Welcome to our series, Rules of the Road with Popham Law! For the next few months, attorney Paul Anderson will answer common questions about bicyclists' rights and responsibilities. Check back for a new question and answer each month!
Q: Are bikes treated like cars or pedestrians?
A: As a cyclist, you have the same rights and duties as drivers of vehicles: you’re allowed to be on the road, you ride with traffic, and you must follow the rules of the road, including stop signs, red lights, and yielding when required. Drivers have to respect your right to use the road and pass only when it’s safe. In some places, riding on sidewalks is limited or banned, especially in busy business areas, so the street is usually where you belong. When you walk your bike in a crosswalk, you’re a pedestrian; when you’re riding, you’re a vehicle operator. Use your common sense, be predictable, and ride like you expect others to drive around you. Keep your head on a swivel!
Q: Do I have to stop at red lights, and how long do I have to wait?
A: Yes. In both Kansas and Missouri, bikes generally have the same rights and duties as cars, so you must stop at red lights. Both states have a “dead red” rule for bikes: if you’ve fully stopped and the light clearly isn’t changing because it won’t detect your bike, you can treat it like a stop sign. In Kansas, you may go after a “reasonable period of time” if it’s safe and you yield to traffic and people in the crosswalk. Missouri gives you an “affirmative defense” if you go only after a full stop, an unreasonably long red, and a malfunctioning or non-detecting signal, and you still have to yield. The best rule of thumb is to be patient at red lights and wait your turn.
Q: What should I do if I get hit by a car?
A: First, get out of traffic if you can and call 911. Let police and EMS come to you. Adrenaline hides injuries.
Get the driver’s name, contact info, insurance, and plate number. Get a crash report and advocate for yourself when you are talking to law enforcement. If you’re able, take photos of the scene, the car, your bike, and your injuries, and get names and numbers for any witnesses.
Even if you “feel fine,” consider seeing a medical provider. Then talk with a lawyer who handles bike crashes before you start giving statements or signing anything for the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Q: Why do I need uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage?
A: Too many dangerous drivers have no liability insurance or very little. In fact, in Missouri, 1 in 5 drivers do not have auto insurance. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your auto policy steps in when the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your medical care, lost wages, and other harms. It follows you whether you’re in a car, on a bike, or walking, and it’s usually inexpensive to add more protection. This coverage is often the difference between being made whole and being stuck with bills you never should have had in the first place.
Q: What do I do if a dog chases and bites me?
A: If a dog chases you, your first job is to get away safely without crashing if you can.
If you’re bitten, stop and call 911. Get the dog owner’s name, address, and phone number, and ask for the dog’s rabies vaccination vet/clinic if they know it. Take photos of your wounds, the dog (if it’s safe), and where it happened, and get any witness names.
Wash the bite with soap and water as soon as you can and see a doctor the same day — even small bites can get infected. Report the bite to animal control or your local health department so they can check on vaccinations and quarantine rules.
Then talk with a lawyer about your options for medical bills and other losses. Dog owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs secured, so they don’t bite or chase others, and they can be held responsible for all injuries caused to you.
Q: What is a vulnerable road user (“VRU”)?
A: A “vulnerable road user” is anyone using the street without the protection of a car or truck around them. That usually means people walking, biking, using wheelchairs or mobility devices, pushing strollers, using scooters, or working in the roadway. These people are more likely to be badly hurt or killed if a driver hits them, simply because they don’t have a metal shell, airbags, or other crash protection. If you’re hurt in a crash and it’s not your fault, you may be able to bring a claim against the at-fault driver. Personal injury lawyers, like Popham Injury Law, usually handle these cases on a contingency fee, which means you don’t pay anything out of pocket unless there is a recovery for you.
Paul Anderson is a trial lawyer at Popham Injury Law in Kansas City, where his practice focuses on representing people injured by dangerous drivers and unsafe road conditions. As an avid cyclist himself, Paul has successfully represented numerous cyclists and pedestrians harmed in motor-vehicle crashes, giving him a deep understanding of both the legal issues and the real-world challenges vulnerable road users face. He is committed to educating cyclists, drivers, and the broader community about safety, insurance, and accountability so that preventable injuries and deaths never occur in the first place. Popham Injury Law is a team of dedicated trial lawyers who represent injured victims, on a contingency-fee basis, in Kansas City and across the country, fighting to ensure they receive full and fair compensation.
Many thanks to Paul Anderson and Popham Law for sponsoring our spring 2026 adult bike education series!