Kill A Cyclist And Get Away With It

As distributing as the title implies, in this article we discuss the tragic unfairness of bicycle laws that simply allow for drivers to hit and kill a cyclist with little to no punishments. So what happens if you hit and kill a cyclist in Arizona? I can tell you from years of personal experience representing the surviving family members of killed cyclists that it is hardly a fair experience under the current law. In most cases the it feels like the driver isn’t even cited for any number of possible traffic violations. Sometimes the police even sympathize so much so for the driver that they find a way to inappropriately cite the killed cyclists on an imaginary or misunderstood traffic law. The usual result is that the driver may get a traffic ticket and a fine for nor more than $250. Yep. That’s it, $250.

In a very tongue and cheek sort of a way many of us have joked in the past that if you want to kill your enemy in Arizona don’t you dare shoot him! it is much better to put him or her on a bicycle and run them over. It’s the only way you can literally get away with murder. I know that sounds extreme. And I agree it is. But in all seriousness this is not exactly a fair playing field for cyclists. Most drivers are truly annoyed at cyclists on the road and really do think that cyclists deserve to get hit if they are stupid enough to ride on the same road as vehicles. That is absurd to me. But I deal with it daily. I have the most insane conversations with insurance adjusters and police officers on a daily basis who have literally said this to me, or in the very least consistently imply it with every false citation, unjustified excuse for the driver, and more.

Most traffic violations in Arizona are strictly civil matters. If a driver is actually cited and found responsible he or she is generally subject to a fine of not more than $250 (§28-1598); and of course no jail time is possible. There is one other set of added penalties when specified specifically by the type of traffic violation. For example, the “Three foot rule” (§28-735) includes increased financial penalties of up to $500 or $1000 if a motorist seriously injures or kills a cyclist when unsafely passing them. Except these enhanced penalties do not apply if a bike lane is “present and passable”. Sort of sounds like a joke.

Of course these financial penalties exclude the criminal traffic violations (but even then those are so minor they’re disgusting). I’ll discuss those in a moment because they seem to be insulting to anyone who has ever lost a loved one in a bicycle crash. One quick example is that it is typically not criminal to negligently hit and kill a cyclist but it is criminal to litter within 20 yards near a highway ( littering near a highway §28-7056.) Are you serious? What is wrong with our society and what we value?

A small group of traffic violations are specified as criminal (surprise surprise not hitting and killing a cyclist) and they include for example reckless driving, DUI, and excessive speed. To add a bit of context, even if a driver is cited under one of these criminal statutes they are typically minor crimes and carry very small penalties with little to no jail time and small fines. What Arizona doesn’t have is a vehicular manslaughter crime on the books. And to my knowledge we are only one of 3 states who still doesn’t have such a law.

Now after all of that, there is still one more Arizona law that makes certain negligent driving behaviors criminal if serious injury or death occurs: §28-672. The very specific criminal negligence examples are all listed below. Sadly, I wonder just how often the police even use these. I can tell you that none of my cases have ever involved this statute but many of them could have justified it:

§28-645(A)3(a): Running a red light
§28-729: failure to drive in one lane
§28-771: failure to yield to vehicle on the right (generally applies to uncontrolled intersections)
§28-772: Bad left
§28-773: drive out at stop sign (see also, 855B, below).
§28-792: Running down a pedestrian in a marked OR UNMARKED crosswalk
§28-794: Not exercising due care around a pedestrian
§28-797 subsection F, G, H, or I: Disobeying various school zone rules
§28-855(B): Running a stop sign
§28-857(A): Disobeying school bus stop signs

One last final note on the criminal part of this; there are a couple of related laws that do actually increase the severity of the penalties. They are: §28-675 and §28-676. They apply to the same exact same list of violations listed above in A.R.S. §28-672, BUT ONLY APPLY if the driver’s license has been revoked for a cause relating to previous illegal bad driving.

SO are you ready to learn what actually happens if a driver is criminally cited under §28-672? Remember, I don’t personally know of any cases involving bicycle crashes where this statute was involved – I’m sure they exist somewhere but it is pretty infrequent. Remember, most will simply not even get a citation and those drivers who do get cited will simply pay a $250 fine. HOWEVER, just in case the police start getting a little sharper in their investigations and the prosecutors actually start bringing charges under §28-672; here is what a driver would get in terms of “punishments”:

The driver must attend and successfully complete traffic school, and the court may order the driver to perform community restitution. Wow – way to really bear down on killing a cyclist AZ. Again, super disappointing. We all know that traffic school is literally a waste of time.
The court will report it to the MVD. The 1st violation will be a license suspension of not more than 90 days for serious injury, and not more than 180 days for a death. The 2nd violation within 3 years the MVD will suspend a license for 90 days for a serious injury and 180 for a death. WHAT? Are you kidding me? So the 1st time offense is a suspension of NOT MORE THAN 90 or 180 days, while the 2nd offense is guaranteed 90 or 180 days. Super disappointing.
If the license is already suspended then this license suspension of 90 or 180 days will simply be tacked on. Yep, lets not skip out on a few more weeks of suspension, way to make sure that it just gets added to an already suspended license! Yikes. This is disturbing.
If the driver fails to complete the traffic school or community restitution then the court can promptly suspend the driver’s license until proof of completion. I love how focused they are on license suspension. Why not just throw some jail time in there? Clearly suspending a license doesn’t really prevent anyone from driving.
Restitution can’t exceed $10,000. Um, obviously way too low.
It’s a class 3 misdemeanor and only carries a $1,000 fine. Uh, yeah – again, way too low. Someone just died and the driver has to pay a fine of up to $1,000 and restitution of up to $10,000. Very, very, very disappointing.
Lets not forget my favorite part of the criminal penalties here for gross negligence: §28-672(F): Essentially, if before the completion of the trial the seriously injured party comes before the court and “acknowledges receipt of satisfaction for the injury, on payment of the costs incurred” the whole crime simply gets dismissed and the state is barred from bringing the prosecution ever again. WHAT?! So if I was a shrewd criminal defense attorney then I would simply subpoena the settlement from the injured party’s personal injury case and compel the cyclist to come to court and acknowledge that the medical costs incurred were satisfied out of the settlement and then my criminal client walks free! So angry about this. I really hope we can bring this sort of awareness to the knowledge of our legislature and get some real change going here.

How would this be different if it were a car on car crash instead of a cyclist getting hit and killed by a car? That is best saved for another article to be written soon; but let me wet your appetite with the simple thought that the police investigation alone would be drastically different and much more involved if two vehicles were involved as opposed to one vehicle and a cyclist. Disclaimer: I do not hate cops. I believe their role is absolutely vital to our society. However, I do wish that more and more of them would be better trained and would care a bit more about investigating bicycle crashes. Especially those involving fatalities.

-Ben Dodge

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Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben Dodge, Esq. Ultra Cyclist

Ben Dodge – Bicycle Lawyer

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. He can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire United States. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West 2016, he really knows what it’s like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the United States every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important, but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your rights as a cyclist, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. There is never an obligation past a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback Rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

LOTOJA 2017

By: Ben Dodge, Esq., Ultra Cyclist

For our 3rd year in a row now our team has been lucky enough to race LOTOJA. LOTOJA is the longest single day USAC sanctioned road race in the united states. It is approximately 203 (give or take) miles crossing through parts of Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. Starting in LOgan Utah, you race TO JAckson Hole Wyoming (thus LO-TO-JA). It is simply beautiful and amazing. In order to race LOTOJA you actually have to submit an application and get drawn to race. I do not know the details of how the selection process is made, but I am grateful for our BAA Team’s opportunity for the past 3 years in a row to race LOTOJA! It has become a staple for us and we look forward to it every year.

Of course, for those of us BAA clowns in Arizona, we must commit to training all summer long in order to be race ready for this epic event. LOTOJA is always in September. Hammering out grueling 100-200+ mile training rides in the summer isn’t for everyone. But for us, we love it. In fact, most of us continually comment on how much we love LOTOJA in large part for the crazy fun training rides we force ourselves to do all summer long. Some of the highlights include training rides such as: Gilbert AZ to Tucson AZ and up to the Mt. Lemmon Summit (175 miles); Gilbert AZ to Globe AZ and back (140 miles), 5x-10x South Mountain (SOMO) repeats, Gilbert AZ to Payson AZ and back (170 miles), Gilbert AZ to Florence AZ to Casa Grande AZ to Gilbert AZ (120 miles), Gilbert to 9 Mile Hill and back (104 miles), Vision Relay, Iron Lung, EOP, Saguaro lake, and on and on. So many fun rides. Essentially every Saturday we are engaged in a new adventure around the state of Arizona with approximately 1oo miles or more on the ride. Often because of the heat and other Saturday family commitments we start these rides between 3am and 4am. It can be incredibly early but I am always amazed at how many teammates and friends show up to hammer out a Saturday Century ride with us. So fun. So inspiring.

This year was a great year as quite a few of us on the team were attempting to get the Triple Crank award. In order to earn this award you must complete 3 of the toughest races in Utah all in the same calendar year: Vision Relay, Iron Lung, and LOTOJA. We were so proud to get several of us on the podium for this fantastic award this year. Congrats to my amazing teammates who earned this award this year!

I think my favorite part of LOTOJA this year was seeing our team and SAG crew grow from the 8-10 of us our first year to over 30 of us this year. And standing alongside of us was over 20 friends and family members there to volunteer as SAG crew! The growth, energy, and positive vibes were really cool as we hung out the night before and had an awesome team dinner and team meeting. The sheer size of our group represented thousands of hours of training, volunteering, commitment, and support. We are one big happy BAA family. It was cool to meet some new faces, and make some new friends as our team has spread into several states now including Utah. The friends and family who supported us were simply amazing and inspiring with their continued acts of selflessness. That is for sure my favorite part of LOTOJA this year.

A close second to that was the race itself. I loved our race this year. Several of us had trained hard and we had developed a strategy and some goals that we knew we would have to work hard to achieve. We did just that. Many on the team set personal records shaving time off their previous best times. Many more finished for their first time. Others endured some grueling physical, medical, and certainly mental challenges. Everyone seemed to come away from this year a little better, a little stronger, a little wiser, a little more ready for whatever is next. It was cool to see that in the eyes of my teammates. This year our teammate Eric Woolsey snagged a 3rd place podium finish in the Mens Masters 55+ category, as well as his 10 year/2,000 mile LOTOJA award. He has raced LOTOJA 10 times. Epic! Congrats Eric!

Eric Woolsey and 2,000 Mile LOTOJA /10 Year Award

My personal goal was to shave off about an hour of my best time and finish in nine and half hours. I openly commented on this goal and also expressed how happy I would be with any time less than 10 hours if I could be so lucky. Riding with my good friend and teammate Tom Liddell, we raced the whole race together and pushed ourselves as best as we could and found ourselves setting PRs all along the course. As the end drew near we found ourselves in a pack sprint for the finish. I was so pumped to see that our finish time was 9:28! We met/beat our goal! That is always a good feeling. Set it, plan for it, train for it, then work for it.

Triple Crank Medals. Left to Right: Tom Liddell, Jason DuPont, Ben Dodge, Karl Zeibig, Darin Edwards, Kelly Lund, and Mike Dawes.

To all my teammates out there, and everyone else who showed up to race or support LOTOJA, I say thank you for your efforts. You all inspire me. LOTOJA is an amazing race. A full race report may be coming later if I get to it. But I will share a few things billeted here:

Nutrition was spot on. I used 4 bottles of carborocket mixed with 6-8 scoops each. I carried 1 bottle of carborocket and 1 bottle of water on board. I ditched my empties and snagged new ones pre mixed and ready at the 3 designated Feed Zones for racers with crew (I believe they were 3, 5, and 6). I had 3-4 GUs for good measure. I ate nothing else. I drank 1/2 of a glass bottle of real coke with real sugar (from Mexico) at each of the 3 feed zones. These were already opened and poured into a disposable plastic water bottle (the kind you get in a case of 24 at a grocery store). This nutrition was ready to grab and go at each feed zone in a draw string bag labeled with my name on it. And the crew was expertly ready for me each time (THANK YOU!).
I had 2 flasks of pickle juice through out the entire race – mostly preventive. I carried this in my jersey picket.
I consumed 2 salt pills every couple of hours – I carried them on board in a little plastic vile.
I consumed 2 Excedrin every couple of hours -carried them on board in a little plastic vile.
My total stop time was 3.5 minutes and only because the draw string bags weren’t great for reaching into while riding. So we had to stop to open them and grab our water bottles out of them. Plus, Tom and I were hurting at the top of the KOM climb so we stopped for approximately 1.5 minutes there to get a water bottle and coke from the neutral sag there. 😉
I never stopped to pee. I sued a condom catheter. It was fantastic and saved loads of time and energy for me. Frankly, it was genius and I’m glad our teammate Darin Edwards thought this up for us to experiment with (Thanks Darin). For the record, I had practiced using this on other training rides. I will for sure be using it again on other longer rides or races. See this article here for more discussions on peeing while racing and the condom catheter.
Our average speed was something like 21.6 miles an hour (which includes our 3.5 minutes of stop time).
Top speed was only 55 miles per hour.
Burned about 5700 calories.
Average HR was 150 bpm.
Max HR was 187 bpm.
Average Power was 199 watts, Normalized Power was 202.
Max power was 1282 watts.
Average cadence was 82 rpm, with a max cadence of 166 rpm.
Elevation gain was 8,727′.
No mechanicals or flats during the race, although Tom rolled up to the start line and he noticed hist front tire was flat! So with 4 minutes before we were supposed to start he and I scrambled to change his tire. We did just in time and it held up the whole way.
Great weather and favorable winds for most of the entire day.

All in all it was awesome. I highly recommend you give LOTOJA a try. The training alone is awesome.

Be safe out there and keep the rubber side down!

-Ben Dodge

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben Dodge, Esq. Ultra Cyclist

Ben Dodge – Bicycle Lawyer

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. He can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire United States. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West 2016, he really knows what it’s like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the United States every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important, but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your rights as a cyclist, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. There is never an obligation past a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback Rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

Mastering “How to Pee” During a Bicycle Race

By: Ben Dodge, Esq., Ultra Cyclist

Why the heck would you have to worry about peeing in a bicycle race? Why not just pull over and pee? Well, I admit that pulling over and peeing is by far the safest thing to do and the lawyer in me will always endorse safety! There are lots of reasons to not stop riding in a race. Mostly you are trying for the win, or hanging onto a group you can’t afford to drop off of (lose the draft), or just aiming for a personal best time and stopping to pee can throw all of that off.

If you are competing out there, you may struggle with the thought of what to do when you have to pee during a race. In fact, you might even worry about it so much that you don’t drink nearly as much as you should before and during your race. You are left under hydrated and risk not only under performance but some serious health issues as well. Any competitive cyclist will acknowledge that hydration is a huge component to a successful race, especially any longer bicycle race. Many cyclists start hydrating days before their race. The morning of a race I usually drink at least 1-2 bottles an hour or two before the race. I have a whole routine and hydration is always a top priority.

The problem of course is that you hope you pee before you race. Or that the race is short enough so if you have to pee during your race you simply hold it until you finish. This can be horribly uncomfortable, and even painful. Let me offer some helpful suggestions on How to Pee During a Bicycle Race. These pro tips are collected from personal experience, conversations with other competitive cyclists, teammates, and some awesome chats with pro cyclists. Here is a list of suggestions that are tried and true, and some even more experimental… lol

Stop and pee. Yes, just pull over and pee. Its only a race, and any other suggestion could risk a crash. You could crash or cause a crash in the peleton if you’re not extremely careful and experienced in any of the next suggestions. The longer the race the more likely you won’t need to worry about losing time to stop and pee. When I raced the solo Race Across the West in 2016 I knew I had to bike 930 miles pretty much non stop all on my own. I knew I had plenty of time to stop and use the restroom when necessary. No need to pee yourself during such a long solo race. Ultra cycling is almost a different animal all together.
Negotiated Pee Break. No kidding, sometimes in the peleton if you are feeling the painful urge to pee and you can’t hold it anymore you may very well not be the only one who feels that way. There are times when a fellow cyclist will start recruiting others within the peleton to all pull over and take a pee break. These negotiated pee breaks are hilarious. Everyone quickly pulling over and scrambling to pee and keep riding again. It is a sort of treaty where everyone agrees to stop and pee. Yet, no one really waits for the last guy. You pee and you start pedaling again, end of story. Hopefully you’re not the last guy peeing who is suddenly caught having to bridge a gap back up to the rest of the group who peed faster than you did. I have participated in a negotiated pee break in the LOTOJA race. It is a 200+ mile road race and without fail every year after about 1.5 hours or so everyone ends up negotiating a pee break on the side of the road in the middle of no where. I have never been so grateful in a race!
Just pee in your bibs. Yep, its as gross as it sounds. But many cyclists who race have all tried it. You just pee and then try and squirt a bit of water on yourself out of your water bottle. This suggestion is one of the ones pro cyclists are familiar with. One complaint I hear from them is that you get “pee pee shoes.” The pee can just run down your leg and into your cycling shoes. They smell for ever after that and it seems virtually impossible to get the smell all the way out. I admit I have tried this as well. It sucks. It smells. And you could even get irritated skin everywhere if you don’t wash your bibs out well immediately after you pee. It is the easiest way to stay on your bike and pee. It is fairly safe and you don’t really have to stop pedaling to do it. I will warn you, it takes practice to get to the point where you can pee and pedal at the same time. If I recall correctly I came home and threw away my “pee pee shoes” swearing I would never try that again.
Stand and Deliver. No kidding, one of the most impressive things I have seen in a race is a guy slip off to the right hand side of the peleton and coast along the shoulder standing up; with one hand on the handlebar and one hand on his… he whipped it out and peed while coasting along side the peleton. We rode by him in awe. A bit disgusted for sure, but more impressed. He lost a few positions in the peleton but nothing he couldn’t make up real quickly. He never dropped off the back or had to bridge any gaps. It was flawless. Genius. But of course he put himself and all of us at risk. What if there had been debris in the shoulder? Or what if he simply swerved into the peleton? There a number of reasons why this is an unsafe maneuver. He clearly had practiced it as he pulled it off in a seamless and smooth manner. That is what was so impressive. I know he must have practiced because I set out to try it on a training ride once with my dad. One summer afternoon while visiting my dad in Utah I pedaled ahead on a bike path in the middle of no where and determined to try it. There was some surprising stage fright. Some awkwardness in balance and stability while peeing. It was anything but smooth. I was however able to pee. I got a little on me but not bad. It had worked. But not well enough for me to do it in a race. I knew I needed a better option…
The Condom Catheter. Wow, just writing it makes me a bit queasy. No joke, this is an incredibly creative option. One of my teammates who had to drop from a fast group of cyclists only because he had to pee during a competitive attempt at LOTOJA was so frustrated he thought to himself: “There has to be a better way.” It was his creative thinking that led to who knows how many weird google searches which in turn led to this idea of condom catheters. It is exactly what its sounds like. It is a condom you put on with a catheter tube you connect to it. The tube in a medical setting will presumably connect to a pee bag of sorts attached to your bedside. Adapted to competitive cycling by our very own teammate (D.E. – initials only to sort of keep his identity somewhat private, lol) the tube is cut to extend out the bottom of the bibs by 3-5 inches when in use. When not in use the tube simply tucks around your thigh/hamstring and into the bottom of your bibs. The tubing used can be purchased at Home Depot or any varoety of “medical tubing” on Amazon, etc. It is a bit of a hacked looking device we have made. The actual condom catheters can also be purchased on Amazon. Many of us have all tried different versions (makes and models) of condom catheters. I will say this: size definitely matters. Buying the right size is ultra important to even kind of being successful with this idea. Also, some have some sticky glue like substance that we recommend you avoid as it feels like your ripping a layer of skin of just to remove it. I will include pictures of the condom catheter I prefer and the tubing I used. I can say that I have actually tried it on several recent rides. In preparation for this year’s LOTOJA race a few of us BAA cyclists have been highly interested in trying out the whole condom catheter thing. I must say the conversations during the rides have been hilarious on an epic scale. Just the other night I was talking to a teammate and friend of mine on the phone in the kitchen asking him how he was able to get his condom catheter on (a challenge for sure) and my wife was listening in the background. It was too funny. I have pictures (all clean) of the actual catheter, and the tubing I use. I have some good and bad experiences with it so far. It seems the longer the ride the more likely it is to fall off right in the middle of a pee. This can of course be embarrassing and a bit gross. lol. All worth the risk for now as we try to discover new ways to pee during a race without stopping. I could see a follow up article on the DO’s and DON’Ts of condom catheters just so people who want to try it can learn from our mistakes. LOTOJA is in 1.5 weeks from today and I plan to try it out for that race (200+ miles). I’ll be happy to report how well or badly it went.

Again, if you have to ask why this is even important then you may not have ever been in a serious race where you couldn’t afford to stop, OR you already have a different solution that works. If you do have any solutions or suggestions that we haven’t thought of or tried yet please leave a comment to this blog and I’m sure myself along with some of my BAA teammates will be happy to run some tests/experiments with your ideas. We are always looking for the newest innovative ideas. We love to try new things, especially if they work well.

Have an incredible time riding your bike. Be safe, and keep the rubber side down!

-Ben Dodge, Esq.

More pictures:

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben Dodge – Bicycle Lawyer

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. He can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire United States. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West 2016, he really knows what it’s like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the United States every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important, but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your rights as a cyclist, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. There is never an obligation past a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback Rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

Today I Was Lucky…

In my career I have seen a lot of tragedies surrounding the sport and recreation of riding a bicycle. I have also experienced what seems to be at times the overwhelming nature of competitively training. The never ending long rides and the difficult day in and day out commitment to compete in significant bike races and events. Sometimes riding a bicycle can seem like it isn’t fun anymore or isn’t worth it. Today I was lucky enough to experience the simple pleasure of riding a bicycle all over again. I love bicycles. I love cyclists. I love to ride. I am a cyclist. No matter how crazy life can be sometimes, I am grateful and happy for the opportunities I have to ride my bike.

In Arizona it gets hot in the summer, like really hot. In fact, today when I left work I got in my truck which was in a covered parking spot and the temperature showed 118 degrees for the outside temperature. I know that those can vary sometimes in accuracy… but no matter how you look at it, it was hot. In fact, for the past two days here in Arizona it has been too hot for airplanes to take off from Sky Harbor and flights have simply been canceled! That is hot.

Many of us locals ride our bikes all year around here regardless of the heat. We actually get used to it. I honestly prefer it. I would much rather ride in the heat than in the cold. We are used to loading up with extra water bottles and even making a few stops at local gas stations to refill our water bottles when they run dry.

Today was one of those days where I dreaded getting up out of bed at 4:00am to ride my bicycle. Getting up at 4:00am is pretty normal for me and those I often ride with. In fact, sometimes we even start our longer rides at 3:00am. It is what you do to get your training in before work. Of course it helps with avoiding the heat a bit also. But today I was tired. I have been riding/training a lot and racing several weekends in a row. I was mentally and emotionally a bit tired, and I was definitely running low in overall energy. So when my 4:00am alarm went off today I wanted to just ignore it. But training doesn’t get done by itself, so up I was and out the door to meet up for our 4:30am group ride meetup.

As is usually the case, once I am out there and spinning around a bit I begin to feel better, more awake, and excited to challenge myself. Today was no exception. After a about 20-30 minutes we witnessed an amazing sunrise as we rode East. It was beautiful and I thought to myself I need to stop and take a quick picture. So I did. Grateful for the beauty and inspiration in the sunrises we experience as early morning cyclists. If the ride had ended then and there I would have gone home a grateful and re energized person. Fortunately there was more to experience that I didn’t anticipate…

After some good efforts, sore legs, and lots of sweat later our little band of friends arrived at Saguaro Lake. It is a beautiful little lake here about 25 miles from our homes. The lake had this beautiful calm to it. It was so peaceful and undisturbed. It was sooooo inviting. Even at 6:00am here in Arizona right now it is wicked hot; it feels like a stinking oven all the time. Longingly looking at the lake one of my friends suggested we park our bicycles and jump in. I laughed. He was serious. Then in a moment everyone started taking off their bike shoes, helmets, etc., walked to the end of the pier and jumped in!

It was one of the best decisions I have ever made on a ride. Jump in. Float around in a peaceful lake all by ourselves. I remember thinking to myself, this is one of the simple pleasures of riding a bicycle. I felt so fortunate to be able to ride a bicycle all the way to the lake, and then seize an impromptu opportunity to take full advantage of the atmosphere only a lake can provide that early in the morning. The water was so refreshing. We all laughed and swam around a bit. After a few minutes we all realized we weren’t in good enough swimming shape to keep this up for too long. We swam back to the pier, got dressed and rode home.

I’m not sure I have ever enjoyed a ride more than this one. It helped me remember that riding a bicycle is a simple pleasure that I want to take full advantage of. I want to continue to seize these such moments shared with good friends as often as they present themselves. I know many fallen cyclists who have been injured or even killed. I know how hard it is to train day in and day out as competitive cyclists do. I know how difficult it is to get up early, or to ride in terrible weather conditions. But today none of that mattered. For a moment it was just a simple pleasure to ride my bicycle that brought a refreshing energy and a brighter perspective on how special it can be to be a cyclist.

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. He can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire United States. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West 2016, he really knows what it’s like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the United States every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important, but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your rights as a cyclist, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. There is never an obligation past a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback Rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

“Hardest Ride Ever”

This morning I rode in a memorial ride for a fellow cyclist who was tragically struck and killed this past Wednesday. It was an honor to be a part of this ride because of the incredible love and support felt by everyone there, with an estimated 300+ cyclists in attendance. It was also heartbreaking because of the deep loss felt by the death of local cyclist, Jenna Taylor. It was a somber and quiet ride. Tearful and tough.

I have ridden 930.4 miles straight in 86 hours, covering 50,000 feet of elevation gain in the middle of June. I have ridden my bike from Oceanside, California, trespassed the CA/AZ deserts, continued through the mountains of Arizona and climbed the great Rockies of Colorado. Yet nothing was more difficult, more tough, or as hard as this memorial ride this morning. I have raced excruciating races for several years, and have trained with multiple multi-hundred and 12-24 hour training rides covering some nasty terrain. Yet nothing was more difficult, more tough, or as hard as this memorial ride this morning.

Just riding over to the start of the ride I couldn’t keep my eyes dry or the lump in my throat down. I was a wreck, sobbing and wiping away tears. It was after the ride that a friend of mine and local cyclist who came out to support the Jenna Taylor Memorial Ride, commented on a Facebook Post with just three simple words: “Hardest ride ever.”

He was right. It was the hardest ride ever. How? Why? After so many difficult races and long training rides, how could a 30 mile flat route with an average speed of only 16mph, be the “hardest ride ever”? I wouldn’t have understood except that I was witness to it this morning.

There were hundreds of cyclists who showed up to show support for Cam Taylor, the surviving spouse of Jenna Taylor. Cam is an accomplished cyclist himself, and an ultra competitive racer. He has won many races here around town, and rides for the well known local Jetset team. This morning there were cyclists from many competing teams all over the valley. Cyclists who have raced with Cam, and cyclists who have raced against him. The vast array of cycling jerseys present this morning was a testimony to the diversity of competitive teams in attendance. There were no boundaries today. There were no teams, no clubs, no finish lines. It was a unity of love and support that transcended everything. The local cycling community is strong and protective and loving of each other. It is a family. It thrives on the support of one another. It is warm and inviting no matter your skill level, fitness level, or how experienced you are or expensive your bike is.

There were hundreds of people in attendance this morning who have never even met Cam, let alone his late wife Jenna. Yet they showed up. They showed up to unite, to give strength, to convey deep respect for Jenna, and to demonstrate support to Cam and his family, that they are not alone in this. Today was a hard ride because of the deep loss we all felt for Cam, for his children, for the cycling community. It was so incredibly moving and touching, it was impossible hold back emotions no matter how hard one tried.

Cyclists gathered at Cam and Jenna’s house on the memorial ride.

Jenna was struck by a commercial truck driver while she was legally in the bike lane proceeding on a green light. She had the right of way and was doing everything she should have. Yet, her life was abruptly ended. It was a senseless and tragic bike wreck. The driver simply didn’t see her. She was 33 years old and left behind 4 young children. It was a poignantly difficult ride because it could have just as easily happened to any of us. The feeling of “this hits close to home” was just too powerfully real. The wreck happened in an intersection many of us regularly ride through, at a time of day we all ride. Some of my teammates went through that same intersection on the very same day, only minutes after the wreck. The reality of “this could have happened to any of us” had never felt more real. This was one more reason why the somber emotional impact was so tough.

I have been through many difficult, crazy hard and tough races and even more of those sorts of training rides… yet I agree with my friend, this was hands down the “hardest ride ever.”

May we all pay closer attention to cyclists out on the road. May we all drive less distracted. May we all be safer behind the wheel and on the bike. RIP Jenna Taylor. Our love and hearts and prayers are ever extended to Cam and his family.

-Ben Dodge

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. He can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire United States. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West 2016, he really knows what it’s like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the United States every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important, but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your rights as a cyclist, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. There is never an obligation past a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback Rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

Arizona’s Bicycle 3 Foot Passing Law, true or false? Do you know when you’re protected? And when you’re not?!

Many states have a safe 3 foot passing law required by motorists to pass/overtake bicycles. However, there are misconstrued exceptions and wrong interpretations that may leave you as a cyclist in the lurch. Know your rights for when you are protected and when you are NOT.

Lets break it down starting with the basics first. Arizona’s 3 foot passing law is found in A.R.S. 28-735. The basic gist is that a motorist is required to leave a safe distance of “not less than three feet” when overtaking a bicyclist. Want to venture a guess as to how often that happens? Yeah, like almost never. How about this interesting twist… a motorist can be fined for violating this law if he/she causes a serious physical injury up to $500, and only $1,000.00 for killing the cyclist. Wait for it, wait for it, it gets worse: then the notable exception found in subsection C where no fine is prescribed if there was a bicycle lane or path present and passable. Yep you got it, a motorist can violate this law subsequently hitting and killing a cyclist that is legally in the traffic lane (say turning left, etc.) and the driver won’t even be fined. Of course, the general 3 foot law traffic citation could still be given but no fines allocated in that scenario. CRAZY! No one ever said its fair, but it is the law.

Here is the full text of the Arizona 3 Foot Passing Law found in A.R.S. 28-735:

28-735. Overtaking bicycles; civil penalties

A. When overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, a person driving a motor vehicle shall exercise due care by leaving a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet until the motor vehicle is safely past the overtaken bicycle.

B. If a person violates this section and the violation results in a collision causing:

1. Serious physical injury as defined in section 13-105 to another person, the violator is subject to a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars.

2. Death to another person, the violator is subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars.

C. Subsection B of this section does not apply to a bicyclist who is injured in a vehicular traffic lane when a designated bicycle lane or path is present and passable.

It should be mentioned that the minimum safe distance of not less than three feet (subsection A) applies to all streets in Arizona regardless of configuration or bicycle position. Streets in Arizona come in all kinds of varieties. Some have shoulders and some do not; some have designated bicycle lanes but most do not. Some streets are paved and some are not. Some streets are divided into lanes and some are not. You get the picture? If you are a cyclist on a street in Arizona then you have a right to be passed by a motorist with a minimum safe distance of not less than three feet. Period. End of story. Additional fines only don’t apply if you are in a traffic lane when there is a passable bicycle lane – again even if that is a legal place to be riding your bicycle.

What about a lane where it is not possible for a motorist to safely share the lane with you on your bicycle and still leave a minimum safe distance of not less than 3 feet? Lets be honest, some lanes if not most are simply not wide enough for this. So what then? Easy, the motorist is required to leave a safe distance of not less than 3 feet to pass you; so he or she must change lanes to legally pass you. Ir alternatively slow down and not pass until the lane width and safety permit a minimum of three feet distance. End of story. However, I highly recommend in that scenario for the good will of the cycling community and the safety of the cyclist that it may be wise to safely slow down and pull over (perhaps stopping) to allow the driver to pas you. This being the case even if necessary to temporarily dismount the bike and exiting off the street allowing for the minimum safe distance of three feet. If you are lucky enough to have a motorist behind you who knows this law and is abiding by t and your cycling is therefore causing a line up of cars to build up behind you then exit the road way and create your own three feet of space. Better that then get buzzed by lots of angry motorists zooming their way past the one car slowly following you waiting for three feet to show up.

On a final and sad note, there is reason to believe that only a few handful of these citations have ever been issued by the police here in Arizona since the bill passed in 2000. In a few notable fatality cases out of Tucson there have been glaring and obvious omissions of these citations where police reportedly forgot to even issue them. Luckily there is one documented case out of Scottsdale where a cyclist was hit and killed and it was reported that the driver plead guilty to violating the 3 foot law and was issued the maximum fine. Clearly we feel that this citation should be freely issued and investigated in nearly every bicycle wreck involving a vehicle and a cyclist. It should be looked at hard and then ruled out as oppose to omitted from the investigation entirely.

Summary: you are protected in Arizona by a Three Foot Safe Passing Law. By “protected” I mean there is a law out there that should be working in your favor but is likely never invoked by your local authorities. Secondly, even if invoked you are not protected by the motorist having to pay a fine if you were in a traffic lane while struck and there was a designated bicycle lane or path – in this scenario no fines to the motorist. Even if the cyclist was legally in the traffic lane when struck. Finally, the fines which I did not address in detail are so low they don’t adequately protect the vulnerability of cyclists and are therefore no deterrent at all for motorists to really give cyclists any space. I.e. A motorist can blatantly violate this law and cause serious injury to you nly to get fined $500, kill you and only get fined $1,000.

At least we have a three foot law… would be an even bigger disappointment if we didn’t.

-Ben Dodge

Keep the rubber side down!

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. Ben can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West, 2016, he really knows what it is like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

The 4 Basic Principles for Ultra Cycling 101

Welcome to the world of pain called Ultra Cycling. But it doesn’t have to be. I’m writing this to those of you who may be venturing out on your first ever “long” bicycle ride. Over the coming year or so we will be doing many “ultra” rides and many of you are coming out for the first time. Per their request I am writing down some basic pointers for getting into ultra cycling. These are just some of what I would call the “intro” points that you should be aware of when first getting into ultra cycling. There of course much more advanced topics we can discuss later, but these basic principles will help a great deal in your new journey into the Ultra cycling world. For me, I learned some of them the hard way through lots of rough miles in preparation for Race Across the West (RAW). Others I learned form more experienced cyclists who were kind enough to share their tips and ideas. Ultra cycling racing tips, practice, and strategies will of course be different and require more in depth review. But these tips are priceless to the soul who is just venturing out on his or her first couple of ultra rides.

A long ride in the Ultra cycling world is something well over 100 miles. There is no set number of miles before a ride becomes an ultra ride, but generally the further past 100 you go the more it starts to feel like an ultra cycling ride. Lets get some of the basics discussed in this blog to make sure that you can minimize discomfort and pain. Note that I never said you won’t feel any discomfort or pain. Ultra cycling by its very implied definition is long, uncomfortable, and eventually painful. The magic which draws some of us to this sport of ultra cycling is in what lies beyond the discomfort and pain, what you discover when you endure longer than all of the pain. The beauty of it all is what you see in you and in others when you push past the point of pain and discomfort. When you get to the mindset of the pain simply doesn’t matter anymore. Not every ultra ride will take you to those extremes, however, that sense of accomplishment and the accompanying feeling that can only be likened to some sort of enlightenment of oneself is teased out even in shorter ultra rides.

Ok, enough of my soap box feelings on ultra cycling. Lets get to the nitty gritty of proper preparation for your first few ultra rides. Your first few ultra cycling events or group rides will likely be in the neighborhood of 150-200 miles. This is where your love of ultra cycling can be born or buried depending on your preparation. Your preparation will minimize the pain and discomfort you may feel.

1) Nutrition:

Think of a 10+ hour ride as nothing more than an all day buffet. I personally love this idea because I love food. I love to eat. If I could get paid all day to just try the best foods this world has to offer I would do it in a heart beat. Thus my love for cycling… I have to do something to lose weight! But seriously, you will likely burn anywhere form 200-600 calories an hour or more depending on your pace. This means your body will be slowly depleting itself every hour until it has nothing left to give. This is what we call “bonking”. You should literally be eating all day. What you eat depends on your stomach and what it can handle while exercising. Regardless of your food choice you should attempt to consume about 300 calories per hour. It is hard for your body to absorb any more than that anyways. I have tried a billion things out there. Unless you spent months adapting to high fat fuels and you can keep your HR absolutely and strictly aerobic then you best be consuming a ton of carbs – so stay away from starch only fuels or you will hit bonk town for sure! You’ll need high quality carbs and lots of them. The kind that absorb quickly and don’t cause any GI distress. In all my rides over the years I have settles on Carborocket. It is by far and hands down the best product on the market. With each serving sitting at 330 calories and 84 grams of super carbohydrates it feels like rocket fuel for the endurance athlete. Zero GI distress for me. It doesn’t mix thick and gooey so I can put 3-4 servings in one bottle (i.e. 3-4 hours of nutrition in one bottle). Love that stuff. For 200+ mile rides I will supplement this with some solid foods as well just for mental pleasure. But I limit this because I don’t want to be caught in the middle of nowhere having a bowl movement… Sticking to fluids means all I have to do is pee every once in a while.

Other cyclists pound GU, Shot Blocks, Hammer, and more. In my opinion all of those products fall far too short on the quality and performance of Carborocket. Plus, the salt pills required to keep from cramping (remember you will be losing a lot of sweat over 10+ hours) are all included already in the carborocket mix. It is really an all in one nutrition – hard to beat. I will also take a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a banana and coke. The caffeine and sugar in Coke are like a much needed shot in the arm – liquid gold…

Salt pills are essential if you don’t enough salt in your nutrition plan already. I usually use endurolytes Also, some good ole fashioned pickle juice is a life saver for leg cramps. I keep much of this in my SAG vehicle if I get lucky enough to have one. Otherwise I pack it in my jersey. There is a company that makes little shots of Pickle Juice in single servings. I love that product.

Excedrin. Yep. You will get sore. For me my neck and shoulders still get sore from my experience during Race Across the West (930 mile non stop race from Oceanside CA to Durango CO). Advil or ibuprofen is dangerous with the liver or kidneys (google it – lots of endurance athletes run into trouble here). Excedrin can relieve the pain a bit and not ruin your kidneys. PLUS it has caffeine. Caffeine is one of your best friends on an endurance ride.

Water. Water. Water. Drink lots. Your body will need it. try to get 1 to 1.5 20 ounce water bottles down every hour. If it is warmer and you are sweating more then you may need to bump this up to 2 per hour. You may not feel like doing this during the first couple of hours, but if you neglect to properly hydrate you will pay for it later in the day. Hydration is so very important. Shorter crit races for 45 minutes, or even 2-4 hour road races you can mismanage hydration and nutrition and get away with it. This is NOT true in endurance cycling. Every time you drink or eat something you are doing it for a benefit in a few hours. Likewise, nearly every time you bonk or begin to struggle you can trace it backwards a couple of hours to a mistake with your nutrition or hydration. This is why Nutrition is the first topic in this blog. It is hands down the most important issue.

2) Clothing:

Always and forever dependent on weather. Pay attention to the terrain and the weather. Often in ultra cycling you can transcend several climates all in one ride. Know this ahead of time and plan for it. The hours without the sun can be cooler than expected, especially if you are sweaty. Sometimes you may start out in a warm desert and ascend to a cold mountain top. Plan for it. Pack it. Be smart.

Shoes – good cycling shoes are important. Make sure they are not too tight. Feet tend to swell on longer rides. Make sure your cycling shoes can loosen.

Sunscreen. Yep, sunburns are common because of the sheer amount of hours you are out exposed in the sun. Also – make sure you pack some lip balm, chap stick, etc. because the sun and wind will wreak havoc on your lips all day.

BIBS. I highly recommend a good pair of bibs that are not too old and worn down. The longer you ride in a pair of bibs the more compressed the chamois pad gets and the less comfortable you will be. Invest into some very good bibs, your bottom area will be forever grateful. In some of my longer rides I have been known to wear 2 pairs of bibs and I have never regretted that decision! Along that note, use chamois cream or butt butter or something to lube yourself for these long rides and some to take with you and reapply later in the day. Some of them come in single dose packages that fit nicely in your jersey or saddlebag.

Jacket – I would certainly recommend a light windbreaker/rain style jacket. Weather changes so much and these are often required during the night hours. Particularly after a long sweaty day in the saddle and then the sun sets and you find yourself in the cool mountain weather.

Sun glasses. No brainer right? Yep. Don’t forget them and don’t forget some clear glasses for the dark hours.

3) Gear:

Bike. Make sure it is all tuned up and ready to roll to minimize any shifting problems or mechanical failures while out on your ultra ride. Long rides seem to have a nice way of highlighting any deficiencies in your bike and gear. Get them taken care of before your ride. Double check your bike chain and your cassette. These often wear down faster than any other part and are almost always the likely culprit of shifting issues. If you feel like you can’t seamlessly shift between gears or it jumps a bit when you are trying to shift then your most likely issue is in the chain or the cassette or both. Of course, it could be anything so get your bike checked out and ready to roll.

FIT. Speaking of the bike, if you have not been professionally fit to your bike then I recommend it before any long ride. Long rides seem to highlight any deficiencies right? Yes. So if your fit is off then you will feel extra pain in places you probably don’t want to feel extra pain. It could be your knees, lower back, head neck and shoulders, hips, numb feet numb hands, and more. Most all of these issues can be avoided completely by riding the proper size bike for you and then of course being properly fitted to that bike. In my experience most bike shop owners and salesman really have no clue as what is really the proper size bike for you and the sell you what they have or what they think is “in the range” for you. They all assume that you can simply raise or lower the seat/handle bars and fix most any fit problems. Wrong. In fact they couldn’t be more wrong. Did you know that your frame size that fits properly for you can vary drastically based on manufacturer, and style of bike (i.e. TT bike vs Aero bike vs Gravel bike vs. Road Bike vs. MTN Bike, etc.)? Yep – get a professional fit. My favorite fit studio is Cyclologic. They routinely fit many pro cyclists from all over the world. Love their service and their reputation.

Lights. Almost all ultra rides start or end or go through night time conditions. Make sure your lights are fully charged and you have back ups if need be. Riding without lights is just stupid. I sincerely believe that riding during the day with lights should be mandatory. A bright blinking light can be the difference between a motorist seeing you and not seeing you. Be seen, not hit – is a motto I live by. Even my cycling clothing is obnoxiously (but tastefully cool) bright neon colors.

Drawstring style bag. Often as swag bags at events you are handed a drawstring bag of sorts. These are great because they crunch up so small and lightweight that you can simply keep it empty in your jersey pocket. Then, when you start shedding layers you can whip it out and place the extra layers in your drawstring bag and sling it over on your back. You won’t even feel it there. When the sunsets again you can put the layers back on and the bag back in your jersey pocket. Great idea for those long rides where you are in self support mode without a sag car to carry your stuff.

Ice Chest. If you are lucky enough to have a friend drive sag for you then I highly recommend an ice chest. Keep all of your drinks, food, etc in your ice chest. You’ll be so grateful you did. A nice cold drink during a long hot ride in the middle of nowhere is like a little slice of heaven.

Spare wheels. On ultra rides where you have a friend driving sag – don’t forget to throw in an extra wheel set if you have one. The last thing you want to do is terminate your ride early because of some pot hole or other hazard that wrecked your wheels and all of your training, prep, and volunteers have to call it quits now because you don’t have a replacement wheel. Along those same lines, pack lots of extra tubes, maybe a tire, CO2, and a pump. Again – if you have a friend driving sag then why not make sure you have all of this with you.

Tools. On my long sag supported rides I will also throw in my bike tool box. I have a decent set of bike tools for most any situation and they are always ready to go in a grab and go plastic tool box. I usually always throw that in as well. I may have only ended up using it once, but I was sure glad I had it!

4) Mental Prep:

Regardless of how sweet your bike is, or your gear, nutrition, clothing, or even your fitness, the most important part of any ultra ride is your mental preparation. I have given 3 days seminars on this topic alone and there is no way this short blurb in this blog will ever do it justice. However, I would be way out of line if I didn’t mention this as absolutely crucial to your ultra rides.

The most basic element in your mental preparation is realize that you as an individual are capable of at least 20x what you think you are capable of. If up to this point in your training you have only ever done 100 mile ride and you doubt whether you could do a 175 mile ride then you are fooling yourself. Of course you can. In fact you can likely do a 500 mile ride tomorrow if you had to. Start thinking much further down the road then what ever your goal is. When your mind starts to play tricks on you during the ride think of it as a training day and that you will someday do much more then what you are currently attempting and that you need to complete it as part of your training, even if you must then go a bit slower to make the miles. Think beyond your goal.

Visualize. Spend sometime quietly reflecting on your upcoming ride and visualize yourself completing it. Visualize yourself overcoming some negative situation (i.e windy conditions, fatigue, more climbing, etc.). Anticipate these in advance and spend sometime deciding now how you will react and then visualize yourself doing it. Visualization is a powerful technique that empowers you to accomplish what you aim for. And of course, you should be aiming high – like really really high.

A good friend of mine always told me to never make any decisions in the dark. In some of our long endurance activities from 100 mile ultra runs, Kokoro camp with the Navy Seals, training rides for RAW, or during RAW, all where you are required to endure all through night for days in a row without breaks… the best advice that has stuck with me is never make any decisions at night. If you feel like quitting then just wait until the sun comes again before you allow yourself to make that decision and you will feel a renewed sense of commitment and likely you will keep going. However, if you allow yourself to decide at night then you will always opt out. Wait for the sun to come up again and then reevaluate your decision and how you feel – you will probably push on.

Meditate. Yep, can’t do too much of this. It doesn’t have to be something like you see some monk doing in a movie (although kudos to you if you can do it that way!). Meditation is a powerful way to calm the mind and take control over negative thoughts. This is how you stay in control on long rides. Practice meditation techniques that work for you for prep leading up to your ride as well as techniques that work during your ride. You simply can’t meditate enough. Learn what works for you. For me simple breathing techniques are very effective. I personally love box breathing as taught to me by one of my Navy Seal mentors Mark Divine.

Conclusion:

There is simply much more out there we should discuss in greater detail. But as noted, this is a great little intro into ultra cycling and you will be better prepared for your first few ultra cycling adventures. In time we can discuss each of these topics in greater detail, but for now be mindful of your nutrition, clothing, gear, and mental preparation. These 4 basic principles will minimize your pain and discomfort during your ultra cycling adventures. Good luck, have fun, and I’ll see you out there on the road!

-Ben Dodge, Keep the rubber side down!

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. Ben can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West, 2016, he really knows what it is like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

Selfies of Vehicle Driver Caught on Facebook Saves Legal Case!

Finally settled for full policy limits with an insurance carrier who for months has denied any and all liability. Said insurance company hit and nearly killed our client while riding his bicycle in his neighborhood. Our client, who was 13 years old at the time, was hurt so badly that he had multiple brain surgeries and extensive medical procedures done just to attempt to save his life over the course of about a year.

After months and months of treatment this young boy not only lives but has made a seemingly full recovery! He is literally an inspiration to me and to many others. His case on the other hand was complicated from the start. The insurance company quite predictably tried to blame the young boy for the accident and refused any liability even from the very beginning.

The mother had actually retained another law office prior to consulting with me as a member of the National Bike Accident Attorneys Network. I recall listening to her story of the frustration she encountered and the roadblocks set up immediately by the insurance carrier. I remember thinking to myself that this case was going to be difficult and that without a committed and experienced bicycle lawyer this family would likely be stuck with significant medical bills. I was right.

We had a great conversation and she instantly agreed that our firm was a much better fit as all we handle are bicycle crash cases. We accepted the case and immediately went to work. After reviewing thousands of pages of documents provided to us by our client’s diligent mother it became clear that we were facing potential medical bills well over a million dollars and an insurance carrier that refused all liability. This was going to be a tough case with a high probability of my firm not getting paid a cent.

The policy limits in this case ended up being around $120K. Even if were to be successful in proving liability we had a massive medical bill issue as the liens alone were close to a million dollars. This is when as an attorney you have to be committed to your client more than to making a buck. Ask yourself as a client this important question: How committed is my lawyer? Will he/she do everything in his/her power to protect my interest or will they give up when it looks like they won’t make any money? If you even sort of hesitate with your answer then run away, and run away fast. Sadly, the personal injury side of the legal industry is full of greedy attorneys that only look for the quick buck or the big cases.

Obviously I am committed. I have been told many times that I am the most committed and determined person that most people will ever meet. Here is how this story goes condensed for your reading pleasure:

We rolled up our sleeves and went to work. Inviting the mother who already proved to be a valuable asset to help us dig up anything we could on the driver. We were all convinced that this girl driving the car was very distracted or she couldn’t have possibly hit our client.
Working closely with the mother, we uncovered some damning photos posted on social media (Face Book) where this driver not only like taking selfies of herself in the car, but she may even have been addicted to “driving selfies”. She had posted hundreds of selfies while driving on her FB account. We downloaded every single one of them for use with her insurance carrier. Some of these pictures are posted here with her face blurred out to protect her identity (notice one of them even while she had her infant son in her car – yikes!).
Finally after proving liability sufficiently to the insurance carrier (the FB pictures proved to be most helpful) they agreed to settle at full policy limits. So far, no other firm was able to even get this far or was even willing to work this hard knowing that the medical bills far outweighed the settlement at 11:1. With over $1,000,000.00 in medical bills/liens and only $120,000.00 to spread around for our clients we rolled up our sleeves and went to work knowing that at the end of the day we would be lucky to get the medical bills even half paid for our clients and all this for free as there was not enough money to even pay a fee to our firm. That didn’t matter. We were committed to our clients regardless of our eventual payout.
After months of head banging negotiations we succeeded in getting $1,000,000.00+ in medical bills and liens waived and reduced to a total of about $35K! Our client was able to know that not only did he not have to worry about bills he could never pay, but now he had some money left over for a college fund. Awesome day.

Thank you Face Book. Thank you for making this case possible. 😉

Moral of the story: 1) Don’t post stupid pictures or comments on FB; and 2) if you ever get hurt in a bicycle crash make sure you find a bicycle lawyer more committed to you than to his/her own pocket book.

How committed is your attorney?

-Ben Dodge, Keep the rubber side down!

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. Ben can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West, 2016, he really knows what it is like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and has founded a national network of independent bicycle lawyers that can assist in representation in all 50 states.

Landscape Trailers: Fatal to Cyclists

In Arizona landscape companies are literally on every street and every corner with their large trucks and tow behind trailers parked in bike lanes, in traffic lanes, on top of sidewalks and just about everywhere you can imagine.

There is little regard for the safety of cyclists when these companies park their trucks and trailers. In fact, there is little regard for their own equipment as they just haphazardly and lazily park where it is most convenient for their landscaping tasks. Its as if they don’t want to walk “too far” when exiting their truck and trailers to jump on their sit down powered mowers or to trim some trees/bushes. Their trucks and trailers are littered through the streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks of Arizona making it very dangerous for cyclists. Bicycle accidents and crashes involving landscape trailers are sadly a common occurrence in Arizona.

Occasionally it is a landscape trailer or landscape truck that drives into or over a cyclist while turning or parking. And other times it can be dangerously parked landscape truck and trailer that proves nearly impossible for a cyclist to avoid crashing into it.

Recently we just finished our representation of a dear family who fatally lost a loved one in a bike crash with a dangerously parked landscape trailer. Initially the landscape company denied all liability trying to blame the cyclist for running into a parked landscape trailer. They played the blame game saying that it must be the cyclist’s fault since the trailer was parked and not moving. Of course they were wrong. After about a year they began to realize that their employees shouldn’t have parked so recklessly and dangerously in the traffic and bike lane. They began to realize that if so parked they really ought to have placed some traffic cones out or at least turned on hazard lights to warn other traffic (including cyclists) that they were dangerously parked there. They began to realize that they force cyclists into dangerous and compromising positions with oncoming traffic.

This was a difficult and sensitive case but eventually the landscape company agreed to settle out of court. Our clients, the family of a loved cyclist in town, were finally able to start to put this nasty and fatal wreck behind them. Moving forward we are eager to help put in place safer traffic laws and regulations to help protect cyclists against such reckless and intentionally dangerous parking practices of landscape companies.

Our advice, be safe out there and be alert to landscape companies because they are not aware of you.

-Ben Dodge

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

A bicycle crash is not always an accident. If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle crash or accident caused by a road hazard or dangerous road condition, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben Dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States. Ben also founded Bike Accident Attorneys Network, a national network of attorneys who focus on representing cyclists. Ben can find you help anywhere in the country.

Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. Having competed in 8 Ironman triathlons, numerous local and national cycling races, and a successful finish in the Race Across the West, 2016, he really knows what it is like to ride and race a bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.

A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free

In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:

your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.

You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. Dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.

Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC

Call Ben Dodge, the Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.

Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com

His main Arizona offices are located at:

Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206

Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including but not limited to mesa, phoenix, tucson, yuma, gilbert, peoria, glendale, scottsdale, ahwatukee, tempe, chandler, prescott, sedona, flagstaff, surprise, kingman, page, lake havasu city, payson, goodyear, buckeye, queen creek, paradise valley, show low, winslow, maricopa, nogales, globe, avondale, cave creek, fountain hills, apache junction, carefree, wickenburg, pinetop-lakeside, strawberry, anthem, safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and can assist in representation in all 50 states.