Rock Valley Personal Injury Attorneys

Accidents and injuries can unexpectedly change lives. In such trying periods, personal injury lawyers are essential allies. They focus on advocating for those harmed by negligence, ensuring they receive rightful compensation. This article explores the crucial role personal injury lawyers play in guiding individuals through their claims and aiding in recovery.

Road Bike Safety Tips for New Cyclists

Over 46 million people ride bicycles each year in America for sport, fitness, fun, and commute. Bicycling is not only an economical form of recreation and commuting, but it also has a minuscule carbon impact and is beneficial for your health. However, cycling can also be dangerous, particularly for new cyclists who have yet to learn all the rules of the road. High-traffic areas and roads that are not bike-friendly are especially hazardous.

Road Safety Tips for Cyclists

Before you hop on the saddle and hit the road, make sure you’ve acquainted yourself with relevant bike safety information. It could save your life. Our firm represents injured cyclists and families of fatally injured cyclists, and we’ve come across many horrific accidents that could have been prevented had simple safety precautions been used.

Key Safety Tips:

1. Learn the Bicycling Rules of the Road: Each city and state can have distinct traffic laws for cyclists.
2. Practice in Safe Areas: Before venturing into traffic, practice in areas without cars to master bike handling skills like clipping in and out of pedals and braking safely.
3. Take a Bicycle Safety Course
4. Ride with Traffic: Always ride in the same direction as traffic.
5. Stay to the Right: Ride as far to the right as practicable if no bike path is available. Avoid riding on sidewalks.
6. Wear a Helmet: Always wear a helmet, without exception.
7. Increase Visibility: Wear reflective clothing and use lights at night. Rear lights are mandatory in Iowa. Wear bright clothing during the day.
8. Avoid Earbuds: Stay alert to traffic sounds, such as honking horns and cars approaching.
9. Stay Alert to Drivers: Pay attention to what cars around you are doing and try to make eye contact with drivers.
10. Avoid Blind Spots: Do not ride in drivers’ blind spots.
11. Keep Distance from Parked Cars: Avoid getting doored by leaving ample space between yourself and parked cars.
12. Avoid Speeding: Leave enough time to react to any hazards.
13. Check Your Bike: Ensure your bike is in good repair before hitting the road, such as checking tire pressure and brakes.

Helmet Use and Your Bicycle Accident Claim: It Matters

When filing a claim for injuries sustained during a bicycle accident, questions about fault and how fault affects settlement amounts arise. If you weren’t wearing a helmet, your bicycle accident claim could be impacted.

Iowa Helmet Laws

Iowa is one of 13 states with no bicycle helmet law, meaning there is no legal obligation to wear a helmet. Thus, not wearing a helmet doesn’t automatically make you negligent or lawless.

Comparative Negligence Laws

Despite the lack of a helmet law, the defendant may argue that not wearing a helmet was negligent behavior. Negligence is defined as irresponsible and unreasonable behavior. The defense may argue that not wearing a helmet, especially if you sustained head injuries, was unsafe despite the lack of legal requirement.

If the driver argues your actions were unreasonable, your claim may be subject to the state’s comparative negligence laws. These laws allow victims to recover damages if they are less than 50 percent at fault, but the recovery amount is reduced by their proportion of blame.

Proving the Negligence of the Other Party

Even if you sustained head injuries, you can still hold the other party liable. You must demonstrate that the other party acted negligently and that your injuries resulted from their actions.

Contact an Iowa Bicycle Accident Attorney

An attorney can help with:
- Determining liability and negligence
- Understanding comparative fault
- Estimating your damages

At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, we help you prove the other party’s fault, file your claim, and demonstrate the extent of your damages. Contact us at (888) 435-9886 for more information.

Proving Liability for a Car in a Right Turn Bicycle Accident

When a car turning right strikes a bicyclist, it’s often referred to as a “right hook” accident. These accidents commonly happen when a cyclist is riding on the right shoulder of the road or in the bike lane alongside a car. Typically, the driver is at fault, but you must present proper evidence of their negligence to prove liability.

How Right Turn Bicycle Accidents Occur

- Approaching an Intersection: A driver may fail to see the cyclist and turn right, causing a collision.
- Overtaking a Car: A cyclist passing on the right may inadvertently place themselves in harm’s way when the car turns right.
- Waiting at a Light: A car may turn right when the light changes, cutting off or hitting the cyclist.

Liability for a Right Turn Bicycle Accident

To prove the driver’s fault:
- Police Report: Details the accident scene and events, including any citations issued.
- Eyewitness Accounts: Reveal what the bike and car were doing prior to the collision.

A driver can be proven negligent if they were:
- Speeding
- Failing to Use a Turn Signal
- Abruptly Changing Lanes

Conversely, the driver might argue the cyclist was negligent if they were:
- Swerving Between Lanes
- Riding Too Close to Vehicles
- Ignoring Traffic Control Devices

Avoiding Right Turn Bicycle Accidents

- Maintain a Safe Distance: Keep a safe distance behind vehicles to anticipate turns or lane changes.
- Check Mirrors: Look for nearby vehicles as you approach intersections.
- Avoid Passing on the Right: Only pass a car on the right if necessary and ensure there is enough space to avoid a turning vehicle.

We Are Here To Help

Remember, you are not alone in recovering from your injuries. We have helped thousands of Iowans through their physical, emotional, and financial recoveries. If you have questions about what you are going through, feel free to call our office for your confidential injury conference. We will take the time to listen to you and give you our advice concerning your injury matter at no cost or risk to you.

Free Book at No Cost 

If you are not ready to speak with an attorney yet but would like to learn more about Iowa injury cases including tips about how you can avoid making common costly mistakes request a copy of our Iowa Personal Injury book which includes 14 myths about Iowa injury cases and 5 things to know before hiring an attorney.

If you have specific questions about your injury matter feel free to call our office to speak with our Injury team at 641-792-3595 or use our Chat feature by clicking here 24 hours a day/7 days per week. Your information will remain confidential and there is no cost or obligation.