Top 10 States Most Likely to Sue Drivers After Hitting a Cyclist (2025 Google Search Data)

A new way to read road risk

When someone is involved in a serious bike crash, one of the first things they often do is look online for legal help, so search data becomes a rough “early warning” signal about where people feel compelled to seek representation. While search volume is not directly comparable to official crash or lawsuit statistics, unusually high demand for bicycle accident lawyers suggests a combination of frequent crashes, heightened legal awareness, and a strong concern about rights and liability.]

How the rankings were calculated

The underlying rankings are based on an analysis of 2025 Google Keyword Planner data, focusing on terms such as “bicycle accident lawyer,” “cycling accident attorney,” “bicycle injury lawyer,” “bicycle crash lawyer,” and “bicycle lawyer.” Researchers calculated the average monthly search volume for these phrases in each state and then determined the number of searches per 100,000 residents, using a national average of approximately 27 searches per 100,000 as a baseline for comparison.

Top 10 states by legal‑help searches

In this study, ten states stand out for having the highest per‑capita search activity for bicycle accident lawyers in 2025.

Southern and Sunbelt states, such as South Carolina and Florida, offer year-round riding weather, tourism, and fast suburban roads, which increase exposure for cyclists and, when crashes occur, the likelihood that someone will seek legal help. Smaller, more rural states such as North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana mix highways, long distances, and often limited bike infrastructure, while dense states like New York and New Jersey see daily conflict between drivers, delivery traffic, and urban cyclists.

What rising searches say about everyday riding

Behind every search is a person who may be dealing with injuries, medical bills, lost work, or a totaled bike after a collision or near‑miss. Higher search rates in certain states suggest that many cyclists feel they cannot simply “shrug off” incidents and instead require legal guidance to address insurers, liability disputes, and long-term consequences.

What drivers should take from this

For drivers in these high-search states, the data serves as a reminder that a brief lapse in attention around cyclists is more likely to result in a claim or lawsuit. Common legal trouble spots include passing too closely, turning across bike lanes without checking, failing to yield at intersections, or driving while distracted, all of which can be central issues in later legal disputes.

Simple habits can dramatically reduce both injury risk and legal exposure: give generous passing distance, slow down for turns, actively check mirrors and blind spots for bikes, and avoid using your phone or other distractions while moving. Taking cyclists seriously as legitimate road users is not just courteous—it is often the difference between a routine drive and a life‑changing collision.​

What cyclists can do to protect themselves

Cyclists in these states can respond to the same signals by treating visibility, documentation, and follow‑up care as essentials, not extras. Bright lights, reflective gear, route choices that favor protected lanes or slower streets when possible, and using cameras or phones to record key details after an incident can all matter later if fault is disputed.

After any significant crash, consulting a medical professional and keeping records of symptoms, treatments, and expenses can help protect both your health and any future claims. In more serious collisions—especially those involving hit-and-runs, disputed police reports, or major injuries—speaking to a lawyer early can help preserve evidence and prevent insurers from making quick, low offers that could close off fair compensation.

Limits of the data – and why it still matters

Search-volume rankings can be influenced by law-firm advertising, public awareness campaigns, and how comfortable people are with using the internet for legal help, so they are not a perfect indicator of crash risk or lawsuit counts. Even with those limits, the fact that some states generate search levels far above the national average is a strong signal that many people there feel unprotected and unsure what to do after a bicycle crash.

If you need support after an accident and want to understand your options, you can connect to a lawyer now.