After a bike accident, many injured riders do not get fair treatment from the insurance companies. Recent studies show that settlements for injuries suffered in cars are up to 30% to 40% higher than for the same type of injuries suffered by cyclists. Common causes of bicycle accidents include:
In many cases, a bicycle accident results from a motoristโs negligence or inattentiveness while operating his or her vehicle. The following are some common types of bike accidents:
A motor vehicle driver turning directly in front of a bicyclist
An automobile driver entering the street from a driveway or parking spot and pulls out into traffic in front of the bicyclist
A motoristโs failure to yield at an intersection or running a stop sign or red light
A vehicle driverโs inattention while driving past a bicyclist
An automobile driverโs failure to look both ways when resuming travel after stopping at a stop sign
An automobile driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
A Daggett Shuler bike accident lawyer will investigate and, where appropriate, closely analyze any damage that occurred to the bicycle, such as:
Chipped paint
Stressed metal
Bent wheels
Torn brake pads
In addition, our attorneys will examine the remains of a bike wreck and seek to counter a motoristโs typical claims that a cyclist was speeding or squeezed the brake levers too hard or swerved into traffic.
Due to the increase in bike traffic throughout the United States and North Carolina, many cities have constructed special bike lanes. Parks now have trails which are accessible to bicycles, and some vehicle manufacturers are even offering bike racks as standard equipment. However, many motorists do not respect the bicyclistsโ rights to share the roads and, more importantly, many cyclists have not been properly educated on how to legally and safely share the roads with automobiles.
If youโve been injured in a North Carolina bicycle accident, call the dedicated bike accident lawyers at Daggett Shuler today or fill out the form below to set up a free, no-obligation consultation today.
With the passage of the Bicycle and Bikeway Act of 1974, North Carolina established the first state bicycle program in the nation, which quickly became a national model.
In North Carolina, a bicycle has the same legal status as a vehicle. This means that bicyclists have full rights and responsibilities on the roads, and are subject to the regulations governing the operation of a motor vehicle.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT.gov), North Carolina traffic laws require bicyclists to:
The Child Bicycle Safety Act of 2001 also requires the following:
Bicycling on Interstate or fully controlled limited access highways, such as beltlines, is prohibited by policy, unless otherwise specified by action of the Board of Transportation. Currently, the only exception to the policy is the US 17 bridge over the Chowan River between Chowan and Bertie Counties.
In addition, bicyclists should not park bicycles on the main traveled portion of a highway or bridge outside municipal corporate limits.
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Contact the attorneys at Daggett Shuler today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can depend on us.