If you’re like most drivers, you’re careful to stay clear of bicyclists. Even on weekends when they’re out in droves and appear to be cycling in packs on every street in your neighborhood, you keep a safe distance.
In collisions between cars and bikes, the cyclist usually ends up with more serious injuries. However, not all cyclists are as careful as they should be.
What if you collided with a cyclist because of their recklessness or negligence – or you ended up crashing into a vehicle or other object as you swerved to avoid a cyclist?
Cyclists have to abide by the law
Bicyclists are bound by the rules of the road just as drivers are. Louisiana has state laws that cyclists need to follow. Individual localities within the state have their own additional laws as well. For example, in Baton Rouge, cyclists “shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.” They’re required to ride in a designated area when a “usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway.”
If a cyclist made an illegal move, such as running a stop light/sign or moving into the driver’s lane from the bike lane for no reason, they can be held partially or completely liable for any crash that occurs as a result. If the cyclist had a camera on their bike and/or their helmet, the video from that could be crucial to showing precisely what happened.
If you were involved in a collision with a cyclist or with another vehicle because of a cyclist’s negligent or reckless actions, it’s crucial to protect your rights and to get any compensation you need to cover expenses and other damages.
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