Our bicycle accident lawyers represent those who were hit on bike by a car. Bicyclists who are injured in a Michigan car accident have legal rights even if the car that struck them was not insured. Bicycles are considered vehicles in the law and have to follow the same rules of the road as a car.
According to AAA, 96% of bicycle deaths are due to accidents with motor vehicles. Statistics also show that 85% of all bicycle accidents occur within five blocks of home, and that 47% of all other bike accidents occur off the road, in driveways, and on sidewalks.
In addition, most bicycle accidents were more common in warmer months. This is likely due to the difficulties of bicycling in snowy or icy conditions. In 2007, bicycle crashes peaked in the month of July at 185 accidents and hit a low point in February with 12 crashes in Michigan.
According to AAA, these are some safety tips you should use to help prevent a bicycle accident from happening including:
• Wear an approved safety helmet and brightly colored clothes so drivers can see you.
• Know and obey traffic laws, signs, signals and pavement markings.
• Stop at all intersections and walk your bike across busy streets.
• On streets where cars are parked, watch for car doors opening.
• When driving with a group, stay in a single line and one bike length apart on the right side of the roadway.
• Do not dart into a road from a driveway or between parked cars.
• Be extra careful turning left.
• Use bike paths and lightly traveled streets whenever possible.
• Yield the right of way to pedestrians and cars.
• Keep your bicycle in good repair.
For more information regarding your rights as an injured cyclist in a Michigan car accident, call our office now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our top bicycle accident lawyers. We will represent you in your Michigan car accident case, under our No Fee Promise, meaning you do not pay any legal fees unless we obtain a settlement or recovery for you.
This is a guest post from Buckfire & Buckfire, a personal injury law firm based in Southfield, near Detroit Michigan.