Bicycle Accident Claims in Idaho

Bicycle and e-bike riders have the rights and duties of other vehicle drivers (except where the bicycle chapter says otherwise) and must exercise due care; drivers must use due care to avoid colliding with bicyclists. Under Idaho's stop-sign rule, a cyclist approaching a stop sign must slow down and, after yielding to traffic that is an immediate hazard, may proceed without stopping; at a steady red light the cyclist must stop and yield, then may proceed with caution. On sidewalks and in crosswalks, cyclists have pedestrians' rights and duties but must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing. Idaho's pedestrian and bicycle chapter contains no bicycle helmet requirement, and no specific minimum passing distance (such as 3 feet) was found in the rules of the road.

Modified comparative negligence (50% bar). An injured person can recover only if his or her negligence or responsibility was not as great as that of the person being sued; damages are reduced by the injured person's share.

Minimum liability amounts are $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $15,000 for property damage (25/50/15).

A lawsuit for injury to a person must be filed within two years. The claim generally accrues at the time of the act or occurrence, and the period is not extended because of continuing consequences.