Know When to Walk Away – Saving a Failed Mediation

I was sitting in a conference room just a few days ago with my clients, a now grieving widow and her devastated daughter when the Mediator finally walks into the room to convey the insurance company’s offer for the fatal bicycle crash case we were fighting for. A local landscape company with a 1$ million dollar policy and liable for the death of a local cyclist has denied even making an offer to the surviving family to this point in the case. He opens by saying, “Do not be insulted, they are only willing to pay $12,000.00.”

Do not be insulted? Are you kidding me? My clients are in tears now. This negotiation has to change and it has to change right now. After hours of discussing the strengths and weaknesses, the evidence, expert witnesses, etc., in this case with the Mediator – this is their offer to our 1 Million dollar demand. $12k? That doesn’t even cover a decent funeral. The mediator was smart enough to mention that he felt they would pay at least 6 digits… probably between $100k-$150k, but that “they wanted to send a message that they will never pay anything near 1 million.”

My response was swift and simple. I knew they were going to play games. I knew they were simply sending a message. I knew immediately what to do, I wanted to send a message of my own. I wanted them to know that I don’t play games. The value of this case to my clients far exceeds any dollar amount. This family doesn’t need any money. They are pretty well off enough without the money. This case was a case in principle for them. They want to make a difference for future wrecks such as this one. To be truthful, my clients would have walked away from the case entirely if the landscape company had simply apologized for the bike wreck in the beginning. Instead, they attempted to cover it up and dismiss any wrong doing on their part.

With this in mind, my response was not difficult to formulate. I stood up and pushed away from the table stating simply: “You can tell them we will happily see them in court.” End of story. Not interested in wasting another minute or putting my clients, now in tears, through any more of the “games” so often associated with this process. My intention was simple and straight forward, settle for policy limits or take it to trial and risk the jury awarding something less or something far greater than 1 million. That message was received loud and clear. As we were leaving the mediator came rushing in and asked for a counter offer assuring me that the insurance company is indeed willing to pay 6 digits, maybe even up to $300k. This of course is a vast improvement from the $12K they initially offered, but fell far short of the real value of the case.

Sometimes You Fight Best by Walking Away
Sometimes You Fight… Sometimes You Fight by Walking Away

The mediator insisted that I give them a counter offer. Perfect, I now had another opportunity to “send a message” to these clowns. I thought for a moment, looked at my clients whose eyes seemed to be pleading for me to honor their belief in this case, then I said: “Sure, please tell the insurance company that we can accept a full and global settlement on all of my clients’ claims for $1 million dollars minus $12K. I believe that would be a 6 digit figure of $988,000.00.” Looking at me in disbelief, the mediator said they will never go for that. “I know,” I said. Returning to the room he said they denied that offer and that there is nothing more for us to do here today. Wishing us well he ushered us out with a great interest in following our case. He mentioned he will keep track of this one as it is very unique.

Looking back on this mediation it occurs to me that an effective attorney will know not only what is best for the case and for his clients in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of his/her case, but will also know how to manage the clients’ hopes, fears, and desires. In this case, it was predictable that the insurance company would low ball us. While I expected an opening offer around $200k, it was shocking to get such a low ball offer of only $12k! My clients were pissed. It became instantly clear that no settlement would be reached today. My focus then turned on gathering as much information about their position and tactics as possible while ALSO making sure they received a like manner and equally shocking response. This case is not so cut and dry – and I am not at liberty to discuss the case details yet, but it is safe to say that the case can go either really well for my clients or really poorly. They already know this. I have spoken at great lengths with them regarding the pros and cons. The insurance company has been attempting to beat us up for about a year now on this and has yet to even make an offer. They clearly expected us to give into the intimidation and fear tactics of their negotiation strategy and hoped we would accept a little something as opposed to the nothing they feel would get at trial. This is exactly why a shocking response to them was required. Walking away and forcing them into court is exactly what it took for them to go from $12k to $300k. Our shocking response was well received and yet it is only the beginning.

I’m confident that in this case we will do even better given more time with them, and more opportunities for evidence gathering and depositions, etc. The mediator had been doing this for 40+ years and didn’t even feel we had a case at first. (Which undoubtedly influenced the insurance company). But by the end he was changing his opinion and very intrigued by our position, to the point of asking permission to follow the case closely to see how it develops.

The point of the story is, that even if you don’t think you have a good bike crash case you should consult with our office and determine whether not you in fact have a case. The other point is, that sometimes you just have to know when to walk away from a bad negotiation to actually make it into a good negotiation and ultimately get what you and your clients want.

-Ben Dodge

Bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben-&-BikeA 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.

Why Every Cyclist Should Ride with a Camera!

We all know someone who has been run off the road, or worse hit and the driver just carries on as if our lives as cyclist are infinitely inferior to those of the drivers. Of course cyclists lives matter! Yet, it doesn’t always seem so when a bike wreck actually happens. I often encounter drivers who fled the scene, or drivers who are absolutely certain it is the cyclists fault that their car(s) hit them. I have seen countless police officers inappropriately or unknowingly issue citations to cyclists when a car has struck the cyclist. I have seen an innumerable amount of cases where the insurance company fights to the death (no pun intended) defending the illegal and careless driving behavior of their clients. I have been involved with many bike crash cases where the cyclist has been struck unconscious and can’t remember what happened. Below is a sample video of a rear facing mounted bicycle camera (Cycliq Fly6):

These are just a small number of very good reasons to ride with a bike camera mounted to your bike. All of the above scenarios could have been resolved more effectively and more quickly had the cyclist been riding with a video camera. They say that the streets of any decent sized city are as close to a “jungle” as we can get when we ride our bikes through them. In fact, you will often hear it described as surviving the “urban jungle.” I believe that surviving the urban jungle comes down to several different issues that can each help protect us as cyclists. Some of them include knowing and following the traffic rules in the jurisdiction that you ride. It may be riding more defensively and more aware of others around you. It could also be important to dress in colors that are contrasting and easy to see. Another is to ride with bike lights day or night, and then of course be sure ot get the ones that blink with a non uniform pattern. All of these are important, but this article will focus on how helpful/important it is to ride with video cameras on your bike.

Fly12
Cycliq Fly12 1080p HD Action Camera and 400 Lumen Bicycle Light

A video camera canon your bicycle can clear up a ton of unanswered questions or misguided perceptions of what really happened if you get in a wreck. It can capture the bad behavior of both the cyclist and the motorist. In fact, I believe that riding with a video camera heightens your own sense of awareness as a cyclist and you are more inclined to follow the traffic rules. Even just recently I was reviewing some video footage form my rear facing video camera and back light combo unit (the Fly6 by Cycliq) and noticed that I was riding very close to the white line of the bike lane and that some of my friends were crossed over it. During our next ride I made more conscious efforts to be entirely inside the bike lane.

Traditionally the only camera really out there has been the GoPro. The GoPro has an incredible amount of features and capabilities that are certainly not limited to cycling. But then you have to know how to use them or you can end up wasting some money. The upside to the GoPro in my opinion is that it is so versatile in its uses and mounting locations that you can literally capture as much footage from as many different angles as possible. The downside, that every time you use a GoPro, or really any other video camera, you are mounting more and more cameras on your bike. This can add weight to your bike and significantly increase your drag and can be pretty costly.

If you are into effective and simple solutions like me then you would probably fall in love with my new favorite bike light + video camera combo unit. Cycliq has just released a pair of bike lights that are also video cameras. Yep, that’s right, your bike light can also be a video camera. No need for mounting a billion things to your bike. They have a forward facing 400 lumen light and 1080p HD camera unit called the Fly12. And then they have the rear facing 720p HD action camera and bike light called the Fly6. Together these bike lights have your back and your front! They are offer incredible video quality and astoundingly long lasting battery life.

Fly6
Cycliq Fly6 – Rear facing 720p HD Action Camera and Bicycle Light

My absolute favorite part about the Cycliq Fly 12 or Fly6 is that I just simply charge them and use them like bike lights. They just happen to also be recording everything as I ride. They have continuous loop recording technology so you never have to worry about your sd card maxing out on memory and your video footage just stopping. It simply starts recording the older footage and keeps going. This way you just charge it like your typical bike light and use it every ride like normal. Only remove your sd car or plug your light into your computer when you want to pull off the footage and review it.

The Fly12 forward facing light also integrates into strava and can display your speed, heart rate, and other info in the bottom of the video screen. Pretty cool. Plus the Fly 12 has an app for you to connect to it from your smart phone and edit settings or even preview footage. Just dang cool.

Now I ride with the Fly12 and Fly6 every ride as my bike lights. I simply charge them like my old lights and I’m off for my ride knowing that I have video footage in front and back. So cool.

You can review all of the facts, technical data, and even sample video footage on their website at: https://cycliq.com/

Arizona bicycle crash and bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben-&-BikeA 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.

Are Cyclists Safe Stopped at a Red Light? A Group of 10 Cyclists Hit With 2 Confirmed Dead in Tucson AZ

Phot by Pima County Sheriff's Department

It is with much tragedy in our hearts that we report the tragic bike crash on Thursday March 3rd in Tucson Arizona, Pima County. According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department a man named Brian Lynch, 28 years old, was driving under the influence when he struck a group of 10 cyclists stopped at a red light. Stopped at a red light! The wreck occurred approximately at 12:30pm in he light of day. Out of the 10 cyclists in the group 5 were struck by Lynch. Clare Rhodes, 72 years old, died at the scene. Kenneth Vieria, 68 years old, died after being transported to the hospital. The other cyclists were transported to the hospital where one remains in critical condition.

Brian Lynch
Brian Lynch

Brian Lynch was arrested for driving under the influence, 2 counts of manslaughter, 2 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, 1 count of aggravated assault with serious injury and criminal damage.

The bicyclists were reported as members of Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes from New Mexico. All of the cyclists were reported to have been legally in the bike lane.

What can be done in a scenario like this? How can you prevent such an accident from happening? Most of us think we are safe when we are stopped at a red light. Most of us think that during the light of day we can surely be seen and no driver would ever hit us when we are legally in the bike lane stopped at a red light. The answer in my opinion is you are probably right. This is an extremely rare scenario. There is just not much you can do as a cyclist when an impaired driver is behind the wheel. That is exactly what impaired driving results in! This Brian Lynch guy drinks a few too many beers, or consumes drugs, etc. and then drives around and can then not see a group of 10 cyclists stopped at the red light. Did he even see the red light? Who knows.

As a bicycle crash lawyer I have a ton of questions I would love to ask Mr. Brian Lynch. Believe me, you don;t have to go all crazy nuts on a guy like this. He probably already feels guilty. While I am less concerned for how he feels and more concerned for getting to the bottom of how and why he couldn’t see such a decent sized group of cyclists stopped at a red light, I would still line up for some tough questions.

In my experience an impaired or even a distracted driver — i.e. some idiot texting while driving — in their 2 ton truck is no match for a bicyclist or even a group of bicyclists whop are simply vulnerable to the decisions of the drivers who are supposed to share the roads with us cyclists. This is a terrible and tragic experience that leaves me personally disturbed and deeply saddened. I hope that out of this tragic bike crash at least some justice can be served, some reform in bicycle legislation can be reached, some deeper awareness by other drivers can be obtained. My heart and prayers are with the families and victims of those who were so tragically affected by this bike wreck.

Tucson Arizona bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben-&-BikeIf you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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 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. 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.

Texting While Driving is MORE Dangerous than Drinking & Driving

Did you know that according to the National Safety Council, texting while driving causes 1.6 million accidents per year?! And just think, that is only the accidents where someone actually reported texting. What about all of those accidents where a driver was distracted but never admits to texting? I’d guess that it would easily be double or more if accurately reported. Additionally, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study found that 330,000 people were reported to be injured due to an accident involving a driver who was texting. And nearly 25% of all car accidents are caused by texting and driving. This is becoming a huge problem. I know I have to consciously think about not texting and driving. It literally takes restraint and self discipline. I often find myself in my truck driving down the road and I realize that in the quiet moments of driving I suddenly remember a ton of things I should be doing, people I should be following up with, etc. and the desire to shoot out a quick text is almost always present. It is simply not worth it. Lets all try and be less distracted, more focused, and more aware of bicycles while we are driving.

A cool info graphic with some pretty potent statistics about driving while texting; also nick named driving while intexticated, was published in 2012 by Kristin Marino. I loved it enough to republish it here with permission. I love how she states that once we understand how risky this behavior is we will realize that an OMG or LOL is never worth the risk while driving.

DWI: Driving While Intexticated
Originally published by and Courtesy of: http://www.onlineschools.com

Arizona based bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben-&-BikeIf you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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 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. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge is a proud member of Bike Law. Bike Law is a national network of elite like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, 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 Arizona 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.

Funny James Corden Bike Lane Video & “Rich Old White Ladies”

Bicycle lanes are one of the incredibly important areas of the law that provides safety to cyclists. Many cyclists and concerned citizens are actively involved in their cities to try and get more bike lanes approved. Yet, in the city of Coronado there is a public group that went to town hall to fight the addition of more bike lanes. As if that is not a shame in and of it self, check out their reasons why more bike lanes in the city are bad. Then check out the comedian James Corden from the Late Late Show who does a great job of pointing out how absurd it is!

Their reasons:

  1. “We are covering Coronado with paint stripe pollution.”
  2. “The graffiti on the streets does not help our property values.” She seriously called bike lanes graffiti.
  3. “It brings to mind a visual cacophany that looks like, if you look there long enough, that it can induce a dizzying type of vertigo.” WOW! That is a mouthful. By the way a cacophany is: a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
  4. “For me its very similar to personally taking all three of my daughters to a tattoo parlor and having them completely body tattooed.” WHAT?! Hilarious.
  5. And from the mayor: “What the public wants they should get.”

The comedian points out that these people are trying to make a HUGE problem out of something that is really pretty absurd. He calls them “rich old white ladies.” Makes me wonder how much time they have if they can come together and try and argue that bike lanes are as offensive as tattoos, or are making people dizzy when you look at them, or are no better than graffiti, etc. That is just crazy.

Although a hilarious stand up act, it does highlight the problem we often face when trying to get new bicycle legislation. Alas, for your viewing pleasure:

 

Arizona based bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben-&-BikeIf you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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 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. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge is a proud member of Bike Law. Bike Law is a national network of elite like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, 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 Arizona 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.

Dear Cyclist, the driver gets away with 55% of the time.

Dear Cyclist,

I am writing this blog to you so I can help reassure you that your fears and concerns for you rights as a cyclist are absolutely true. I wish I had better news for you. I wish I could tell you that everything will be OK and that the statistics are on your side. Sadly, I can only confirm your suspicions and aggravate your anxiety.

In Arizona we have wonderful weather that allows you to rid your bike all year long. Sure the winter is “cold” but not that cold compared to other snow laden destinations. Sure the summer is hot, but we can hydrate and jump in our pool after a long ride. So why not ride your bike all the time? I think I know why you are a little scared that you could be falsely accused of breaking the laws.

Like you, one of my worst fears is getting in a wreck with a car. Unfortunately this happens quite a bit in Arizona. I’m lucky enough to help many of the cyclists that live here. I have learned from reviewing the public records, collision summary reports, Arizona bicycle laws, and police reports that if you do get in a wreck with a car you have a shockingly high chance of being the one found at fault. I know how bad this may sound and worse how much it can affect your bike accident case and what the insurance companies will be willing (if at all) to settle for.

Lets look at the disturbing facts together. The at fault or who was found NOT to be in violation is what concerns me the most. Here are some scary figures for you from the great city of Phoenix as of 2013:

-482 Reported Bicycle Crashes
-412 of those crashes reported injuries
-10 of those bicycle wrecks were fatal

Who is at fault? Lets look based on the police reports and citations issued:

-No Violation issued to Cyclist: 27%! This means that 73% of the time when you are hit by a car you will be found in the wrong as having violated some traffic code.
-No Violation issued to Motorist: 55%! This means that only 45% of the time the driver will be found at fault.

Seems unbelievable and unfair doesn’t it? This begs that we look a little further.

What were the actions of the motorists? Cyclists? Fortunately we know. 35% of the time the motorist was going straight. Yep, a whopping 35% of the time a motorist simply was going straight and hit a cyclist. 53% of the time a motorist was either turning right or left. 12% of the time the motorist was doing some “other” thing or it was “unknown” as to what the driver was doing. Lets break this down a bit further. 482 bicycle crashes and in 216.9 of them the driver was found to be in some sort of violation (failed to yield – 16%; unknown -10%; inattention – 8%; other – 7%; speed to fast – 2%; disregarded signal – 2%). How is that a driver can be turning right or left in 255.46 (53%) of the 482 accidents and yet in only 216.9 total accidents they are found to be at fault? How is that the “Failed to Yield” or “Inattention” stats of a combined total of 24% of the violation collisions only account for 115.68 of the bicycle collisions? When in 35% of the collisions (168.7 wrecks) the driver was actually going straight and yet drivers were only cited for inattention 38.56 cases? This is really messed up.

Actions of Bicycles
Actions of Bicycles
Actions of Drivers
Actions of Drivers

It gets worse – of the 482 bike wrecks reported in Phoenix in 2013; 347 times the cyclist was simply going straight. The cyclist wasn’t turning left, right, or even crossing the street. 347 times the cyclist was going straight and somehow the driver gets cited for inattention 38.56 times. I don’t know about you, but I am definitely not ok with these facts. This is a bit disturbing. There are a ton of very helpful and interesting statistics that even break this down further. I don’t want to bore all of you with the details in this little blog; so here is a link to the 2013 report I was referencing. Check it out and email me with questions. I am happy to discuss Arizona bike law all day long.

My advice to you: be safe out there! Be kind to the police who are investigating your accident as they will likely get it wrong and we will need them to not form a negative opinion about you or your wreck. And finally, don’t give up riding your bike! Driving a car is not a right, but a privilege that can be revoked anytime. Whereas riding your bike is so much more. There are more and more of us out there riding side by side with you. These numbers will get better in time. We must all take responsibility in our individual worlds to make cycling a safer sport, recreational pastime, and means of transpiration.

Sincerely your friend and fellow cyclist,

Ben Dodge

 

 

Arizona bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben-&-BikeIf you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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.

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. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge is a proud member of Bike Law. Bike Law is a national network of elite like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, 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 (855.one.ez.call). 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 Arizona 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.

Is it legal to ride my bike on the sidewalk?

By far one of the most frequently asked questions I get asked is: Is it legal to ride my bike on the sidewalk? The answer is is both simple and complicated. Don’t you hate that? Aren’t lawyers famous for not giving straight answers? Jeez. Here is the short and simple answer: Yes it is legal in Arizona to ride your bike on a sidewalk, sometimes, well it depends on what city you are in and if it is specifically prohibited by sign or statute. See what I mean? Its both simple and complicated.

To understand how this really works it is important to remember that under the Arizona Revised Statutes, cyclists operating on the roadway or shoulder must follow the same rules that apply to drivers (see A.R.S. 28-812). Yet, sidewalks ARE NOT part of the roadway or shoulder according to our statutes (see A.R.S. 28-601). And even further, drivers of motor vehicles are expressly forbidden from driving on sidewalks (see A.R.S. 28-904). That is the sum total of State Statutes on the topic. In short, there is no Arizona state law that prohibits or even mentions cycling on sidewalks.

HOLD ON – we are not done yet. Even though there is not a state law that prohibits cycling on a sidewalk, it can still be illegal. “How is that possible?” you ask… Our Arizona Revised Statutes specifically grant local municipalities to further regulate the operation of bicycles (see A.R.S. 28-627). “Oh come on!” you may be thinking… and “how am I supposed to know each little city’s local rules?” That is right. It is sort of a bum deal for the cyclist who rides in a metropolitan area such as Maricopa county which is literally covered by 24 cities and towns which in large part all connect. And to make it worse this doesn’t even account for the towns and cities that are in Pinal county that also border and connect to many of the cities in Maricopa county. It is very possible for a cyclist to go for a ride and cross through 4-10 different cities. And in each case they will have their own unique laws. Whats even more problematic, is that the local law enforcement is often mistaken about the local laws and will issue citations in error against the cyclist.

“Real Life” example – a cyclist in the east valley goes for a standard 25-40 mile ride with some friends starting in Gilbert Arizona. The small group rides through sections of Gilbert and up into Mesa Arizona briefly passing through the ASU area of Tempe Arizona before returning back home through Mesa and then into Arizona. Classic route and often traveled. While in Gilbert the cyclist may ride on the sidewalk so long as there isn’t a sign prohibiting it and may even ride in any direction he/she chooses on the sidewalk. When entering Mesa it is very different. In Mesa you may ride your bike on any sidewalk EXCEPT if a sign is posted prohibiting. The main difference is that the City Traffic Engineer is the only one authorized to erect the signs and only in a specific geographic area labeled the Pedestrian Overlay Area (or POA). Thus, when in Mesa Arizona have at on the sidewalks unless you enter the boundaries of the POA at which point you need to be on the lookout for any signs prohibiting the operation of bicycles on the sidewalks. Its good to know this section of Mesa to avoid any unnecessary citations. Then when headed to Tempe Arizona a cyclist may ride on the sidewalk so long as a sign is not erected which bans sidewalk riding – BUT the cyclist may only ride in the direction of traffic when riding on the sidewalk. Then this same cyclist (now firmly accustomed to the Maricopa county “sign” rules of the various local municipalities) drives down to Tucson to hit up Mt. Lemon or ride/race in the national famous El Tour de Tucson. The cyclist leaves his or her hotel and notices no signage prohibiting sidewalk riding, he/she rides via the sidewalk for a short stretch to get to the start of the route and gets immediately busted by the local cops. Why? Because Tucson simply and absolutely prohibits sidewalk riding UNLESS a sign expressly permits it (see Tucson Municipal code section 5-2). Tucson Arizona – backwards from the rest of the state. It gets confusing right? Yes. Best to know and understand every local community’s rules for operating a bicycle if you wish to avoid a citation, or more importantly to avoid any liability when a car hits you and the officer ends up citing you as the cyclist! When a cyclist is cited, even improperly, the insurance companies adamantly deny paying out any coverage for the accidents. It is an incredible process to get citations reversed or dismissed, police reports edited or amended, and insurance adjustors to change their opinion when they think the cyclist is at fault.

City of Mesa Arizona Pedestrian Overlay Area (POA) Map
City of Mesa Arizona Pedestrian Overlay Area (POA) Map

How about the even bigger issue that some of you may be asking yourself: “Why wold you ride on the sidewalk anyways?” Great question! I highly recommend that you avoid riding on the sidewalk all together. You are actually far safer to ride in the street with the cars than on the sidewalk! In a 2010 bicycle collision summary report published by the City of Phoenix, it appears that in approximately 70% of the bicycle collisions the cyclist was riding on the sidewalk just before the collision. There have not been these same reports as widely published or produced since 2010. Yet the data seems to remain the same – riding on the sidewalk is far more dangerous than riding appropriately in the streets.

For now, lets just be safe out there on our bikes. Lets be extra cautious as we approach sidewalks, intersections, etc. When deciding to ride on the sidewalk in Arizona I would consult the local municipal codes first to ensure that you are not violating there laws. In Maricopa county you can almost rest easy to know that it is allowed unless there is a sign prohibiting it (with some exceptions of course). Be sure to travel in the right direction and not against the flow of traffic.

Arizona bicycle accident lawyer Ben Dodge

Ben-&-BikeIf you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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.

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. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben Dodge is a proud member of Bike Law. Bike Law is a national network of elite like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, 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 (855.one.ez.call). 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 Arizona 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.

Alliance for Biking & Walking Partners with Bike Law!

Aliance logo

New Partnership with Alliance for Biking and Walking

Ben Dodge of Bike Accident Attorneys PLC is a proud member of Bike Law and represents cyclists throughout Arizona and the southwest. As a proud member of Bike Law, a national network of bicycle lawyers, we are proud to announce a new partnership with the Alliance for Biking & Walking. This partnership will allow more cyclists to get qualified and expert legal assistance throughout the country. Ben practices law in Arizona and primarily represents cyclists in Arizona; however, Ben can assist a cyclist anywhere in the United States and hep find qualified representation through the Bike Law network. We welcome this new partnership eagerly look forward to the growth and improved representation available to cyclists everywhere.

The Bike Law Network

bike-law-badgeThe Bike Law Network is a team of like-minded bicycle advocates and accident attorneys. Founded by Peter Wilborn, Bob Mionske, and Ann Groninger, it has expanded to cover 20 states. The Arizona Bike Law attorney is our very own Ben Dodge of Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC. Alliance members have access to on-call assistance from national experts, including pro-bono legal services offered by Bike Law.

You can reach them at info@bikelaw.com and at (844) 531-7530. Or contact directly the Bike Law lawyer in your state.

 

Bike Attorneys

Click each state name to view the full directory on BikeLaw.com.

Alabama

Arizona

Colorado

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Louisiana

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

New York

North Carolina

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Bicycle Advocacy | D.C. to AZ – Do our legislators even care?

IMG_9268Just a couple of weeks ago I enjoyed the opportunity to attend the League of American Bicyclists National Summit in Washington D.C. The entire town is full of would be movers and shakers in just about every identifiable political cause. With the National Bike Summit underway there were plenty of politically minded advocates ready to go to war with their state senators and representatives to help advance the cycling legislative issues of the day.

After several days of various cycling related topics and guest speakers all of us as attendees split up into groups based on our different states we represent. We formulated a game plan and then went to “the hill” (that’s capitol hill) armed with brochures, questions, and statistics to try and get support for some new legislation coming up for debate (i.e. the transportation bill among others).

It didn’t take long to note that we were politely accepted and welcomed into the legislative offices, but that our agenda was more like a request to save some sort of spotted squirrel that no one really cared about. At all times we were treated with professionalism and were absolutely listened to. Yet, there was a definite feeling of disinterest or at least minimal concern for the cycling issues.

I for one was not surprised and expected as much. These are very busy and powerful individuals with very complicated and tangled political agendas that didn’t necessarily include cyclists and our roadways, protective laws, and infrastructure funding. By the end of the day I was amazed at what I had learned about the process of “advocating” as an individual and how effective or ineffective it can be.

badge-azFast forward to a week and half later and I found myself sitting in the office Arizona Senator (and president of the senate) Andy Biggs. My appointment with him had been changed and rescheduled by both of us for a period of a couple of months. Finally we were able to sit down face to face and have a chat about our very specific Arizona laws. I had heard from several in the bicycle community that Andy Biggs was no friend to cyclists and that he absolutely doesn’t care about cycling safety as he feels the laws on the books already are good enough. In fact, he has been quoted as saying that several times before.

Somewhat apprehensive and very eager to get to the bottom of it I went into this appointment full of hope and optimism. I left full of disappointment. Here is what I learned about Arizona Cycling Laws from our very own local legislators:

  1. 1) Cycling safety is very important. I was told in the very beginning how important cycling safety is to Andy Biggs. Yet, when it came down to it who would ever say that they are not concerned for the safety of the cyclists? My short and effective response would be: Prove it. Show me. Show us. The statement of cycling safety being very important really felt hollow. I know he meant well and I don’t fault him for saying it, but I couldn’t help but feel short of any support for the statement. Andy Biggs has certainly been very vocal and adamant against passing any cycling safety laws in our recent history.
  2. 2) Cyclists shouldn’t get any special treatment. “There are relatively few cyclists compared to the mass amount of motorists – so why should they get any special treatment?” No joke – this is almost word for word what he said to me!  At first ear shot it sounds a bit appalling. And in the past when this statement was made to some local cycling advocates there was nothing short of a verbal brawl that ensued and ended badly. The “blood” from that battle still seems strewn everywhere and the wounds are not yet healed. Satire aside, Andy Biggs definitely feels like the majority of the people should get special treatment and not the minority – in this example that means that Arizona cyclists will continue to suffer from his lack of legislative support in part, simply because there are more drivers than cyclists. Wow. That is a tough pill to swallow.
  3. 3) The general traffic laws we currently have are good enough. To further support his position Senator Biggs explained that its not just that there are more motorists than cyclists; but also that He is more of an “old school” mindset. He believes that fundamentally law makers should not make laws  that carve out special exceptions to just a few people. He feels that our law books are full of too many carved out niches of law, and that in general we as a people have too many laws already. Senator Biggs said that we should use the laws already on the books – especially if they already address the problems that are we are seeking new laws for. My thought is that he has not ridden a bicycle and doesn’t comprehend the very large difference (literally) between a car and a bicycle. Both motorists and cyclists are definitely bound by the traffic code. However, the traffic code was written for users of the roadway that are motorists. Bicycles are by nature very different and more vulnerable than motor vehicles. To blindly assume that general traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles also somehow adequately cover the many differences of cyclists is a bit naive and or ignorant. I get what he is saying about not clogging up our system with new laws if the current laws address the problems. But it seems pretty clear that a more defined set of rules and ordinances should apply to cyclists (pedestrians, and other vulnerable users of the roadways). The differences are too great to ignore. So my answer Andy Biggs is: No, our current laws are not enough. There needs to be more defined and specific provisions that apply to situations involving vulnerable users of the roadways such as cyclists.
  4. 4) Cycling advocates are a nuisance. In short, it was clear that as gracious as Andy Biggs was in accepting my request for an appointment, I was nothing more than a nuisance. The sooner my appointment ended with him the better in his mind. I was and am grateful for the opportunity to have met with him personally in a one on one setting. However, I invited him to come and speak to a large group of cyclists to explain his position on Arizona cycling laws and the Arizona traffic code, but he didn’t want anything further to do with the topic and counted it complete upon concluding my appointment. In his mind, he had done his duty by meeting with me and nothing more was needed. My thought: Its not over – its just beginning.

 

Clearly cycling advocacy must take a much different approach. Both nationally and locally it seems that there are some common themes as outlined above. No one wants to be the guy that is wasting someone’s time and is just politely listened to so as to put an end to the conversation. There must be a better way to unify the cycling community and create a larger voice for cycling advocacy. I know that the Coalition of Arizona Cyclists (locally) and the League of American Bicyclists (nationally) are two organizations attempting to do just that. I for one will jump in head first and hope to contribute in an effective manner.

In short, the individual meetings with local and national legislators is important in my opinion, but I admit that I think it is not always (if at all) very effective. Perhaps if done in mass such appointments may have greater impact. I also feel like there is another way out there just beyond the horizon and I look forward to seeking it out. When we find our Arizona voice I’ll call you up and you can join us in making cycling a better priority and a safer venture here in Arizona. Until then – keep up the good fight the best way you know how.

***

Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge

Ben Dodge - Arizona Bicycle Lawyer
Ben Dodge – Arizona Bicycle Lawyer

If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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.

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. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

badge-azBen Dodge is a proud member of Bike Law. Bike Law is a national network of elite like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, 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 (855.one.ez.call). 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 Arizona Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 480.656.8334.

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

His main 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

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.

Arizona: Anti-Bicycle?

Arizona is home to thousands of cyclists, but may be friendly to few of them. Arizona is one of the last few states in the entire country that hasn’t passed either a distracted driving law (i.e. no texting, etc.) or a no harassment against cyclists law. Yet does this make us a non friendly or an anti-bike community?I think not, or at least not entirely…

Arizona is home to one of the largest cycling communities in the U.S. I believe that our weather permits cycling all year and apparently many other believe that as well. There are pro tour teams that come and train, pro mountain bikers and pro triathletes that all come here to Arizona to train during the winter months. Arizona is no stranger to cyclists. We also host a variety of national and local events/races right here in Arizona. So why don’t we have better cycling laws? How well does our state rank?

I am not certain of a good answer to the first question. Our legislators have some other plans in mind that I don’t currently understand, and perhaps advocacy in Arizona hasn’t been exactly unified yet. I aim to get on board and help resolve as many of the advocacy issues as possible.

In terms of our state ranking, the best tool we have available to us is the National League of American Bicyclists and their “Bicycle Friendly America Program.” Below is a compiled review of their ranking system and how Arizona stacks up, plus the additional bonus of one local city (my home town) Gilbert – who sadly, as of right now is only a “bronze” community. Much improvement is needed in Arizona:

LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS DATA/RANKING

The League’s Bicycle Friendly America program provides a roadmap, hands-on assistance and recognition for states, communities, universities and businesses. The BFA℠ program is a tool for states, communities, business and universities to make bicycling a real transportation and recreation option for all people.

The BFA program is more than an assessment

  1. It’s a study into the DNA making bicycling safe and more comfortable for all people
  2. It’s the combined knowledge of hundreds of engineers, government officials and bicycle advocates.
  3. It’s a toolkit of projects, policies, programs and plans designed to make biking better.
  4. It’s a roadmap for improving conditions for bicycling and the direct assistance to make it happen.

The 5 E’s – or standards upon which the rankings are based:

  1. Engineering: Creating safe and convenient places to ride and park
  2. Education: Giving people of all ages and abilities the skills and confidence to ride
  3. Encouragement: Creating a strong bike culture that welcomes and celebrates bicycling
  4. Enforcement: Ensuring safe roads for all users
  5. Evaluation & Planning: Planning for bicycling as a safe and viable transportation option

Arizona

#15 BICYCLE FRIENDLY State Rank

10 BICYCLE FRIENDLY Communities

14 BICYCLE FRIENDLY Businesses

3 BICYCLE FRIENDLY Universities

 

 Community State Award Population Jurisdiction Land Use
Gilbert AZ Bronze 196000 Town/City/Municipality Urban view profile | map it
Tempe AZ Silver 172589 Town/City/Municipality Urban view profile | map it
Mesa AZ Bronze 437454 Town/City/Municipality Urban view profile | map it
Tucson & East Pima Region AZ Gold 1018011 Metropolitan Planning Organization/Council of Governments Urban view profile | map it
Scottsdale AZ Gold 217385 Town/City/Municipality Urban view profile | map it
Sedona AZ Bronze 10192 Town/City/Municipality Suburban view profile | map it
Chandler AZ Bronze 241998 Town/City/Municipality Suburban view profile | map it
Cottonwood AZ Bronze 12426 Town/City/Municipality Rural view profile | map it
Flagstaff AZ Silver 68667 Town/City/Municipality Urban view report card | map it
Phoenix AZ Bronze 1513357 Town/City/Municipality Suburban view report card | map it

 

Business State Award Employees City Industry
TriSports.com AZ Silver 30 Tucson Bicycle Industry map it
Banner Health AZ Bronze 35000 Mesa Medical/Health map it
Sanofi Aventis Tucson Research Center AZ Bronze 75 Oro Valley Manufacturing/Research map it
Ordinary Bike Shop AZ Bronze 9 Tucson Bicycle Industry map it
Van Amburg Law Firm, PLLC AZ Bronze 2 Tucson Professional Services map it
Wandertec, Inc. AZ Bronze 10 Flagstaff Manufacturing/Research map it
REI Phoenix AZ Bronze 85 Phoenix Bicycle Industry map it
Critical Path Institute AZ Bronze 40 Tucson Non-Profit/Government map it
Absolute Bikes, Inc. AZ Gold 25 Flagstaff Bicycle Industry map it
Town of Oro Valley AZ Silver 412 Oro Valley Non-Profit/Government map it
Architekton AZ Bronze 35 Tempe Professional Services map it
Spoke6 AZ Bronze 15 Tucson Professional Services map it
Unisource Global Solutions AZ Bronze 45 Chandler Professional Services map it

 

University State Award Enrollment City
University of Arizona AZ Silver 38767 Tucson view profile | map it
Northern Arizona University AZ Silver 17761 Flagstaff view profile | map it
Arizona State University AZ Gold 62599 Tempe view profile | map it

 

 

Gilbert | Bronze
Award: Bronze
BFC Since: 2012
Total Population: 211,951
Population density: 3,067.2
Total area: 67.96
Percentage of arterial streets with dedicated bicycle facilities:
76-99%
Modal split of commuters:
Bicycling: .5
Walking: .7
Transit: .4
Percentage of schools offering bicycling education:
Elementary Schools: More than 90%
Middle Schools: More than 90%

 

Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge

If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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.

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. the day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

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 (855.one.ez.call). 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 today at 1.855.663.3922. reach him by fax at 480.656.8334.

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

his main 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

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. he has helped cyclists in Nevada, New York, Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.

“Educating the Police about Bicycling”

While I attended the 1st ever annual “Bike Law Summit” in Austin Texas a few weeks ago, the other attorneys in various states around the country all chimed in on reaching out to local police departments and offering training to the officers. Some have already done so in their states and have had great success in helping the police better understand bicycle accidents.

I was instantly intrigued by this idea and committed to doing this in Arizona. As member of this elite group of dedicated bicycle lawyers, I am privy to many such good ideas and their national support for Arizona bicycle advocacy. In a fantastic post today by a guest blogger named Dr. Steven Goodridge of NC, our Bike Law network published his post on how to educate police about bicycling as he draws from personal experience in North Carolina. Great read – good ideas for us all. His original post is reproduced below in its entirety or can be found on our Bike Law network blog:

“In her August blog post Police & Cyclists, Ann Groninger described some of the problems faced by cyclists when police don’t understand or respect bicyclists’ legal rights. Because most police obtain no special training about bicycling, they share many of the same misconceptions and biases as the general public. So what can be done about it?

One possibility would be for the North Carolina Justice Academy to enhance the very basic bicycle information that appears in the traffic curriculum they set for Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) . This way, all new officers in the state would be better educated. Unfortunately, many important subjects and skill sets compete for inclusion in the dense BLET curriculum. It will be difficult to get a nuanced discussion of cycling laws and best bicycling practices included in BLET when other potentially life-or-death knowledge doesn’t make the cut.

Police officers receive in-service training continuously throughout their careers. Such training provides the opportunity for deeper coverage of special topics, and is an ideal way to introduce better bicycling information to officers. BikeWalk NC has developed an in-service training program called “Bicyclist Safety and Law Enforcement” to cover bicyclists’ legal rights and responsibilities, defensive bicycling practices, types and causes of common crashes, and effective enforcement activities to promote bicyclist safety. This training program was originally developed as an online Moodle course in cooperation with the Raleigh Police Department and the Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission. All sworn officers in the Raleigh Police Department were required to complete the course on RPDnet as of May 2011. Since then, BikeWalk NC has delivered customized versions of the course to the Town of Cary PD and NC State University PD, and has made a generic state-wide version available on its web site.

The Bicyclist Safety and Law Enforcement program was developed to provide all officers with essential background information about traffic bicycling. The primary goals include:

• Empathizing police officers to bicyclists’ concerns;
• Spreading awareness of bicyclists’ roadway rights as fully entitled drivers of vehicles under the law;
• Familiarizing police officers with defensive, legal bicycling practices such as lane control;
• Associating common crash types with the moving violations that cause them;
• Prioritizing violations for enforcement based on risk (for motorists: drunk driving, failure to yield, unsafe passing, and failure to reduce speed; for bicyclists: wrong way cycling, unlighted night cycling, and failure to yield).

Feedback from police has been that the program increased awareness of bicycling issues and improved the handling of car-bike collision investigations.

Local police departments can incorporate this program into their in-service training in a number of ways, including setting it up as an online course, viewing the narrated video, or teaching it in-person based on the lesson plan, which follows the instructional design format used by the NC Justice Academy. Different departments have different needs for instruction format, which is why BikeWalk NC provides it in multiple forms. The biggest challenge to getting the training into a local department is finding a local champion in the department or city government who will make it happen. As outsiders to the police department, local bicyclist advocates cannot make police prioritize bicycling education. It is essential for advocates to develop a strong relationship with local government representatives such as city council, transportation planners, and the traffic enforcement division in order to convince them that the training program is worthwhile. A local bicycle/pedestrian advisory commission is an ideal route for developing police involvement.

Some cities in NC are conducting targeted education and enforcement activities to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The Watch for Me NC campaign deployed by the NCDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Division provides police training on how to conduct targeted safety efforts such as crosswalk stings, where officers walk through crosswalks to detect drivers who fail to yield, and follow up with warnings or tickets. Although the Watch for Me campaign involves small teams of officers rather than educating the entire department, it nevertheless provides a useful way to increase local subject matter knowledge. Municipalities that wish to participate in the Watch for Me NC campaign and obtain training, materials and other assistance should apply via the process detailed on the website. Partners will be selected through a competitive application process. The application will be available January 26 and will be due March 27, 2015.

Like BikeWalk NC’s in-service training, bringing the Watch for Me NC campaign to your community requires motivated government representatives. Local advocates must network with their local police, transportation planners, and elected officials. The reality is that enforcement priorities are often political, and as they say, all politics is local.

****

Steven Goodridge, Ph.D. contributed heavily to the content and editing of Bike Law Books # 1, the Ride Guide to North Carolina Bicycle Laws. Steve is an avid utility and recreational bicyclist who lives and works in Cary, North Carolina. An advocate for bicyclists since 1999, he is currently a board member of BikeWalk NC and is a League of American Bicyclists League Certified Instructor. In his professional work as an electrical engineer, Steven develops digital audio, video and communications technologies for law enforcement and defense applications. Steven enjoys doing volunteer work with local police departments, cycling organizations and schools to promote better understanding of traffic laws, best bicycling practices, and effective enforcement techniques to support safer cycling.”

Everything You Need to Know About Medical Bills During Your Bicycle Accident Case

So what do you do when you get medical bills in the mail from your bicycle accident? The accident wasn’t even your fault and now you’re stuck with medical bills you can’t afford because your case hasn’t even settled yet. Seems unfair doesn’t it?

Medical BillsYour bicycle personal injury attorney may be able to offer some valuable help. Consulting with an experienced bicycle accident attorney is your first step. If you were my client I would you tell you these two basic principles: (1) Avoid Collections; and (2) Be Patient. Suffering from a bicycle accident can be traumatic enough without having to be sent to collections. You should avoid collections as best as possible. And of course, be patient. Accident cases may take a long time before they actually settle out. Insurance companies are in no hurry to open up their bank accounts and pay you money. They will take their time and are often misguided in the valuation of bicycle accident cases. Their typical under valuation of your bicycle accident case will naturally result in a longer litigation period to get them to realize what your claim is really worth. Most of the insurance adjustors are still trying to wrap their head around the fact that your bicycle may be worth more than their car! Since these cases may take months and even years to receive any compensation, it is a good idea to understand how medical billing may affect you and to know what you can do to minimize any negative risks. It is likely that sometime during your bicycle accident case you will be confronted with medical bills.

Medical Liens

One of the classic ways to deal with a medical provider is to get them to put a lien on your insurance settlement in lieu of billing you up front. That way when your case is settled the medical providers can be paid directly out of the proceeds of your case. One downside to this approach is that liens have to be paid prior to you getting any money for your self. These liens can and are often negotiated to a much lesser amount. Lien negotiations are an important aspect to our bicycle accident law practice. We save our clients thousands of dollars by encouraging medical providers to put liens in place and then negotiate those liens down when the case finally settles. Unfortunately, not all medical providers will put liens in place. They do not want to, nor can they be forced to wait until a settlement to collect on the services that they provided.

Submit to Insurance

Another way of handling your medical bills is to submit them all to your own health insurance company and pay your co-pays/deductible. This allows the medical provider to get paid now and keeps them for sending you to collections while you await your settlement. One downside to this approach is that your own insurance company may want to be reimbursed for the expenses they paid on your behalf since another individual (i.e. a 3rd party) was found to be liable/responsible for your accident – after all the 3rd party did hit you! If this is the case your own health insurance may submit a claim for subrogation. Subrogation is when your insurance company requires reimbursement out of your settlement proceeds for the medical bills they paid out since they weren’t responsible – in other words, they’ll say we want the 3rd party guy’s insurance to pay for all this since he hit you. These subrogation rights can also be negotiated, but are less likely to be reduced as much as medical liens.

Payment Plan

If you do not have health insurance, and/or the medical providers were unwilling to put a lien in place, then your best bet is to enter into a small payment plan with your medical providers to keep them happy and to keep you out of collections. Many hospitals and medical providers are willing to accept small monthly payments instead of paying the high % fees of collection companies. Entering into a payment plan with them is a good idea if it keeps you out of collections. Also, settling with them directly on the overall balance is generally possible. They may be willing to accept 50% or less as paid in full. Either way, when you negotiate a payment plan or settlement in full with a medical provider – make sure it is in writing!

Summary

Bicycle accident cases can take months and may even take a couple of years to settle out. During this time period you will receive medical care and be confronted with a variety of financial scenarios when paying them. It’s best to use a qualified and experienced bicycle accident attorney to help you navigate these issues. With the help of your attorney you may be able to get liens put in place, or bills submitted to your own health insurance carrier. In both cases your attorney can help you negotiate these liens/bills down at the time of settlement and in both cases you are kept out of collections. Alternatively, your attorney can assist you in contacting your medical providers and setting up payment plans for you to make small monthly payments and keep you out of collections. Bicycle accident cases are complex and you need not be forced into collections as a result of pending medical bills you can’t afford. Avoid collections and be patient.

Arizona Bicycle Accident Attorney Ben Dodge

Ben Dodge - Experienced Bike Accident Attorney
Ben Dodge – Experienced Bike Accident Attorney

If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident, 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.

Ben 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. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Ben is a member of the National Bike Law Network. This is a select group of like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, Ben represent 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

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 (855.ONE.EZ.CALL). 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. Mr. Dodge 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 today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 480.656.8334.

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

His Main 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

Salt Lake City Utah Office
299 South Main
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

St. George Utah Office
321 N. Mall Drive, Suite 103
St. George, Utah 84790

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. He has helped cyclists in New York, Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.

Idiot Trial Lawyers: Why the Judge Gave Us Everything We Asked For!

At the risk of ranting against my own profession, I was in trial today and utterly amazed at defense counsel. Today’s trial should have and could have been completely avoided but for the idiot defense lawyer on the other side – so we won everything we asked for. I know plenty of attorneys who are very admirable and wonderful people. Yet, every once in a while you come across that one guy who absolutely reinforces the negative attitude most normal people have against attorneys. Today was no exception. We walked into the court room confident in a win for my client and yet confused as to why we even needed a trial on the particular issues the other side so adamantly defended. And in the end, it was as predicted… we won everything we asked for. Why? It’s simple, every winning strategy will have these basic principles regardless of the nature of the individual case.

The general rule of thumb and premise of this article is very simple, if you want the judge to give you what you want then: Don’t hire an idiot lawyer. Hire a smart lawyer. Judges don’t rule in favor of idiots, or least not very often. Here’s a brief list of what idiot lawyers do or don’t do, and that is exactly why they always lose.

  1. Know the law. An idiot lawyer won’t be well versed in the law surrounding his arguments. A smart lawyer will have studied the law, the local rules, and the court’s specific rules/instructions for every single aspect of his/her argument. The smart lawyer will have thought ahead and anticipated potential legal issues which need to be made and then find the law to support the arguments. The idiot lawyer will show up relying on his or her own puffery, or personal interpretation of the law instead of the actual statutes, laws, rules, regulations, and policies. Often the idiot lawyer will not have even been aware of a specific and controlling rule of law which is material to his or her case. This is exactly what happened to me today; and was absolutely one of the reasons the judge gave me everything I asked for. The defense lawyer had no idea what the rule of law was on a very key issue to the case. At one point the judge looked at the defense lawyer with a confused look and interrupted the line of questioning citing that none of it was even relevant to the law or the case. Sadly, the lawyer still didn’t understand and restated questions but continued down the same illogical and incorrect path. At which point the judge looked at me with a confused look, shook his head, and smiled at me. That was a confirming point in the trial wherein I knew once again we had won this case before we even started. The first time I knew we had one was before the trial even started and the judge asked for us to join him in his chambers… more on that priceless moment in a bit.
  2. Know the facts. An idiot lawyer will lose a case because he/she doesn’t actually know all of the facts. You wouldn’t think this happens, but unfortunately this is an absolutely common occurrence. A smart lawyer will know every detail of his/her case and how those details affect the case (i.e. the interplay between the facts of the case and the law). Today the judge gave me everything I asked for and did so in part, because the defense lawyer didn’t even know all of the facts of the case. The biggest embarrassment was the defense attorney couldn’t even pronounce her own client’s name correctly. She repeatedly mispronounced her client’s name over and over again during her direct examination. It was so awkward that even the judge looked to me again with a look of confusion. I couldn’t help but make first question on cross examination something along these lines: “I just want to be clear, I thought your name is pronounced ________(fill in the blank correctly) instead of _________ (the wrong way), is that true? Priceless.
  3. iStock_Angry Judge2Read the Judicial Cues. Judges are people too. They are supposed to be impartial and unbiased. They are supposed to approach every case with a clear and open mind as a trier of fact and/or a decision maker issuing rulings. Yet they have feelings, impressions, and opinions. Their patience only lasts so long. Their tolerance only lasts so long. An idiot attorney will ignore these signs and completely miss the cues that judges are always giving. A smart attorney knows how to see the case from much more than the legal and factual perspective. A smart attorney will be able to see how the judge looks at the case as well and begin to feel when the judge is agreeing with you or growing impatient with you. Today the judicial cues were ENORMOUS and completely missed by the defense attorney. The entire case the judge was dropping hints about the potential positions of each party involved. I personally wondered how on earth we ended up in trial today with so many blatant hints as to the position the judge was taking. Any reasonable and half intelligent attorney would have seen this and advised their client to begin settling. But alas, in my case the defense attorney was so off base that she really thought she would win even though she didn’t know the law nor the facts. This message was constantly reinforced to the client throughout the entirety of the case. I can only imagine how those private conversations went: “You are right Mr. Client, and you have a great case. Lets keep driving this thing hard and see if we can get the other side to back down.” This attitude prevailed through the whole case and never ceased to amaze me. At every turn the defense always thought they were right and were genuinely surprised at losing. In any event, the most priceless moment in this case was at the outset. The judicial assistant came into the court room and asked the attorneys to join the judge in chambers. Sitting down with the judge, he opened stating the obvious (or at least it was obvious to myself and to him): “Why are we here? Are we really having a trial today?” I jumped on this opportunity to chime in and join my sentiment with his. He then asked us if we wanted to know his thoughts regarding the case. An idiot attorney will decline such an invitation or not understand its importance. The defense attorney just stared at the judge in confusion as to what was happening. I chimed in again and expressed my delight at an opportunity to know the judges thoughts about our case prior to a trial – it was a true treat. After a short conversation where the judge recommended that we reach an agreement because a ruling would not benefit defense counsel, we departed and held brief settlement talks. The best part is that I walked out of that room not caring what settlement we would reach or not reach, the idiot lawyer has forced us into a trial that was unnecessary – I knew it, and I knew the judge knew it. Priceless. Other judicial cues come during the trial or previous hearings wherein judges grow frustrated at a line of questioning. While sometimes its important to continue these questions in spite of the judge’s negative opinion, extreme caution should be given to that strategy when it’s not a jury trial but rather a bench trial. Don’t frustrate the one making decisions on your client’s behalf.
  4. Be Reasonable – Don’t be Greedy. No one likes the greedy guy. As in many industries, the legal profession typically has a realm of reasonableness. A set of defined limits where you can be asking for too much. For example, a soft tissue bicycle accident where the total medical bills amount to about $3,500.00 with that or less in property damage is generally not a $5,000,000.00 case. Asking for that would be unreasonable and the attorney taking that position will most likely appear to be greedy and an idiot. Sometimes the laws are so clear that you can say a client is entitled to a certain amount in damages, or entitled to a certain range of pain and suffering. When the defined limits seem clear, and the attorney is asking for way more than what is reasonable – then the attorney is typically an idiot and will lose the case. Especially when the attorney doesn’t know the law, rules, or policies affecting the reasonable limits. So it was today, the defense lawyer had dug in so deep into an area of law which so clearly out of the range of reasonableness that her persistence in pursuing that argument not only LOST her the trial; but the judge awarded legal fees reimbursement for my client as a result of having to even go through the trial. The pre-trial settlement talks the judge prompted us to engage in after leaving his chambers were so fruitless because the defense was blind by their own unreasonableness. We went to trial notwithstanding the judge basically telling us what he would rule on before we even started the trial Embarrassing. Be reasonable and operate in the reasonable realm.

If the defense lawyer would have simply known the law and policies in this case then we could have avoided trial all together and a fair settlement would have been entered into months ago. The judge was so sure of that same fact that he awarded a reimbursement of attorneys fees to my client for having to pay for my representation in the trial. Additionally, if the defense lawyer would have just read the judicial cues and operated in the realm of reasonableness then we would have avoided the trial as well.

Fortunately for our profession not all lawyers are idiots. Some of us actually prepare for trial and know our cases and local judges like the back of our hand. Trying cases is a skill and something to look forward to not avoid. I’m proud to say that in the cases I have litigated in Federal and State courts it is more common to come across excellent attorneys as opposed to idiot attorneys. However, be aware… there’s an idiot in every village…

Arizona Bicycle Accident Attorney Ben Dodge

Ben-Dodge-Post-Race-tentIf you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, 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.

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. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.

Bike Law badgeBen is a member of the National Bike Law Network. This is a select group of like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, Ben represent 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. His staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Mr. Dodge 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 today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 480.656.8334.

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

His Main 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

Salt Lake City Utah Office
299 South Main
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

St. George Utah Office
321 N. Mall Drive, Suite 103
St. George, Utah 84790

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. He has helped cyclists in New York, Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.

The “Manifesto”

I’m lucky enough to be in Austin Texas this weekend at the 1st annual Bike Law Summit. I’m proud to be a member of Bike Law. Bike Law is a national network of Bicycle Accident Attorneys founded in 1998. I believe the culture of cycling is summed up pretty good in the “Manifesto” below. Great concept. Follow us on Twitter for racing and cycling updates: @bikelawben

This is the “Manifesto“:

“We agree:

1) We are cyclists because we love to ride, and everybody who loves to ride is a cyclist.

2) Nothing else allows us the independence, pleasure, and power to move so far, so fast, with so little effort.

3) Cycling is not suffering. Hunger and the plague are suffering. Cycling is a joy, even when it’s hard.

4) A cyclist is more than a motor. Skill and elegance are earned.

5) Ride everyday.”

bike-law-badge

 

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