Bicycle Safety and Preventative Measures in Leander
Riding a bike, whether as a recreational activity or a means of transportation, can be great for your health; however, it can be a risky activity as well when you do not take appropriate safety measures. Following the local equipment regulations and traffic laws designed to keep cyclists safe can decrease the risk of injury.
Despite how carefully you follow bicycle safety and preventative measures in Leander, the actions of reckless and negligent riders, drivers, and pedestrians can injure you through no fault of your own. When that happens, an experienced bicycle crash attorney can help you seek compensation from the person who harmed you.
Cycling Safety Regulations
State laws and Leander city ordinances require cyclists to follow some basic preventative measures to keep them and the people around them safe on the road.
Equipment Safety Requirements
Bicycle safety requires proper equipment. Under Texas Transportation Code § 551.102, cyclists must:
- Have a fitted, permanent seat on their bike
- Have strong, effective brakes on their bike
- Have white-light lamps on the front of their bike and red reflectors or lights on the back of the back when riding at night
- Not ride with an obstruction that prevents them from keeping at least one hand on the bike handle at all times
Bike helmets are generally not required by law but are highly recommended to prevent injuries.
Travel Safety Requirements
Once properly geared up and on the road, cyclists must remain alert and follow traffic laws to help them stay safe. Bikers generally have the same rights and responsibilities as people driving cars, as mandated by Texas Transportation Code § 551.101. For example, cyclists are required to signal before they stop or make a turn, but the means to do so are different than motor vehicles.
Signaling information for cyclists can be found in Texas Transportation Code § 545.107. When making a left turn, cyclists must extend their left arm so it is straight and perpendicular to their body. To turn right, cyclists must either extend their left arm and bend their elbow so that the hand is raised or fully extend their right arm perpendicular to their body. Extending the left arm with the elbow bent with the hand lowered is a signal that the cyclist is slowing down or preparing to stop.
Bike riders need to obey traffic signs and stop lights. Per Texas Transportation Code § 551.106, cyclists are not permitted on all roadways and may be subject to speed limits. Multi-lane highways generally forbid cyclist and pedestrian use. Cities are required to post notices to inform the public where these restrictions take place.
Bicycle Accident Risks and Remedies
People driving motor vehicles are expected to be attentive to the road and aware of cyclists and pedestrians sharing the road with them. This is part of the standard duty of care for drivers. Even when a Leander biker is following safety and preventative measures, a careless or distracted driver can cause harm. When a driver’s breach of duty causes a bike collision, and that collision causes an injury, the driver can be liable.
Injured cyclists can sue negligent drivers to recover costs associated with their accident. Most bike crash lawsuits are not subject to a cap on compensatory damages. That means injured cyclists may collect the full amount of any costs directly associated with their injury, such as for lost wages and their current and future medical bills.
Speak With an Attorney in Leander About Safety and Preventative Measures
Bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries, which can cause physical and emotional pain and require expensive medical bills and bike repairs to resolve. When you have taken the appropriate bicycle safety and preventative measures in Leander and get injured by someone else’s negligence, you deserve fair compensation for the harm they have caused you. After a bicycle accident, speak with our team to get the support you need and the money you deserve.
