Utah law 41-6a-1102 states that, as a bicyclist, “Your bicycle is considered a vehicle and you have the same rights and are subject to the same provisions as the operator of any other vehicle.” Thus, a person on a bicycle who is obeying traffic laws and keeping tabs on their environment should be just as safe as if they were driving a car. Unfortunately, on a practical level, bicyclists are at the mercy of drivers of larger vehicles, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that 630 bicyclists are killed each year in traffic accidents, many of which could have been prevented if the rights of bicyclists had been considered.
According to KSL, Utah news anchor Kerri Cronk was run off the road a year ago when a car failed to give her space while pulling out from Hogle Zoo. Although she ended up suffering (by the Fox 13 report) a broken neck, dislocated shoulder, concussion, and various smaller injuries; at no point did the driver of the vehicle that drove her off-road stop or turn around. Thanks to the concern of another driver, Ms. Cronk was hospitalized soon thereafter. Recovery required many medical visits and a total of eight weeks before she returned to work.
Tragedies of this sort cannot go unaddressed. If you or someone you know has suffered serious damage on a bicycle at the hands of an ignorant or negligent driver and is seeking reparations, a bicycle accident attorney can help secure the maximum reimbursement for damages. For a free consultation, call 801-506-0800.