Riding a bike in Illinois can put a cyclist close to cars, and the cyclist has to stay alert for safety’s sake. Cars, trucks and SUVs may collide with a bike, leaving the cyclist in a potentially life-threatening situation.
Bike and motor vehicle safety
Cyclists might not control how a driver acts, but they can take steps to protect themselves and reduce bicycle and motor vehicle collisions. Riding with the traffic flow, using hand signals for turns, and putting appropriate lights and reflectors on a bike will help. Staying in bike lanes and following traffic laws are other essential practices for the safety-conscious. Wearing a helmet might prevent a terrible injury if a mishap occurs.
Be aware of drivers
Drivers don’t always use turn signals, and they may back out of a parking space too fast. A driver might be drunk or distracted and fail to see a cyclist. If so, then the driver might be negligent in an accident.
Of course, a bicyclist could make the same mistakes, such as cycling while intoxicated or texting while riding. In such instances, the bicyclist might be at fault for a collision.
Ultimately, one party or both could contribute negligence that causes an accident. For example, a bicyclist who makes a left turn without signaling could hit a vehicle that didn’t come to a complete stop at a stop sign. In this situation, both parties might be deemed negligent by an insurance company or court of law.
An attorney may review the specifics of an accident to determine who is at fault. The attorney might then file an insurance claim against the negligent party’s policy.