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Bicycle collisions can lead to significant injuries, and recovering from one often involves complicated insurance questions. Under Louisiana law, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the road as drivers, yet resolving a claim is not always as straightforward as the initial police report suggests.
We understand the frustration of trying to heal while dealing with paperwork and dispute over what happened on the road.
At Gauthier Amedee Injury Lawyers, attorney Andre P. Gauthier has represented personal injury clients throughout Louisiana since 1992. With decades of legal practice behind him, he draws on that firsthand experience to negotiate with insurers and fight for injured riders.
If you were hurt in a crash, you do not have to manage the process alone. Contact our team to discuss your situation, and we will walk you through your legal options.
Every rider has a different story to tell. For some, it was a routine commute down a familiar stretch of road. For others, a weekend ride that ended abruptly in an emergency room. How a collision happens matters, not just for your physical recovery, but because it determines who might be held accountable under the law.
Our team steps in to help cyclists through a variety of circumstances, including:
Pinpointing exactly how and why the crash occurred is often the first real hurdle in your recovery, and establishing those facts early is what protects your right to fair compensation.
Why does it matter who gets blamed first? Because under La. Rev. Stat. § 32:194, a person riding a bicycle on a Louisiana highway gets the same rights and carries the same duties as the driver of a car. That means a driver who turns without looking or passes too closely can be held to the same standard as if they had hit another vehicle.
A bicycle crash on a corridor like U.S. Highway 190 or near Interstate 12 can leave a rider with broken bones, road rash, or a head injury. Medical bills tend to climb fast once surgery or physical therapy gets involved.
Insurance adjusters often lean on the idea that a cyclist “should have seen it coming.” That argument overlooks the driver’s own duty to watch for riders.
Louisiana gives injured riders a limited window to act. Under La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1, most people hurt in a Louisiana crash have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Missing that window usually ends the right to recover anything at all.
Louisiana also allows a court to reduce an injured rider’s compensation by whatever percentage of fault the rider is found to share. Under a change to La. Civ. Code art. 2323 that took effect on January 1, 2026, a rider found 51 percent or more at fault can be barred from recovering at all. The new rule applies to crashes that happen on or after that date. That makes how fault gets divided even more important.
A driver’s insurer may try to pin some of the blame on the cyclist to lower a payout. A rider who was mostly or entirely free of fault should not accept a reduced number just because an adjuster suggested it.
When you sit down with our team, you work directly with attorneys who know these investigations inside and out. Lee “Jody” Amedee III has practiced law in Louisiana since 1996 and previously chaired the Governor’s Task Force on DWI and Vehicular Homicide.
Because impaired or distracted driving plays a role in so many bicycle collisions, his background helps us spot critical details that standard crash reports might overlook. He has also taught on the faculty of the Trial Lawyers College since 2015.
Alongside him, Andre P. Gauthier has represented injured plaintiffs for decades, earning consistent recognition in The Best Lawyers in America since 2022. Both attorneys are selected to Super Lawyers for 2026, bringing seasoned, trial-tested perspective to every rider’s claim.
A hit-and-run still leaves you with options. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply, and a consultation can walk through how that works for your situation.
Not generally. Louisiana only requires a bicycle helmet for riders younger than 12, so an adult rider without one does not automatically lose the right to recover damages.
Civil lawsuits arising from a crash in Livingston Parish are typically filed with the 21st Judicial District Court, which sits at the Livingston Parish Courthouse on Government Boulevard.
A missing police report makes a claim harder, not impossible. Witness statements, medical records, and photos of the scene can all help fill that gap.
It can. A commercial vehicle often carries higher insurance limits than a personal auto policy, which can change how the claim gets handled from the start.
Recovering from a bicycle collision often means dealing with mounting medical bills and missed paychecks while an insurance company pushes to settle before you know the full scope of your injuries. You do not have to navigate that pressure on your own.
Talking through your options costs nothing upfront. Reach out today for a free consultation, and let us help you figure out the best way forward.
As your dedicated and trusted Gonzales, LA, personal injury law firm, part of our responsibilities are defending your rights to
fair compensation against the aggressive, strong-arm tactics of insurance companies. We have spent decades fighting against
these tactics. We know how to stand up to them, that’s why we’re your Go2Laywers. The next time insurance adjusters come
calling, don’t talk to them. Direct them to your attorneys at Gauthier Amedee Injury Lawyers.
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