A cyclist has the same right to the road as any driver — and far less protection when a motorist ignores it. A moment of inattention behind the wheel can leave a rider with broken bones, road rash, or a brain injury. Decker Law knows Virginia’s cycling laws, understands how insurers try to shift blame onto riders, and fights for the compensation injured cyclists deserve. For more than 60 years, we’ve represented injured people across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and all of Hampton Roads. Call 757-622-3317 for a free consultation, available 24/7.
CYCLISTS HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS
In Virginia, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as the operators of motor vehicles — and drivers have real duties toward them. State law requires a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist, and most serious crashes trace back to a driver who ignored that space, wasn’t paying attention, or simply didn’t look. Establishing that failure is the heart of a bicycle case, and it starts with preserving the scene, the sightlines, and the driver’s account before they fade.
Those cases can get complicated fast. Insurers lean on the assumption that the cyclist “came out of nowhere,” and Virginia’s pure contributory negligence rule gives that argument teeth — if they can assign the rider even a small share of fault, they can deny the claim. Sometimes fault lies elsewhere entirely: a poorly maintained road can put liability on the municipality responsible for it. We investigate every angle so the right party is held accountable.
IN VIRGINIA
CYCLIST INJURIES TOP 600 EACH YEAR
Virginia DMV / Virginia Highway Safety Office
BICYCLE ACCIDENTS: WHAT TO KNOW
What are a cyclist’s rights in Virginia?
Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers, and motorists must give at least three feet of clearance when passing. A driver who crowds, fails to yield to, or doesn’t look for a cyclist can be held liable.
What causes most bicycle crashes?
Driver inattention is the leading cause, followed by low-visibility night riding and poor road conditions. When a road hazard is to blame, the municipality responsible for maintaining it may share liability.
What injuries are common?
Road rash, fractures, and head and neck trauma — including concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Because some injuries surface later, always seek medical care after a crash, even a minor-seeming one.
What should I do after a bike crash?
Call 911, get medical care, photograph the scene and the vehicle, exchange information, and make sure your account is in the police report. Then talk to a lawyer before dealing with the driver’s insurer.
WHY CYCLISTS CHOOSE DECKER
We know your rights
Virginia gives cyclists the road and a three-foot buffer. We hold drivers to it.
We find who’s responsible
Sometimes it’s the driver, sometimes a road the city let crumble. We chase every source.
We handle the insurers
You focus on healing while we take the calls, the paperwork, and the lowball offers.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Martin Thomas
Martin Thomas is the firm’s president and managing attorney, concentrating on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law. He handles multimillion-dollar injury cases throughout Virginia and has been named to Super Lawyers for personal injury.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joseph Rigney
A Chesapeake native and former prosecutor, Joseph Rigney focuses on personal injury and criminal defense, including traffic law. He tries both civil and criminal cases in the courts of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Martin Thomas, Jr.
Martin Thomas, Jr. focuses on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law, along with contract law and civil litigation. He tries cases in the courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, and serves on Norfolk City Council.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Jeffrey Partington
A Virginia Beach native, Jeffrey Partington serves clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and business law, and has worked both sides of the aisle. He practices in the courts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Suffolk.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Peter Decker, III
Peter Decker, III focuses his practice on criminal, traffic, and personal injury. He regularly practices in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Michelle Parker
Michelle Parker concentrates on personal injury, elder law, wills, trusts and estates, litigation, corporate law, and criminal defense. She handles civil, probate, and traffic cases throughout the seven cities of Greater Hampton Roads.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Cole Roberts
A Norfolk native and former Public Defender, Cole Roberts represents clients in criminal defense and traffic matters, from reckless driving and DUI to serious felonies. He has tried numerous jury cases across the seven Hampton Roads cities.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joel Weintraub
Joel Weintraub has been practicing law for over 40 years and focuses his practice on civil litigation involving disputes between individuals and corporations. Joel’s recent cases involve corporate litigation, personal injury, business law, will and trust contests and interpretation, shareholder rights, and estate administration.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
George Neskis
George Neskis represents clients charged with criminal and traffic offenses — from DUI and reckless driving to felony matters — and also handles personal injury. A former Norfolk Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, he practices across all seven Hampton Roads cities and has been named to Super Lawyers for criminal defense.
If a driver’s carelessness left you injured on your bike, you don’t have to take on their insurer alone. Reach us by text, chat, phone, or email — or call right now at 757-622-3317.
KEEP UP WITH DECKER LAW
December 2 2025
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