Dedicated Bike Accident Attorney for Waxahachie, TX Residents

Experienced Bike Riding Personal Injury Lawyer for Waxahachie

When you get on your bicycle, safety always has to be at the top of your priority list. Unfortunately, an accident can happen at just about any time, and you must reach out to an expert who can help you. Even if you follow all the necessary safety precautions, you may still be involved in a serious collision.

We are Cyclist at Law, and it would be our pleasure to represent you following an accident. You need to focus all of your attention on your medical recovery, and it would be our pleasure to handle the legal aspects for you. We have already represented countless cyclists who have been involved in a collision, and we can assist you as well.

Take a look at some key points about cycling accidents in Waxahachie, and call us today for a case review.

Determining Liability for a Bicycle Accident

When you ride a bike, you are required to follow the same laws as drivers of motor vehicles. In the event you are involved in a collision, you need to reach out to the authorities, who will, and write a report. They will be responsible for assigning blame following a bicycle accident.

A few rules that drivers must follow include:

• The driver is required to follow all necessary precautions to avoid a collision with a cyclist. If the driver does not follow the necessary rules and regulations, he or she might be at fault for the collision.
• There are some situations where you might be involved in an accident with a driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This could be considered negligence, and the driver should be held responsible for the accident.
• Drivers are also responsible for maintaining their vehicles. If the car was not properly maintained, the driver might lose control, leading to a serious accident.

In an accident between a bicycle rider and a driver, the motor vehicle is frequently blamed for the accident. That is because the cyclist is significantly more vulnerable when compared to the driver of the car, and it is incumbent on the driver of the car to avoid the bicycle. At the same time, in the state of Texas, you only have two years to bring an injury claim following a collision with a motor vehicle. That is why you need to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible.

Cyclist Laws in Waxahachie, TX

If you ride a bicycle on the road, you are required to follow the same laws as drivers of motor vehicles. A few of the most important laws that you need to follow include:

• You must take a look at the rules of the city in which you are riding. There is a chance that you might not be allowed to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk.
• If you are turning, you need to use the necessary hand signal to let drivers know where you are going.
• You do not have brake lights on your bicycle, so you need to use hand signals to indicate when you are slowing down.
• If there is a bike lane available, you are required to use it. If there is no bike lane available, you should ride on the far right-hand side of the road.
• If you decide to ride at night, make sure you use lights and reflectors to make it easier for drivers to spot you. You should also wear brightly colored clothing.
• You cannot attach a wagon or a trailer to your bicycle.
• You should never have someone sitting on the back of your bike if you do not have a legal seat for them.

Even though bicycles have a lot of protection in the local area, you must make sure you follow all necessary laws. Otherwise, you could be cited for a violation.

Car Driver’s Rights and Responsibilities to Cyclists

Drivers often forget that bicycles will be on the road as well. Drivers are responsible for providing a safe environment for cyclists. A few responsibilities that drivers owe to cyclists include:

• Drivers are required to provide cyclists with plenty of space when they try to go around them.
• Drivers must make sure they look both ways before they make a turn. This is particularly true if they are turning right, as cyclists are usually on the right-hand side of the road.
• If the road is narrow, drivers are required to wait until oncoming traffic stops before they try to go around the cyclist.

Even though drivers can get frustrated with cyclists, safety must always come first. That is why drivers need to be patient and not try to rush when they get around a cyclist.

Cyclists’ Rights and Responsibilities

Even though the responsibilities usually fall on motor vehicle drivers, there are several responsibilities that bicycle riders have as well. Some of the most important examples include:

• Cyclists are responsible for using hand signals to let other bicyclists and drivers know what they are doing. For example, cyclists are required to use hand signals when they are slowing down and when they are turning.
• Even those cyclists can get frustrated with pedestrian traffic, bicycles are usually not allowed on the sidewalk. If cyclists decide to use the sidewalk, they are usually required to dismount and walk their bikes.
• If there is a bicycle lane available, cyclists are required to use it. If there is no bicycle lane available, cyclists should try to remain on the right-hand side of the road.
• Cyclists are required to bike in the same direction as traffic. This is different when compared to pedestrians, who are required to walk against traffic.

It is the responsibility of bicycle riders to ensure they are familiar with the rules of the road. That way, they reduce their chances of ending up in an accident or receiving a ticket.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

Even if you follow all of the necessary safety precautions, an accident can still take place. If you are involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, some of the most important steps you need to follow include:

• Even if you feel like you have not been hurt, you need to call 911 and ask for the authorities to come to the accident. Do not forget to ask for emergency personnel as well.
• If you feel like you can do so, move to a safe location.
• Use your phone to take pictures of everything that happened. They may be needed as evidence.
• When the police arrive, make sure you are honest with them about what happened. The only thing you can do is give them your version of the events from your perspective.
• Once the police officer has done, ask for a copy of the police report.
• You should always see a doctor after an accident. You might feel fine, but adrenaline to mask injuries that might be underneath the surface. Do not forget to ask for a copy of your medical record before you leave the office.
• You should always reach out to an attorney who can review your case. There is a chance that you could be deserving of financial compensation.

Accidents involving a motor vehicle are always serious, but there is also a chance that you might be involved in an accident without a motor vehicle. For example, you might suffer an accident on challenging terrain, or you might be involved in an accident with another bicyclist.

A few steps you need to take after this type of accident include:

• Always take a moment to collect yourself to see if you have suffered an injury. If someone else is involved, make sure they are okay as well.
• You should collect information following an accident. Use your phone to take pictures, and see if you can get the contact information of anyone else who might have been involved in the accident.
• You still need to see a doctor following a bicycle accident even if a motor vehicle was not involved. Seeing a doctor is important to make sure your injuries are treated appropriately.
• You should still reach out to a lawyer who can take a look at your case and see if you need to file a personal injury claim.

Remember that there is a statute of limitations in this situation. You need to file a claim before the clock expires, and that is why you need to reach out to a personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible following an accident in Waxahachie, TX.

Elements of a Bicycle Accident Claim

There are a number of factors that will play a role in the size of your compensation. Some of the most important factors include:

• Liability has to be assigned following a bicycle accident. Even though it is true that the driver of the motor vehicle is usually blamed for the accident, it is not universal. That is why you need to retain a lawyer who can conduct an investigation and make sure blame is assigned appropriately.
• The size of your medical expenses will also play a role in the size of your settlement. Remember that a settlement is designed to compensate you for any financial damages you might have incurred, so the larger your medical bills are, the larger the settlement will be.
• If you cannot return to work, you might also be deserving of compensation that can replace lost income.
• If the judge decides that the other party is guilty of gross negligence, you might also receive punitive damages.

You must work with a bicycle accident lawyer who can make sure all of these elements are considered.

Bicycle Accident Statistics in Waxahachie

According to information published by the Texas Department of Transportation, 364 cyclists have been killed during the past five years. In 2021 alone, there were more than 2,200 traffic accidents involving cyclists, leading to 92 deaths. Bicycle accidents have been on the rise in Texas during the past few years.

Best Bike Trails in Waxahachie

A few of the best locations for biking in Waxahachie include:

• Waxahachie Creek Hike and Bike Trail
• Getzendaner Park
• Lions Park

If you are looking for a safe place to ride your bike, check out these locations.

Worst Areas for Bike Riding in Waxahachie

A few areas in Waxahachie that you should stay away from include:

• Busy highways, such as US 287 and US 77
• Roads that do not have any lights on them, particularly at night
• Roads that have a lot of pedestrian traffic
• Roads that have multiple lanes of traffic crossing at busy intersections

Do not forget to make yourself as visible as possible to drivers to reduce your chances of being involved in a bicycle accident.

How to Avoid a Bike Accident

There are also steps you can take to reduce your chances of a bicycle accident. They include:

• Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and avoid wearing headphones when you bike.
• Wear a helmet to reduce your chances of suffering a head injury.
• Always ride a bicycle with a seat at the appropriate height.
• Wear brightly colored clothing and ensure your reflectors are working.

See a doctor after a bicycle accident, and then reach out to our team for a case review.

Contact the Waxahachie Cyclist At Law

At Cyclist at Law, we can defend your rights after a cycling accident. Contact us today for a case consultation.