California Bike Accident Attorneys Explain What Cyclists Should Know after a Bicycle Crash
Bike accident attorneys on California and Nevada bike laws for cyclists and drivers to help prevent bike crashes.
With more than twenty-five years of legal experience, the South Lake Tahoe and Incline Village bicycle accident lawyers at Ballard Injury Law have represented bike accident victims in South Lake Tahoe with a passion for gaining their deserved justice. Our California and Nevada bicycle injury law firm is deeply familiar with California and Nevada bike laws that protect the rights of cyclists hurt in bike accidents. We have the resources and are prepared to help seek financial compensation on your behalf if you suffered a bicycling injury because of a negligent driver, poorly maintained road or faulty bike manufacturing.
Many cyclists and drivers in South Lake Tahoe and Incline Village are unaware of the California and Nevada bike laws that exist to help prevent these types of catastrophic accidents. Our lawyers provide this brief overview of important California and Nevada bike laws for drivers and legal rights a South Lake Tahoe and Incline Village cyclist may have if a negligent driver violates these laws.
What are California and Nevada Bike Laws for Drivers?
Both drivers and cyclists in Carson City and Gardnerville have set laws for operating their respective vehicles. When someone breaks or ignores these laws, the safety of bicyclists may be in serious danger.
Drivers must abide by the following these California and Nevada bike laws:
- Cars cannot park or sit in bike lanes, and must not drive in bike paths or on sidewalks.
- Passengers and drivers must check for nearby bicyclists to make sure they are clear to open doors to avoid door zone accidents, or “doored,” due to the space an open car door takes. This can cause a cyclist to swerve into traffic to avoid hitting or colliding with the open door.
- When a car passes a bicyclist, it must stay at least three feet to the left of the cyclist.
- Cars must be aware that cyclists have the same rights as other vehicles on the road and treat them accordingly. That’s why signs exist that say “Share the Road”.
- Our California and Nevada bicycle accident lawyers can tell you from experience that impatient drivers who do not believe they should share the road with cyclists are a major cause of bicycle accidents in El Dorado Hills and Reno. In some cases, a Sacramento and Roseville bike accident can happen simply from driver carelessness or ignorance of these bike safety laws.
California and Nevada Cyclists Laws
Cyclists in California and Nevada also have their own set of bike laws to follow. Following these rules and best practices may help reduce their bicycle accident risks:
- Cyclists should ride on the right side of the road with traffic.
- Bike riders are required to shine a white light that is visible from 500 feet away after sunset.
- Bicyclists must have a red reflector on the back of their bike and a flashing red light that can be seen from 600 feet after dark.
- Cyclists under the age of 16 must wear a helmet.
- All bicyclists should ride with at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
- Cyclists should have brakes that are able to stop their bike within a range of 25 feet when they are traveling at a speed of 10 miles per hour on a flat surface.
- When riding on a sidewalk, cyclists must give the right of way to pedestrians.
Nobody wants to be in a bike crash, whether you are a cyclist or driver. If you are hurt in a South Lake Tahoe and Incline Village bike accident, learn your rights in an attorney consultation today. We take many personal injury cases on contingency fee agreements. This means that if we take your bike injury claim and are not successful in gaining compensation for your case, you will not owe any attorney fees.
Do I Need a California and Nevada Bike Accident Attorney?
If you were in a Northern Nevada or Reno area bike accident, then our bicycle accident lawyers may be able to help. A bike accident can cause serious injuries, leaving victims with overwhelming hospital bills and lost wages. Our Northern Nevada or Reno area bike accident lawyers help bicycle accident victims throughout California and Nevada obtain compensation to cover these bike injury costs and more. Please contact our personal injury law firm to learn more about how our attorneys can help you.