Bike Smart, Bike Safe

Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application. Cyclists and drivers need to use caution when sharing the road to avoid collisions leading to injuries or fatalities.

In West Virginia, over the 5 year time period between 2006 and 2010 there has been a 200% increase in bicyclist fatalities from 18 fatalities to 54 fatalities. With number of fatalities and injuries on the rise, bicyclists need to use more caution when riding bikes. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Leave 3-4 feet of space between a bicyclists and vehicle when passing.
• Obey all traffic laws when biking as you would when driving.
• Always wear a helmet to reduce the risk of head injuries.
• Actively supervise your children when they are riding bikes.
• Wear bright colored clothes to increase your visibility to drivers during the day.
• Wear reflective clothing to increase your visibility to drivers at duck and night.
• Make sure your bike has proper reflectors and lights if needed.

If you have been injured as a bicyclist by a motor vehicle, you have a few options for filing a claim. Your legal options are similar to those of a pedestrian that was injured in a motor vehicle accident. At Manchin Injury Law Group, our bike accident lawyers in West Virginia are here to help you get the compensation you deserve.