This article is sponsored content, written by attorney Rosa Antúnez Boatwright of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin 

People are increasingly using bicycles to get around the streets and neighborhoods of North Carolina. Whether it's for exercise, because they prefer not to use a car, or simply to enjoy the weather, bicycles have become a year-round mode of transportation.

Unfortunately, cyclists are frequently struck by motorists. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, cyclist injuries and fatalities most often occur when a motorist passes a cyclist, fails to yield the right-of-way, and collisions happen while turning or merging onto the roadway.

When accidents occur between a car and a cyclist, they often result in serious injuries to the cyclist, including head trauma, facial injuries, spinal cord damage, psychological trauma, and even the death of a loved one. 

Here are 3 ways to protect yourself while cycling, 2 steps to take if you are hit by a car, and 1 crucial reminder, even if you have immigration concerns.

📌 You may be interested:  What to do if you are undocumented and have a car accident: 10 essential questions

3 ways to protect yourself 

• Act like a car driver, even if you're on a bicycle. Cyclists must follow the same traffic rules as car drivers. This means riding on the right and in the same direction as traffic. Use hand signals to stay safe when turning, merging, and changing lanes, and remember to give way to pedestrians.
• Wear brightly colored clothing, including reflectors, install front and rear lights on your bicycle, and always wear a well-fitting helmet.
• Ride sober! Riding a bicycle while intoxicated can be just as dangerous as driving a car while intoxicated, and nothing is more important than your safety. Furthermore, North Carolina's DWI laws and consequences apply to both bicyclists and car drivers.

2 things to do after being hit by a car 

• The most important thing to do after being hit by a car while cycling is to seek medical attention. Even if you feel fine, injuries can often appear days after the incident. This is especially true for head injuries, which are a serious concern after a cycling accident. If you are hit by a car, don't wait to see how you feel. See a medical professional immediately.

• Since cyclist injuries can be delayed and severe, it is very important that you do not accept hasty offers from the car driver's insurance company. Before negotiating with the insurance company, wait until you have recovered to determine the full extent of your injuries and how they might affect you and your family.

1 thing to always remember 

The law is on your side. If you are undocumented, you have the same rights. Don't let insurance companies deny payment or pay you hastily.

I hope this article helps you protect your health and rights after being hit by a car while riding your bicycle. Even if you weren't wearing a helmet, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Remember, you can get help, including a free, no-obligation analysis of what the other driver may owe you. Call 800-222-7700 anytime to speak with an advisor, get informed, and make the right decision.

About the lawyer:  Rosa Antúnez Boatwright is a tireless advocate forged by resilience. Born in Honduras, her life changed overnight when Hurricane Mitch devastated her country and her father's business. Rosa worked full-time while earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her law degree from the North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Today, Rosa channels her strength to help accident victims navigate complex legal landscapes. She also empowers her community through leadership roles at International Focus, the Diamante Arts & Cultural Center, the North Carolina Women Lawyers Association, and North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

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What to do after a bicycle accident?

by Rosa Antúnez Boatwright, attorney at James Scott Farrin Law, Enlace Latino NC
January 22, 2026

Enlace Latino NCJanuary 22, 2026 This article is sponsored content, written by attorney Rosa Antúnez Boatwright of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin People are increasingly using bicycles to get around the streets and neighborhoods of North Carolina. Whether it's for exercise, because they prefer not to use the car, or simply to enjoy the weather, bicycles have become a means of transport available all year round. Unfortunately, cyclists are often hit by car drivers. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, cyclist injuries and deaths occur most frequently when a motorist passes the cyclist, fails to yield the right-of-way, and collisions occur while turning or merging onto the road. When accidents occur between a car and a cyclist, they often result in serious injuries to the cyclist, including head trauma, facial injuries, spinal cord damage, psychological trauma, and even the death of a loved one. Here are 3 ways to protect yourself while cycling, 2 steps to take if you are hit by a car, and 1 crucial reminder, even if you have immigration concerns. 📌 You may be interested in: What to do if you are undocumented and have a car accident: 10 essential questions 3 ways to protect yourself Act like a car driver, even if you're riding a bicycle. Cyclists must follow the same traffic rules as car drivers. This means driving on the right and in the same direction as traffic. Use hand signals to stay safe when turning, merging, and changing lanes, and remember to yield to pedestrians. Wear brightly colored clothing, including reflectors, install front and rear lights on your bicycle, and always wear a well-fitting helmet. Drive sober! Riding a bicycle while drunk can be just as dangerous as driving a car while drunk, and nothing is more important than your safety. In addition, the laws and consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol (DWI) in North Carolina apply to both bicyclists and car drivers. 2 things to do after being hit by a car The most important thing after being hit by a car while cycling is to seek medical attention. Even if you feel fine, injuries can often appear days after the incident. This is especially true in the case of head injuries, which are a serious concern following a cycling accident. If a driver hits you, don't wait to see how it feels. Seek medical attention immediately. Since cyclist injuries can be delayed and severe, it is very important that you do not accept hasty offers from the car driver's insurance company. Before negotiating with the insurance company, wait until you have recovered to determine the full extent of your injuries and how they might affect you and your family. 1 thing to always remember The law is on their side. If you are undocumented, you have the same rights. Do not allow insurance companies to deny payment or pay you hastily. I hope this article helps you protect your health and rights after being hit by a car while cycling. Even if you weren't wearing a helmet, you could be entitled to payment for medical bills, lost wages, damages and suffering, among other things. Remember that you can get help, including a free analysis of the amount the other driver may owe you, with no obligation. Call 800-222-7700 anytime to speak with an advisor, get informed, and make the right decision. Contact information Law Offices of James Scott Farrin/Las Oficinas Legales de James Scott Farrin Website and live chat: www.farrin.com Telephone: 800-222-7700 Facebook: TheLegalOfficesOfJamesScottFarrin Learn more in the Podcast : Voices of NCAJ Showcases Rosa Antunez Boatwright's Journey to Law About the lawyer: Rosa Antúnez Boatwright is a tireless advocate forged by resilience. Born in Honduras, her life changed overnight when Hurricane Mitch destroyed her country and her father's business. Rosa worked full-time while earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her law degree from the College of Law at Central North Carolina University. Today, Rosa channels her strength to help accident victims navigate complex legal landscapes. She also empowers her community through leadership roles at International Focus, the Diamante Arts & Cultural Center, the North Carolina Women Lawyers Association, and North Carolina Advocates for Justice. Remember: 👀 This is a sponsored content article paid for by the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin . Enlace Latino NC This organization does not offer legal advice or services. The information presented here is for educational purposes only. The opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of their authors. Send your questions to: info@enlacelatinonc.org This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/que-hacer-despues-de-un-accidente-en-bicicleta/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/que-hacer-despues-de-un-accidente-en-bicicleta/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

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