Collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles can be devastating for everyone involved. Cyclists may suffer severe or fatal injuries, and the vehicle driver may face liability for the crash.
Understanding the laws that apply to sharing the road with bicyclists in Mankato can help reduce the risk of accidents. However, if you are injured in a crash anywhere in the outstate area, Maschka Personal Injury is here to help. Our bike wreck attorneys have been representing injured people across the region for more than 25 years, and we have the knowledge and skills to help you.
State law treats a bicycle as a vehicle when you are riding it on the street. If you are walking your bike or riding on a sidewalk, you are a pedestrian.
Bicyclists must ride in the same direction as car and truck traffic. A cyclist who is walking their bike should proceed against traffic or use a sidewalk if one is available.
After a collision between a bike and a motor vehicle leaves someone badly hurt, a legal claim will require determining who is at fault. The court or jury will likely assign some responsibility for the incident to the driver or cyclist if either was violating the law. Our experienced attorneys, based in Mankato but serving the surrounding areas, can review the circumstances of your bicycle crash and explain what factors may indicate negligence and liability, as well as how laws for sharing the road apply to your case.
Minnesota Statutes § 169.222 governs the operation of a bicycle on a public road. It requires cyclists to ride on the right shoulder of the road whenever possible. However, cyclists may use any part of the lane when turning or avoiding hazards. They can also use the full lane when it is too narrow to accommodate both a bike and a vehicle or if they need to avoid a mandatory turn lane.
Cyclists can ride two abreast at the speed of traffic, but must ride single file if traffic is moving faster. Bikes must come to a complete stop at traffic signals and stop signs before proceeding. Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and on sidewalks.
A bicycle must maintain a safe distance when passing a stopped vehicle or overtaking a moving car or truck. Motorists passing a bicycle must maintain at least three feet of clearance. If a bicyclist and a motorist collide while sharing the road, our Mankato attorneys can investigate to determine whether the cyclist or driver obeyed the applicable law.
Motorists and cyclists have an uneasy relationship, with some motorists feeling that the presence of cyclists is dangerous and some cyclists feeling disrespected by other motorists. Cooperation, common sense, and an acknowledgment that drivers and bicyclists share public roads in Mankato can help ease the tension and prevent accidents.
Lack of attentiveness causes many bicycle crashes. Motorists who are not looking for cyclists may not see them, even if the bike is in their line of sight. Sometimes, cyclists cause accidents by failing to stay to the right as required, not using hand signals when turning, or holding onto a moving vehicle.
Our attorneys will investigate to determine the cause of your accident. We can also help you pursue a legal claim for compensation if you sustain serious injuries.
Understanding the rules for sharing the road with bicyclists in Mankato can help prevent many accidents. However, if a crash occurs and causes you injury, Maschka Personal Injury can help you pursue a claim. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation with a compassionate attorney.
