Bicycle Accidents on Minnesota Roads

In 2020, 938 bicyclists died of injuries sustained in accidents involving cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Minnesota motorists can prevent many accidents by following the rules of the road, observing safety tips, and watching out for bicyclists and pedestrians. Minnesota motorists are required to follow the Vehicle & Traffic Law, including Section 1146, entitled “Drivers to exercise due care.” Drivers must accordingly “exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian, or domestic animal upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary.”

A motorist’s duty toward bicyclists is well recognized. Minnesota’s Department of Transporation explains that: “As a safety measure, motorists should make scanning for cyclists second nature, giving [them] plenty of clearance when passing them and the right-of-way when appropriate.”

When it comes to “overtaking” or passing a bicyclist on the roadway, the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides at Section 1122-A that: “The operator of a vehicle overtaking, from behind, a bicycle proceeding on the same side of a roadway shall pass to the left of such bicycle at a safe distance until safely clear.” There are many other rules of the road that motorists are bound to follow on Minnesota roads.

Sometimes, despite taking all necessary precautions, a bicyclist may find themself injured on Minnesota roads. That is because some motorists choose to violate the rules of the road, foreseeably injuring others. Bicyclists are somewhat vulnerable on New York roads. Even when wearing safety equipment, like an approved helmet, they are exposed to roadway hazards in ways that sedan vehicle passengers are not. Under these circumstances motorist should exercise reasonable care to comply with the rules of the road and keep bicyclists safe.