Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Cyclist in a Traffic Accident

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Cyclist in a Traffic Accident

On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | August 1, 2024 | Car Accidents

Riding your bike is a great way to get around beautiful Port St. Lucie, but it also leaves you more vulnerable to the risks of the road. When you’re on your bike, you have rights as well as responsibilities, and they’re both designed to help make our roads safer for everyone who travels on them. If a driver’s negligence leaves you injured in a bike accident, you need the skilled legal guidance of an experienced Port St. Lucie bike accident attorney in your corner.

When You’re on Your Bike

The State of Florida classifies bikes as vehicles, and this means that you generally have the same rights and responsibilities when you’re on your bike that you do when you’re behind the wheel of your car. Bikes, however, are not allowed on expressways. Finally, when you ride on a sidewalk, you’re considered a pedestrian, but you’re required to yield the right of way to pedestrians in your midst.

Where You Should Ride on the Road

When you are tooling around on your bike in Florida and are traveling at a speed that is slower than the rest of the traffic, you should remain as far to the lane’s right as you safely can. There are, however, exceptions to this rule, and they include the following:

• You are preparing to make a left turn.
• You are avoiding an obstacle or hazard on the pavement.
• The lane is too narrow to share with a car.

Even when there is a dedicated bike lane, you’re not required to use it if it presents a danger of some kind.

Rules of the Road

The traffic laws that apply when you’re on your bike include each of the following:

• You must obey all traffic controls, lights, and signals.
• Don’t ride while distracted – by your phone or anything else.
• Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Use directional hand signals to alert other drivers when you’re about to turn.
• If you ride at night, your bike must be equipped with the required lights and reflectors.

Vulnerable Road Users

While bikes are classified as vehicles in Florida, cyclists are, nonetheless, identified as vulnerable road users, and motorists are required to allow vulnerable road users like you a safe distance of not less than three feet when passing. The bottom line is that you’re far more vulnerable to being seriously injured when you’re on your bike, and too many motorists fail to take this fact into adequate consideration.

Make the Call to an Experienced Port St. Lucie Bike Accident Attorney Today

The compassionate bike accident attorneys at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa – proudly serving Port St. Lucie – have reserves of experience successfully guiding challenging bike accident claims toward favorable resolutions that honor our clients’ rights and address their rightful compensation. To learn more about what we can do to help you, please reach out and contact us online or call us at 561-478-2500 today.