Bicyclists Behaving Badly
Unfortunately, not all bike riders respect the rules of the road. As a moving vehicle, they are supposed to follow all traffic laws as if they are cars. However, because bike riders are particularly susceptible to injury, they retain almost all right-of-way advantages. As a vehicle driver, it can be particularly frustrating and unnerving when bike riders ignore traffic laws, putting themselves, you, and other drivers in danger.
If you were driving a car and you hit a bike rider, don’t let your insurance company be the only professionals handling the case. Consult with a personal injury attorney to make sure that someone else is reviewing the case. Blame and responsibility are an important part of any accident investigation. You shouldn’t trust that the police or the insurance adjuster is looking out for your best interests. Only your own lawyer can ensure that all evidence is taken into consideration.
Witness testimony can be a key factor in determining blame. However, because bike riders are assumed to have right-of-way, tracking down an eye witness might not be a priority for the police or insurance adjusters. However, a good personal injury lawyer knows how to question eye-witnesses in order to reveal new or unconsidered information about blame. Speed of traffic, road conditions, and angle of approach need to be reviewed in order to divide blame appropriately.
More cities in California are handing out tickets to bike riders for violating traffic laws and riding under the influence of drugs and alcohol. However, until all bike riders learn how to share the roads and respect the laws, drivers may need to rely on lawyers to keep court decisions fair and balanced.
