Minnesota is a bicycle-friendly state, with many municipalities offering bike lanes and convenient bike racks or lockers for parking. Schools often encourage students to ride to class. If you or your child rides a bike, understanding Mankato bicycle helmet laws is crucial.
Even if you are a skilled cyclist and take all safety precautions, accidents that cause severe injuries can still occur. Based in Mankato but serving surrounding areas, our bike accident attorneys at Maschka Personal Injury can review your situation, explore your legal options, and help you pursue a claim for compensation.
Minnesota is one of only 13 states that does not require bike riders to wear helmets in any circumstances. Even children can cycle without head protection. There are no local ordinances in Mankato requiring bike helmets.
However, just because cycling without a helmet is legal does not mean it is a good idea. Bicycle helmets are proven to reduce fatalities from head injuries and may lessen the long-term impact of head injuries in bike accident survivors.
Head injuries can be especially devastating in children, causing long-term or permanent damage to their physical, emotional, and intellectual development. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children and teens always wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet when riding.
When you claim damages after an accident, the lawyer and insurance company for the responsible party will scrutinize your conduct. Minnesota Statutes § 604.01 prevents someone who is primarily at fault for an accident from seeking damages from others. If you are partially at fault, you can still seek damages, but the amount you can collect will be reduced.
Because there is no law requiring helmet use while bicycling in Mankato, the responsible parties cannot claim that your failure to wear a helmet disqualifies you from seeking damages. However, they might contend that you are partially responsible for the severity of any head injuries.
We have successfully represented numerous cyclists in injury cases and achieved favorable results even when the rider was not wearing a helmet.
Observing the rules of the road is critical for all cyclists, regardless of helmet use, as our Mankato attorneys can further explain. Following the law diligently helps prevent accidents and avoids a situation where a driver could blame you for a crash.
You must ride in the same direction as vehicle traffic, stop at stop signs, and obey traffic signals. You should stay as far to the right as possible, but can occupy the lane in some circumstances:
You can also occupy the full lane when it is too narrow for you to ride on the side of the road and maintain three feet of clearance from passing vehicles.
Even though there are no Mankato bicycle helmet laws or state laws requiring helmet use, it makes sense to take this basic safety precaution. However, whether you choose to wear a helmet or not, the lawyers at Maschka Personal Injury will vigorously advocate for fair compensation if you are injured in a crash. Contact us right away to discuss your bike accident and explore your legal options with our team.
