Salt Lake City Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Bicycle Accidents in Utah

Many people rely on bicycles for everyday transportation; others simply enjoy riding for recreation. Whether you are a causal bicyclist or a serious cycler, you likely know that you face certain risks when you share the road with others.

Every year, hundreds of cyclists are seriously injured or killed in collisions with motor vehicles and even other bicyclists. When someone else negligently causes your injuries, you could have grounds for a personal injury case.

At Steele Adams Hosman, our Salt Lake City bicycle accident attorneys represent injured individuals and the families of those wrongfully killed in tragic bike accidents throughout Utah.

We understand just how devastating these cases are; our goal is to help you get back on your feet and secure the justice you deserve. When it comes to maximizing your recovery, our attorneys are prepared to fight tirelessly for you, even if that means taking your case to court.

Injured in a bike accident in Salt Lake City or the nearby areas? Contact Steele Adams Hosman today at (801) 999-1506 for a free consultation. Hablamos español.

Utah Bicycle Laws You Should Know

Anyone who rides a bike in the state of Utah should be aware of and follow all applicable bicycle laws. These laws are in place not only for your safety but also for the safety of others on the road.

Below are some Utah bicycle laws you should know:

• When possible, bicyclists should use designated bicycle lanes or paths (though this is not required)
• Bicyclists must obey all traffic control devices (signals, stop signs, etc.)
• When there are no designated bicycle lanes or paths, bicyclists may use the roadway but should ride as far to the right as possible whenever possible
• While bicyclists must come to a full stop at red lights, they may treat stop signs as yield signs, provided they yield the right of way to the applicable parties
• If a bicyclist does not trigger a green light, they may proceed through a red light with extreme caution after waiting at least 90 seconds and ensuring there are no oncoming vehicles
• Bicyclists may not ride more than two abreast on the road or any part of the roadway specifically designated for bicycles
• Minors (those under the age of 18) are allowed to ride bicycles on sidewalks and have the right of way on all paths and trails and in crosswalks
• Bicyclists should yield the right of way to pedestrians in most situations
• Bicyclists should ride in the same direction as traffic

Generally speaking, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as anyone else on the road. While there is no bicycle helmet law in Utah, everyone who rides a bicycle should wear an approved safety helmet, as this is the best way to prevent serious head and brain injuries. Children should always wear properly fitted and secured bicycle helmets.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you know that even the most cautious of cyclists cannot always prevent an accident. In fact, most bicycle accidents happen, at least in part, because of the negligence of others.

Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Texting while driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Fatigued driving
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Passing or following too closely
• Unsafe turns or lane changes
• Failure to keep a lookout
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Road rage
• Turning without looking
• Running a red light or stop sign

Although negligent drivers are often to blame, bicyclists may sometimes share some of the fault in these collisions. When this is the case, an injured cyclist can still seek compensation for their damages. Under Utah’s modified comparative fault rule, an injured party can file a claim as long as they are less than 50% at fault. Additionally, when there is shared fault, the injured person’s recovery will be reduced by their percentage of fault in the incident.

Proving Negligence in Your Case

In Utah, bicyclists who are injured in accidents are covered by no-fault insurance. This means that if you have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum requirements, you can file a claim with your own auto insurance provider regardless of who was at fault for the collision.

Your personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage pays up to $3,000 in necessary and reasonable medical expenses, as well as a portion of your lost wages for up to 12 months.

However, PIP coverage is often not enough, and in some cases an injured cyclist may not have auto insurance at all. You could have grounds to file a third-party injury claim against an at-fault party if you can prove that their negligent or wrongful conduct was the cause of your injuries.

Proving negligence typically involves an in-depth investigation into how the accident occurred and whether any of the other parties involved acted negligently or violated the law. At Steele Adams Hosman, our Salt Lake City bicycle accident attorneys work with accident reconstructionists, expert witnesses, medical professionals, and other specialists to evaluate our clients’ injuries and damages, identify the liable party or parties, and aggressively pursue maximum compensation.