The rise of gas prices, coupled with the current social trend of becoming more physically fit, is pushing Americans to change their mode of transportation from motorized vehicles to finally utilizing that dusty old bike. A recent article from The Salt Lake Tribune exclaims that the amount of bicyclists in Salt Lake City is increasing. An increase of bicyclists means an increase of road modifications, in which the author of the article, Heather May, states, “About 50 miles of new on-road bikeways and ‘green shared lanes’ have recently been added. That helped the city gain ‘silver-level’ status as a Bicycle Friendly Community in 2010 by the League of American Bicyclists.” Additionally, more bicyclists on the road begets more bicycle accidents. Ultimately, a city that has a good number of bicyclists will increase in its pedal-cycle accidents.
Bicycle Accident Lawyer Describes the Facts and the Law
According to bicycleinfo.org, there were 51,000 injuries and 630 deaths from cycling in 2009. Thus, it is important for a bicyclist to know the laws specifically constructed for bicyclist safety, and to always remember a bicycle lawyer is near to help you understand how they apply to you. The following is a list of a few laws specific to Utah:
- A police officer has the right to stop a bicyclist at any time if they suspect there is a safety issue.
- All bicyclists must have at least one hand on the handle bars at all times.
- A bicycle can carry only the amount of passengers that it was designed for; for instance, a single-rider bicycle is only allowed to have one passenger.
- A bicycle is never allowed to be attached to any other moving motorized vehicle.
- Bicycles must have properly working breaks that could stop the bicycle within 25 ft from a speed of 25 mph.
- When ridden at night, a bicycle must be equipped with a front headlight, a rear red deflector, and side reflecting devices.
In conclusion, riding a bicycle has its conveniences but also its risks, and, unfortunately, the risks may result in injuries. It is tough to be injured and fighting with insurance companies for compensation that is rightly yours. The best way to know how to handle your case is to talk to a bicycle lawyer for his/her expert advice. The Christensen Law Firm is an expert in providing quality care and representation for their clients. For a free consultation, call us today at (801) 506-0800.