While riding a bicycle is designed to help you stay fit, sometimes accidents happen that were not your fault. If you have had a bicycle accident in West Virginia, you need to understand your rights in this regard. If you believe the accident was caused by the negligence of a third party, you need to speak to a lawyer immediately.
Some of the Rules of the Road
In the state of West Virginia, all cyclists must follow the traffic laws. The rules of the road apply to both bicycles and vehicular traffic. Cyclists must ride in the lanes that are marked for bicycle traffic. If a bicycle lane does not exist, a cyclist must ride with the regular traffic flow, traveling next to the curb in most instances.
Cyclists also need to ride below the speed limit. If you have not violated the traffic laws and you were hit by a motorist who was reckless or speeding, now is the time to contact a personal injury lawyer in Martinsburg, WV.
Safety Considerations
Besides obeying the laws of the road, cyclists must be equipped with the proper safety gear. For example, lights are required for night riding activities. In West Virginia, cyclists must install a light in the front of his or her bike and add a red light on the back. It is also important to wear a helmet and install a rear view mirror. If you have followed all these safety mandates, you can make it easier for a personal injury lawyer to represent you in a bicycle accident claim.
It is also necessary to understand the elements of negligence when seeking representation by a personal injury lawyer. For example, you must show that the defendant owed you a duty to demonstrate reasonable care and that he or she did not exercise this duty. In addition, the cause of your injuries must be associated with this breach. Proximate cause, injuries, and damages must be established as well.
You can get further insight about your personal injury rights by reviewing such sites as website domain online. Talk to an attorney about what you can do if you have sustained injuries in an accident.
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