Bicycle accidents in Montgomery and across the River Region happen for a range of reasons -- 

most of which come down to driver negligence and inattention. The most common causes of 

bicycle accidents that result in personal injury claims in Alabama include: 

● Distracted driving -- drivers texting, using navigation systems, or otherwise failing to 

watch the road strike cyclists who are fully visible in the travel lane or bicycle lane 

● Failure to yield at intersections -- drivers turning left across oncoming bicycle traffic or 

failing to yield to cyclists with the right of way at controlled intersections 

● Dooring incidents -- vehicle occupants opening car doors into the path of passing 

cyclists without checking for approaching bike traffic, causing the cyclist to collide with 

the open door at speed 

● Following too closely and rear-end collisions -- drivers following cyclists at unsafe 

distances and striking them from behind when the cyclist slows or stops 

● Speeding and reckless driving -- excessive vehicle speed reduces driver reaction time 

and dramatically increases collision force and injury severity in bicycle accidents 

● Failure to share the road -- drivers who deliberately or negligently crowd cyclists off the 

roadway, force cyclists onto the shoulder, or pass at unsafe proximity 

● Impaired driving -- alcohol and drug-impaired drivers who are responsible for a 

disproportionate share of serious bicycle accident fatalities in Alabama 

● Poor road conditions and hazards -- potholes, unmarked road defects, missing or 

defective bicycle lane infrastructure, and inadequate signage that contribute to bicycle 

accidents involving third party liability beyond the driver 

The physical consequences of a bicycle accident with a motor vehicle are frequently severe and 

long-lasting. Attorney Matt Matthews has represented clients with the full spectrum of bicycle 

accident injuries, including: 

● Traumatic brain injury -- from direct head impact with the vehicle, road surface, or 

surrounding environment, ranging from concussion to severe TBI with permanent 

cognitive impairment, even when a helmet was worn 

● Spinal cord injury -- including partial and complete spinal cord damage resulting in 

temporary or permanent paralysis, nerve damage, and chronic pain 

● Broken and fractured bones -- arms, wrists, collar bones, legs, hips, ribs, and facial 

bones are among the most common fracture sites in bicycle collisions with motor 

vehicles 

● Road rash and degloving injuries -- severe abrasion injuries from contact with the 

road surface that penetrate through skin layers, require surgical debridement and skin 

grafting, and leave permanent scarring 

● Internal organ injuries -- blunt force trauma in bicycle collisions causes internal 

bleeding and organ damage that may not be immediately apparent and can become 

life-threatening without prompt medical intervention 

● Joint dislocations and ligament damage -- shoulder, knee, and hip dislocations and 

ligament tears that require surgery and extended rehabilitation 

● Facial and dental injuries -- facial fractures, dental trauma, and eye injuries from 

impact with the vehicle or road surface 

● Psychological injury -- post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression following 

a traumatic bicycle accident are legitimate and compensable components of a personal 

injury claim 

Alabama law entitles bicycle accident victims injured through driver negligence to pursue 

compensation for the full range of losses caused by the accident. Attorney Matt Matthews 

evaluates every available damages category in each bicycle accident case he handles, 

including: 

● Medical expenses -- all past, current, and future medical treatment costs associated 

with the accident injuries, including emergency care, hospitalisation, surgery, 

rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, and assistive devices 

● Lost wages and income -- compensation for the income lost during the recovery period 

and, where injuries cause long-term or permanent work limitation, for future earning 

capacity reduction 

● Pain and suffering -- compensation for the physical pain, discomfort, and suffering 

caused by the accident injuries, both at the time of the accident and throughout the 

recovery period 

● Emotional distress and psychological injury -- compensation for the documented 

psychological impact of the accident, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression 

● Loss of enjoyment of life -- compensation for the ways the accident injuries have 

limited your ability to engage in the activities, hobbies, and relationships that defined 

your life before the accident 

● Property damage -- reimbursement for the cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle, 

helmet, cycling equipment, and any other personal property damaged in the accident 

● Future medical costs -- where injuries require ongoing treatment, future medical cost 

projection is a critical component of ensuring the settlement or verdict reflects the full 

lifetime cost of the injury

Bicycle accident victims in Alabama face a specific set of obstacles when pursuing personal 

injury claims that Attorney Matt Matthews is experienced in addressing: 

● Insurance companies disputing cyclist fault -- Alabama follows a contributory 

negligence rule, meaning that if a cyclist is found to have contributed to the accident in 

any way, the claim can be barred entirely. Experienced representation is essential to 

countering false or exaggerated fault allegations against the injured cyclist 

● Disputed injury severity -- insurance adjusters routinely challenge the seriousness of 

bicycle accident injuries, particularly where symptoms develop or worsen after the initial 

emergency. Attorney Matthews documents injury progression and works with medical 

professionals to establish the full extent of your damages 

● Inadequate insurance coverage -- where the at-fault driver carries insufficient liability 

insurance to cover the full extent of the cyclist's damages, Attorney Matthews 

investigates all available coverage sources including uninsured and underinsured 

motorist coverage under the cyclist's own policy 

● Evidence preservation -- accident scene evidence, vehicle damage, road conditions, 

and witness accounts deteriorate rapidly. Prompt legal representation allows the firm to 

investigate and preserve evidence before it is lost 

● Early settlement pressure -- insurance companies frequently make early settlement 

offers designed to close the claim before the full cost of the injuries is known. Attorney 

Matthews advises clients on whether any settlement offer reflects the true value of their 

claim before recommending acceptance