Bicycle Hit and Run Accident: Minnesota Law

Our attorneys won a $2,469,339 verdict in a
MN bicycle accident wrongful death case.

The driver of any motor vehicle (car, semi-trailer truck, van, motorcycle) must immediately stop if the driver is involved in an accident with a bicycle resulting in immediately demonstrable bodily injury to or death of the bicyclist (Minnesota Stat. 169.09, Subd. 1).

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Under the law, the driver must:

Stop at the scene of the accident, or as close to the scene as possible but shall then return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident, until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of this section as to the giving of information. The stop must be made without unnecessarily obstructing traffic. The driver shall render reasonable assistance to any individual injured in the accident.

Violations of traffic laws are criminal offences and can lead to a finding of negligence or gross negligence in a civil action (a lawsuit seeking compensation for the victim and his or her family). In the case of a hit and run accident, this would mean that there may be grounds for punitive damages, which can be significant and are meant to punish very bad behavior.

Liability if Hit and Run Driver is Not the Owner of Vehicle

If the driver of a vehicle that injured or killed someone riding a bicycle does not own the vehicle, the driver is generally deemed the agent of the owner (Minn. Stat. 169.09, Subd. 5a). This means that the owner’s insurance company will be responsible for paying compensation to the victim. The facts of the case need to be reviewed and evidence needs to be gathered as to consent.

Here are a couple of examples:

Bicycle-Semi Truck Accident. A semi driver hits a bicyclist and flees. The driver is not an employee of the owner of the truck. The owner of the truck may still be held liable (be legally responsible to pay medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.) because, under the law, the driver is the agent of the owner.
Bicycle-Car Accident: Cousin Bob borrows your car with your knowledge and consent. Cousin Bob hits a bicyclist and flees. As the owner of the car, your insurance company will have to pay medical expenses and other damages to the bicyclist.

Bicycle Safety

One of our clients has designed a bumper sticker in memory of his wife, who was killed when she was hit by a semi-trailer-truck while riding her bicycle. According to the driver, he didn't see her. Read our tribute to Julie Casey. For information on obtaining a LOOK bumper sticker, please email Jon Jon Sandberg at jon@outdoordesignllc.com.

Bicyclists are obviously vulnerable to serious injury. For injury information, please see the following:

Bicycle Accident Spinal Injury Lawyer. Spinal injuries can cause paralysis, including quadriplegia (cervical spinal injury) and paraplegia.
Bicycle Accident Head Injury TBI Lawyer. Head injuries can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a number of neurological problems. In some of our cases, our client was not the same person after the accident. In those cases, family members also had claims against responsible parties.
Bicycle Accident Death Compensation in Minnesota: Bicycle accident death cases in Minnesota are governed by Minnesota Statutes, sec. 573.02 and case law interpreting the statute and Minnesota common law.

The following bicycle hit and run accident information is provided by Pritzker Olsen Attorneys. Fred Pritzker is an avid cyclist, former racer and nationally-recognized lawyer. He has appeared on CBS News, Fox News, KARE-TV, KSTP-TV and WCCO-TV. He has been named a "Super Lawyer" and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. For a free consultation with a Minnesota bicycle accident lawyer, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the free consultation form. We make hospital calls.

Minnesota Cities: Twin Cities, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Moorhead, Mankato, Brainerd, Bloomington, Eagan, Eden Prarie, Apple Valley, Maple Grove, Edina, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Stillwater, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Austin, Worthington, Woodbury, Maplewood, Golden Valley, Shoreview, Blaine, Anoka, South St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Roseville, St. Cloud, Arden Hills, Brooklyn Park, Forest Lake.

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Bike Accident Information

$6,000,000 Recovery for Woman Injured in An Accident with a Drunk Driver

Attorney Fred Pritzker won $6,000,000 for a client who lost a limb when she was hit by a drunk driver. If you have been in an accident with a drunk driver, you may have a cliam against a bar or other place that sells alcohol. This is called dram shop liability.

$2,469,339 for Family of Bicyclist Killed by Semi-Trailer Truck in Bike Lane

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman won a $2,469,339 verdict for the family of a woman who was killed while riding her bicycle in a bike lane in Minneapolis, MN. After an 8-day trial, the jury found the tractor-trailer driver at fault for the accident.

Attorney Fred Pritzker is a Former Racer

Attorney Fred Pritzker, is an avid cyclist, former racer and triathlete. He represents injured bicyclists in cases throughout the United States and has collected millions of dollars on behalf of people injured or killed while bicycling. Read more about personal injury lawyer and bicyclist Fred Pritzker.

Semi-Truck Crash Settlement

Pritzker Olsen attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman recently won a $2,560,000 settlement in a semi-truck crash case. Read Minnesota semi truck accident lawyer information.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.

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