Bicycle Safety Promoted in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento bicycle accident lawyer. As Sacramento residents are aware, there are many ongoing street projects aimed at improving convenience and safety for bicycle riders as well as pedestrians. Funding for Sacramento projects is through the gasoline tax, grants, and the Measure A sales tax. However, even though bicyclists have specified lanes in which to ride, negligence still plays a role in accidents.
Liability in a Bicycle Accident
Injuries incurred by a bicycle rider when in a collision with a motor vehicle are frequently serious. However, negligence by the driver must be proved in order to claim compensation. The rules of the road are the same for both the rider and driver; both must obey traffic laws and exercise caution to avoid a crash. In order for a bicycle rider to claim compensation to pay medical bills, lost time at work and other expenses, the rider must be able to prove that the driver’s negligence caused the crash. Illegal maneuvers by a driver that show neglect include:
- Speeding
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Texting or talking on a cell phone when the collision occurred
- The driver was in violation of the Three Feet for Safety Act
- Drugged or drunk driving
- Failure to yield to a bicycle that is turning
Bicyclist Negligence
Negligence can also be the fault of a bicycle rider. These can include:
- Not signaling before making a turn
- Texting or talking on a cell phone while riding
- Riding on the street on the wrong side
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Going the wrong way on a one-way street
- Not using reflectors on the bicycle
- Under the influence of drugs or alcohol while riding a bike
Bicyclists Have a High Rate of Fatalities
The Governors Highway Safety Association reported a 12.2 percent rise in bicyclist deaths in 2015 over the previous year, and the numbers continue to rise. Fatalities of bicyclists are the highest when it comes to traffic fatalities. There are more bicyclist fatalities percentage wise than there are fatalities to pedestrians or drivers of motor vehicles. Sacramento saw 228 fatalities and injuries of bicyclists in 2015 with 535 across the county that year, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. Some of the recommendations by the GHSA to improve bicycle safety are as follows:
- Offer education on intersection safety to both motorists and bicyclists
- Use automated enforcement for those who speed or run red lights/stop signs
- Create initiatives to address distracted drivers and bicycle riders
- Increase enforcement in corridors with higher numbers of bicycle collisions
- Add safety training on bicycles to programs that offer driver education
- Promote inclusion of safety measures to educate drivers about Dutch Reach (to prevent dooring accidents)
- Incorporate and promote training for bicyclists in bicycle safety measures
- Lower speed limits or include slow zones in areas where bicycle accidents are more prevalent such as parks, school zones, and senior centers
Related Articles by Sacramento Bicycle Accident Lawyer Ed Smith
Sacramento Bicycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento bicycle accident lawyer. Bicycle accidents often cause severe injuries. If you or your loved one was in a crash caused by a negligent driver, I can offer you free, friendly legal advice. Reach me at (916) 921-6400 locally or at (800) 404-5400 long-distance.
Reading reviews about a law firm can help when seeking representation. Mine is found at:
On AutoAccident.com, the website I founded, you can find information on previous cases at Verdicts and Settlements.
As a Million Dollar Advocate, I belong to a forum that represents trial attorneys who have won a minimum of one million dollars for their clients in either settlements or verdicts.
It’s been my honor to have served Sacramento and Northern California as an injury lawyer for over 36 years, obtaining fair compensation for those who have suffered traumatic injuries or lost a loved one through wrongful death.
Photo Attribution: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blur-bicycle-speed-bicyclist-15765/
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