Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycles are a fun, healthy, and eco-friendly way to get around North Carolina. But because bikes are so much smaller than motor vehicles, cyclists often face serious injuries after traffic accidents. If you were injured because someone else failed to share the road, you shouldn’t have to pay the costs. At The Rhodes Firm, we can protect your rights to the compensation you need to get better.

We know you need help fast after a bicycle accident. From helping you get the medical care you need to ensuring you get fair treatment from the insurance company, our bicycle accident lawyer wants to help you with your claim today. We’re available 24/7—just call (704) 891-2494.

Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries

We handle bicycle accident claims related to a variety of injuries, such as:

• Broken Bones
  Arm, leg, and joint fractures are common when cyclists make contact with motor vehicles, barriers, and road surfaces.
• Soft Tissue Injuries
  Muscle damage, lacerations, and even permanent scarring often result when bicyclists are thrown from their bikes.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
  Brain injuries resulting from bike accident impacts can affect cyclists’ thinking, sensations, language, and moods.

The costs of bicycle accidents often go beyond hospital bills. No matter how you were injured on your bicycle, it’s our job to provide you with the answers you need to get the best results from your claim.

Bike Helmet Safety

Wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is just as important as wearing a seat belt when you’re in a car. In fact, anyone under 16 years old is required to wear a bike helmet in North Carolina. Of course, a helmet only works if it’s properly fitted and worn correctly.

According to the Bike Helmet Safety Institute:

• Always try on a helmet before buying one. It should sit level on your head and be comfortably snug, but not too tight. The helmet shouldn’t move more than about an inch in any direction.
• Check for a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sticker inside the helmet.
• Helmets that are white or a bright color increase your visibility to others on the road.
• Cyclists should choose a helmet with a smoothly rounded outer shell, with no sharp ribs or snag points.
• Consider a helmet’s ventilation. Air flow over the head determines coolness and larger front vents provide better air flow.

Riders’ Responsibilities

In North Carolina, a bicycle has the legal status of a vehicle, which means bicyclists are protected by the same laws that apply to drivers. To help ensure a safe riding experience, cyclists should:

• Wear a bicycle helmet.
  Bicyclists under age 16 are required to wear helmets under North Carolina law.
• Increase your visibility.
  Use lights and wear bright colors and reflective materials.
• Obey all traffic signs and signals.
  Use hand signals to communicate intended movements and ride in the same direction as the traffic on your side of the road.
• Keep kids safe.
  Secure child passengers who are under 40 pounds or 40 inches in child seats or bicycle trailers.

Motorists’ Responsibilities

Motorists also have a responsibility to keep the roads safe for everyone. When operating a vehicle:

• Be especially watchful for bicyclists in neighborhoods, around intersections, and along rural roads.
• Be engaged—don’t drive distracted.
• When passing by a bicyclist, slow down and check over your shoulder to make sure you have allowed a safe distance before merging back in the lane or making a right-hand turn.
• Make eye contact with a bicyclist who has stopped at an intersection and yield when appropriate.