• Dooring Collisions – Dooring incidents occur when cyclists collide with open car doors, as drivers or passengers neglect to check for approaching cyclists. 
• Intersection Accidents – Intersections are hotspots for bike accidents, especially when turning motor vehicles fail to yield to cyclists. For example, when left-turning vehicles cross paths with oncoming cyclists or right-turning drivers collide with bicyclists riding straight at the intersection. 
• Unsafe Passing – Motorists overtaking cyclists without giving sufficient space can result in side-swipe accidents. About 1.3% of all bike crashes are the result of a motor vehicle trying to overtake a bicyclist. 
• Right Hook Collisions – Right hook crashes happen mostly in crosswalks when a motorist collides with a bicyclist when making a right-hand turn. 
• Left Hook Collisions – Left hook crashes happen when motorists try to make a left turn without yielding and overtaking a bicyclist.
• Right Cross Accidents – A right cross bike crash is when a motor vehicle exiting a side street or driveway hits a cyclist on their right side. 
• Rear-End Collisions – Rear-end cycling accidents occur when a cyclist slows down or stops, and the motor vehicle behind fails to react properly, resulting in a collision. According to a study by the League of American Bicyclists, rear-end bicycle collisions constitute up to 40 percent of all bike accidents nationwide.
• Sudden Lane Changes – These types of accidents occur when drivers abruptly shift lanes without signaling or checking for other vehicles, increasing the risk of bike crashes.
• Road Rage – Sometimes motorists get triggered and intentionally collide with a bicyclist. Such road rage incidents can be avoided by effective communication.
• Pedestrian Crashes –  This is another common type of Wisconsin bicycle accident case. When a cyclist rides on the sidewalk, sideswipes a pedestrian, or collides with them at the intersection. 

What are the Wisconsin Bicycle Laws? 

The state of Wisconsin has designed various traffic laws and regulations to protect riders and avoid bike crashes, majorly caused by motorists.

The DOT and the Wisconsin state government have determined some general rules for riding bicycles including:

• Bicyclists should stay in a straight line, keeping at least 3 feet away from the curb, parked cars, or any debris. 
• Always ride with the flow of traffic. 
• Sidewalk riding is usually illegal until the community has passed a local ordinance permitting it. 
• Follow all traffic laws prescribed by the local government.

Wisconsin state laws are aimed at ensuring cyclists’ safety and other drivers, some of the relevant bicycle laws are:

• Two cyclists may ride alongside each other if it doesn’t disrupt traffic flow. On roads with two lanes or more, they should ride left or right-side edge (same direction as traffic). [346.80(3)(a)]
• Motorists are required to keep at least 3 feet of distance from riders when passing. Similarly, cyclists passing parked or moving cars should maintain a 3-foot distance. [346.80(2)]
• Cyclists riding at night must have a white front light visible from 500 feet or wear a suitable lamp. [347.489(1)]
• Bicycles must be equipped with a red rear reflector or light for visibility. [347.489(1)]
• On shared sidewalks, riders must yield to pedestrians and give them a warning when overtaking [346.804]. At intersections and crossings, cyclists on sidewalks have the same rights and duties as pedestrians. 

How to Prove Other Party’s Fault in Bicycle Accidents?  

In Wisconsin, pursuing compensation for bike crash injuries requires proving negligence. There are four components of negligence that an injured party and their bike accident lawyer must prove in a personal injury claim:

• The defendant owed you a “duty of care” when present on the road. 
• The defendant violated that duty of care.
• This breached duty of care caused the bike crash, and hence the injuries.
• The injuries you sustained during the bike crash resulted in significant damages.

Gather Compelling Evidence to Prove Negligence  

Your bicycle accident attorney will have to put forward evidence to prove each of the aforementioned four bases of negligence. 

• Police Report – One of the most compelling evidence in most bike crash cases is the police report. Following the bike crash, immediately call the local law enforcement agency to record the accident scene. 
• Photographs – Gather pictures of the accident scene including witnesses, motor vehicles, skid marks, or damaged road signs. 
• Medical Records – To prove that the bicycle crash caused you injuries and damages, it’s extremely important to keep your medical bills and any records from hospitals relating to your accident. 
• Driver Information – If possible, note down the driver’s name, address, phone number, email, insurance details, license plate number, and driver’s license number.
• Witness Information – Gather names and contact information of all present witnesses as their testimonies can be valuable for the bike accident lawyer to prove liability.