Tips For Sharing The Road: Cyclists And Motorists In North Carolina
Our motorcycle accident lawyer routinely handles personal injury claims for cyclists injured by motorists. A quick visit to any North Carolina online forum will tell you all you need to know about how cyclists in the city feel about motorists. Unfortunately, the feeling is mutual. While cyclists usually point to being run off the road or ignored by motorists, the motorists simply point to the amount of space the cyclists take up on the infamous Queens Road “Booty Loop” which even has its own Mapquest link.
We’d be happy if we never received another call about an injured cyclist; the injuries are typically severe and traumatizing for the cyclist, even when the accident occurs at relatively low speeds. Whether you like it or not, if you’re a cyclist, the burden is going to fall on you to take extra precautions when cycling the streets of North Carolina. As a frequent bicycle commuter in Charlotte, I’ve learned this from first-hand experience. Here are a few tips on how to prevent accidents and stay safe on the road.
With over 20 years of experience and recognition as one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in North Carolina, you can trust our firm with your bicycle or motorcycle accident case. If you have been in an accident, contact our team at the Layton Law Firm today for assistance.
Be Seen
I’ve found this to be the best preventative medicine when riding a bike in Charlotte. Every piece of reflective gear or light that you add to your bike or cycling gear adds another layer of visibility. An orange reflective vest, a blinking tail light and a high watt ‘head light’ on your bike can make all the difference. Truth be told, if you’re in an accident with a motorist, the presence of any or all of these items significantly strengthens your case against the motorist.
Be Predictable
Being predictable as a cyclist means trying to anticipate what a motorist might do, or predict that a motorist may not be paying attention. As a result, just because you ‘can’ cut across a lane or two of traffic doesn’t mean you should. Or at least, announce your intention to change lanes ahead of time to give yourself a fighting chance at not getting hit.
Don’t Rely On Bike Lanes
While bike lanes are a phenomenal addition to the streets of Charlotte, they’re no guarantee that you’re safe from motorists. As our Charlotte motorcycle accident attorney knows, you may be forced out of a bike lane or struck while in one. Consider the motorist who is making a right-hand turn. They have to cross over the bike lane to do it, and put quite simply, they’re often forgetful of the fact that a cyclist may be coming up beside them as they make that turn. As a result, while it’s safer to be in a bike lane than to not be in one, as a cyclist the best course of action is to yield to motorists or use extra caution as you approach upcoming side streets where the motorist may suddenly turn right.
We would be re-miss to not put a few notes in here for motorists, as they can surely stand to do better in sharing the road with cyclists. For motorists, it often comes down to increased awareness and driving behavior reflective of a concern for pedestrians and cyclists.
Anticipate A Cyclist
If you’re driving in Charlotte, your mindset should be that you’re looking for other motorists AND looking for cyclists and pedestrians. Cyclists move faster than pedestrians, so as a motorist you need to embrace a heightened sense of awareness about others on the road who are expecting you to yield to them.
Advertise Your Next Move
If you’re operating a vehicle and planning to turn right, build in some extra braking time and put your signal on a little earlier than you might normally do, so that a cyclist can understand your next move ahead of time.
Use Your Position To Protect Cyclists
As a motorist, you’re in a unique position which allows you to slow down the pace of traffic (your car the cars behind you) in order to allow a cyclist to remain safe. In fact, by purposefully slowing down when encountering a cyclist or giving them a wide berth, you send a signal to other motorists that there is something to be aware of. This can be done safely and in a way that is protective of the cyclist who is relatively exposed.
Contact Our Charlotte Motorcycle Lawyer Today
If you have been injured by a motorist in Charlotte or in North Carolina, our North Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer is here to help. Consultations are free and representing pedestrians and cyclists is one of our passions. In fact, we give away free yard signs encouraging motorists to slow down in neighborhoods for this very reason. Allow us to help you receive the justice and compensation that you deserve. Contact The Layton Law Firm today.