Bicycle accident lawyer Mobile AL

Bicycle accidents often happen without warning and can leave cyclists facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and time away from work. If you were hit by a car while riding on Government Street, Airport Boulevard, near Midtown, or in areas around Spring Hill College or the University of South Alabama, it’s important to understand your rights right away. These are some of the busiest and most hazardous areas for local cyclists, and unfortunately, drivers often fail to yield or even notice people on bikes.

Alabama law makes things even more complicated. Because the state follows a strict contributory negligence rule, even being found just slightly at fault can bar you from recovering anything. That’s why working with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Mobile, AL is critical to protecting your claim.

At Maloney-Lyons, LLC, we’ve spent more than 20 years helping injured cyclists get the compensation they deserve. Call us today for a free consultation. You don’t pay anything unless we win your case.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Bicyclists share the road with vehicles, but they don’t have the same protection in a crash. Even a low-speed impact can lead to serious injury. Understanding what causes these collisions can help highlight how preventable many of them are—and why legal support is often necessary after a crash.

Distracted or Aggressive Drivers

A major cause of bike accidents is driver distraction. When motorists text, check GPS, or engage in other distractions behind the wheel, they’re far more likely to miss cyclists in crosswalks or on the shoulder. Aggressive driving, including tailgating or unsafe passing, also puts riders at unnecessary risk.

Failure to Yield or Running Red Lights

Many drivers either misjudge a cyclist’s speed or ignore their right of way entirely. Failure to yield at intersections or stop signs is one of the most common causes of serious bicycle crashes. When a driver runs a red light or cuts off a cyclist turning legally, the results can be catastrophic.

Dooring Accidents in Bike Lanes

Cyclists using designated bike lanes face a unique threat when parked cars are nearby. If someone opens their car door into the cyclist’s path without looking, it can cause a sudden collision known as a “dooring” accident. These crashes often result in head trauma, broken bones, or worse.

Speeding in Residential Zones

Speed limits in neighborhoods and school zones are there for a reason—but they’re not always followed. A driver going even slightly over the limit has less time to react, and the force of impact at higher speeds increases the risk of life-threatening injuries for the cyclist.

Drunk or Impaired Driving

Alcohol and drug impairment slow a driver’s reaction time and impair judgment, making them more likely to swerve into bike lanes or miss stop signs. Cyclists are especially vulnerable in these situations because they have no barrier to absorb the impact.

No matter the cause, bicycle accidents can leave victims dealing with long-term consequences. If a negligent driver caused your injuries, Maloney-Lyons, LLC is ready to investigate and pursue full accountability on your behalf.

Alabama’s Contributory Negligence Law

Alabama is one of the few states that still follows a strict contributory negligence rule. This law makes it much harder for injured cyclists to recover damages, even when the other party is clearly at fault. That’s why working with an experienced legal team matters from day one.

Even 1% Fault Can Block Your Claim

Under contributory negligence, if an injured person is found even 1% responsible for the crash, they are barred from receiving any compensation. Insurance companies are fully aware of this rule and will look for ways to shift blame, no matter how minor the allegation. Something as simple as riding slightly outside a bike lane or failing to signal could be used against you.

Insurers Use This Rule to Their Advantage

After a bike crash, you can expect the insurance company to question your actions. They may try to argue that you weren’t visible enough, that you weren’t following traffic signs, or that you were partially responsible for the collision in some way. These arguments don’t have to be convincing—they just have to cast enough doubt to trigger the 1% rule.

Why Legal Representation Matters

This is where Maloney-Lyons, LLC comes in. We know how insurance companies operate under Alabama’s contributory negligence system. Our team builds every case carefully, gathering facts, interviewing witnesses, and pushing back against any attempt to unfairly assign blame to the cyclist. We’ve taken on complex cases where clients were wrongly accused of partial fault—and won.

In a state where the law leaves no room for error, it’s critical to work with a firm that knows how to counter these strategies. At Maloney-Lyons, we’ve built a strong record of results by staying ahead of the tactics used to deny valid claims. If you were hit while biking, we’ll make sure your voice is heard and your rights are protected.

Recoverable Damages After a Bicycle Accident

When someone is injured in a bicycle accident, the financial and emotional consequences can be significant. At Maloney-Lyons, LLC, we work to ensure that every client understands what types of compensation they may be entitled to pursue. Whether it’s medical bills or the lasting effects of trauma, we help calculate the full impact of your losses and push for a recovery that reflects what you’ve actually endured.

Economic Damages

These are the measurable, out-of-pocket costs tied directly to the accident. They cover both current expenses and projected future losses.

• Emergency medical costs: Ambulance transport, ER visits, hospital stays, and follow-up care can add up quickly.
• Rehabilitation and therapy expenses: Many injuries require weeks or months of physical therapy. These costs are recoverable.
• Lost income: If you’ve had to miss work due to your injuries, you may be eligible to recover lost wages.
• Reduced future earning potential: For more serious injuries, we assess how your ability to work may be affected long-term.
• Bicycle and property damage: If your bike or personal belongings were damaged or destroyed, the cost of repair or replacement can be included.

Non-Economic Damages

These are the harder-to-measure impacts of an accident—things that don’t show up on receipts but still affect your life in meaningful ways.

• Pain and suffering: This includes both the physical pain from your injuries and the emotional stress that comes with the recovery process.
• Emotional distress: Accidents can lead to long-term anxiety, depression, or trauma, especially if the crash was severe.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: When an injury limits your ability to ride, exercise, or engage in everyday activities, you may be entitled to compensation for that loss.
• Scarring or permanent disability: If the accident leaves lasting damage, your claim may include compensation for disfigurement or impairment.

At Maloney-Lyons, LLC, we don’t leave anything out. We make sure all current and future losses are fully documented so that insurance companies can’t downplay your claim. Our team focuses on building strong cases that reflect the real impact the accident had on your life.

Why Maloney-Lyons?

Choosing the right legal team after a bicycle accident can make a major difference in the outcome of your case. At Maloney-Lyons, LLC, we’ve built our practice on trust, results, and a clear understanding of what Alabama cyclists face when they’ve been seriously injured. Here’s why injured clients continue to turn to us for help.

Decades of Local Experience

Our firm has been serving injured individuals for more than 20 years. We’ve seen firsthand how bicycle accidents happen in this region and understand the legal and practical challenges involved. That experience matters—especially when dealing with Alabama’s strict laws on fault.

Focused Personal Injury Practice

We don’t spread ourselves thin across unrelated areas of law. Our practice is concentrated on injury cases, including those involving bicycles, pedestrians, and traffic collisions. That gives us a sharper edge when handling injury claims and anticipating insurance defense strategies.

Knowledge of Alabama’s Contributory Negligence System

Alabama’s legal system is one of the toughest in the country when it comes to fault. Even 1% blame can keep you from recovering compensation. Our team understands how to push back against these tactics and present strong, fact-based claims that protect your rights.

Familiarity with Local Courts and Insurers

We’ve handled cases across Mobile and surrounding areas for years. We know how local courts work, how insurers approach these claims, and how to prepare cases that hold up under scrutiny. That kind of insight only comes with long-term presence and consistency.

Results You Can See

Our firm has recovered meaningful compensation for clients injured in all types of accidents. While every case is different, we bring the same level of effort and preparation to each one. We build cases the right way and don’t hesitate to take them to court when necessary.

No Upfront Costs — Ever

We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you. There are no retainers, no hourly bills, and no financial risk in reaching out for help. 

Maloney-Lyons, LLC stands ready to fight for injured cyclists.

Contact Us Today!

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, it’s important to act quickly. The decisions you make early on can impact your entire case, including whether you’re able to recover compensation. At Maloney-Lyons, LLC, we focus on helping injured cyclists navigate Alabama’s legal system with clarity and confidence. Our attorneys understand how to build strong cases, deal with insurance pushback, and fight for full and fair recovery.

We’ve been representing injury victims for over two decades. That means we’ve seen how hard these accidents hit—not just physically, but financially and emotionally. You deserve to have someone in your corner who knows what it takes to get results.

We don’t charge any upfront fees. You owe us nothing unless we win your case. And it starts with a conversation. We’ll listen to what happened, answer your questions, and explain what you can expect moving forward.

Contact us today to get started—your case consultation is 100% free, and there’s no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

After a bicycle accident, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed—not just by the injuries and medical bills, but also by the uncertainty of what comes next. At Maloney-Lyons, LLC, we speak with injured cyclists and their families every day, and many of them have the same initial concerns. Below, we’ve answered a few of the most common questions we hear. If your question isn’t covered here, feel free to contact us for a free consultation. We’re here to help.

Q: Do I need a lawyer after a bicycle accident in Mobile?

A: Yes. Alabama follows a contributory negligence rule, which means if you’re found even slightly at fault—just 1%—you could be denied compensation entirely. That’s why it’s so important to have an attorney who understands how to challenge the insurance company’s version of events and push back against unfair blame. At Maloney-Lyons, we’ve handled many cases under this strict standard and know what it takes to protect your rights.

Q: Can I recover damages if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?

A: Possibly. Not wearing a helmet doesn’t automatically prevent you from bringing a claim. It may be something the insurance company tries to use against you, but that doesn’t mean they’re right or that it affects the core of your case. What matters more is whether the driver who hit you was negligent and whether that negligence caused your injuries. We’ve helped clients recover compensation in similar situations and can review how Alabama law applies to yours.

Q: What is the time limit for filing a lawsuit?

A: In most Alabama personal injury cases, including bicycle accidents, you generally have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim. That deadline can come up faster than expected, especially when you’re still recovering. It’s smart to speak with an attorney as early as possible, so we can begin collecting evidence and building your case before anything gets lost or overlooked.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Maloney-Lyons?

A: We don’t charge any upfront fees. Our firm works on a contingency basis, which means you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If we don’t win your case, you don’t pay. That gives you the chance to get legal help without taking on additional financial stress.