With the milder weather coming in, more and more people are taking to riding bicycles. In fact, many people ride bicycles all year long. Some ride them to work, and some just ride for the recreation and exercise. However, with an increasing amount of bicyclists on the road also comes an increase in accidents between bicyclists and auto and truck drivers. This leads to more serious accidents, since bicyclists are not protected like people in automobiles are. Consequently, these accidents lead to lawsuits. A bicycle accident lawyer in Queens County, NY helps clients who have been involved in bicycle accidents. Here are some things to know about the laws regarding the riding of bicycles.
Many people are not aware that the same traffic laws that are applicable to motorists are also applicable to bicyclists. Since bicyclists also have to abide by these laws, they have the same rights to the road as motorists. However, in 2009, New York had the fourth most fatal bicycle accidents in the United States. This means that some serious understanding of bicycle safety and law must be learned and applied.
When riding a minimum of 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset, bicyclists must have a lamp equipped to the front of their bicycle, and a red or amber light equipped on the back. They must also wear reflective clothing to help them remain visible. This is in accordance with the standard set by the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. By complying with all the rules and regulations, bicyclists will not have to worry about the other party finding them partly at fault in the case of an accident.
The Law Offices of Joseph J. Perrini, III has been providing personal injury solutions for clients in Queens County, New York and the surrounding area for many years. This attorney has years of experience representing clients with personal injury cases. The law office specifically handles medical malpractice and other types of personal injury cases. If you are looking for a bicycle accident lawyer in Queens County, NY, visit this website.