaves you injured, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 944-4373 so I can evaluate your case right away.
