OUR EXPERTISE
Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Attorneys
With great mountain scenery, well-kept roads, and a (usually) mild climate, the greater Las Vegas area can be a great place to go for a bicycle ride. Just outside of Las Vegas, places such as Red Rock Canyon provide a beautiful yet challenging place where even the more advanced cyclists can test themselves. However, bicycles are relatively uncommon on Las Vegas roadways. Unfortunately, and perhaps because they are relatively uncommon, many motorists do not actively watch for people on bicycles; this leads to a significant number of Las Vegas cycling accidents each year where someone in a car or other vehicle crashes into someone on a bicycle.
When a car does hit a bicycle, it is often a frightening experience for everyone involved. The vehicle typically impacts the person directly. The cyclist is almost always injured, and often sustains severe injuries, including facial trauma, spinal injuries, broken bones, and road rash, to name a few. Even if they are wearing a helmet, cyclists who have been hit by a car frequently sustain head injuries. If you were recently involved in a bike accident in the Las Vegas area, SJW Injury Attorneys is here to answer all of your injury-related questions.
If you or someone you are with was involved in a Las Vegas bike accident and you are still at the scene, everyone’s safety should be your priority. Try to determine if anyone is at immediate risk of further injuries, such as from a passing vehicle. Of course, the cyclist, and sometimes even the driver, may be seriously injured to the extent that moving them to safety may not be possible. If so, attempt to warn passing vehicles to proceed carefully well in advance of the accident.
As soon as you have checked on those involved, contact emergency services. Even if the accident seemed relatively minor, it can be difficult to assess the actual extent of everyone’s injuries, and calling emergency services as soon as possible could be critical to the recovery of those involved. Even if the parties involved say they are not injured, the adrenaline and confusion following such a wreck can make it difficult for them to know if they are hurt. This is especially true for the cyclist. Often, people who have recently been involved in a bicycle crash will state they are fine, even when severely injured. Try to determine if there are obvious signs of a serious injury and relay what you see to emergency services. Furthermore, if you can visually see the person is severely injured, encourage them to stay where they are while emergency services respond to the scene of the bicycle accident.
Our Car Accident page can provide you with additional information on obtaining proper medical treatment and can answer other related questions you may have, such as how medical services related to a wreck are paid for.
It is important to request that an officer be dispatched to the scene of the bicycle accident. Do not let the driver or anyone else talk you out of requesting a police presence. An officer at the scene can help ensure the safety of all involved, they can ensure the driver of the automobile was fit to be behind the wheel, ensure the driver has provided accurate information, and prepare a police report. A police report documenting the circumstances of the bicycle crash, including its location, the people involved, and identifying any witnesses, can be critical to protecting the cyclist should they need to seek compensation for their injuries later on.
Take pictures. Pictures of the scene of the accident can be very important to establishing what happened, who was at fault, the severity of the crash, and how the injuries were sustained. If possible, attempt to take pictures of the bike and the vehicle from various distances, including closeup pictures of the damage, pictures of the bike accident from several feet back, and pictures of the entire scene. Capturing the surrounding area, including any posted traffic signs or signals, can also be helpful.
Aside from photographs, it is important to speak to any witnesses who saw the bicycle accident take place. Witnesses can be very helpful in establishing what happened in the crash, especially if the driver and cyclist provide differing accounts. Take down their contact information, including name, phone number, and address and provide it to the police officer when he or she arrives. Sometimes witnesses may leave the scene before police can arrive. So, it is important to request their contact information as soon as you are able.
These days, many people get their news and updates on friends and family from social media. While it is nearly impossible to stay away from social media platforms all together, it is very important that you do not post or discuss anything related to the accident online. If possible, ask the people you connect with online to refrain from doing so as well. Even if your page is set to private, online comments and pictures can be easily found by an investigator working for the car driver’s insurance company or their lawyer.
Even if the post would seem to only further show the severity of the crash and resulting injuries, the insurance company and/or their lawyers can take it out of context and spin it to try and discredit you or the other people involved.
If you were involved in a bike crash and have questions about the next steps, contact SJW today. One of our injury lawyers will guide you and get you started on your road to recovery.
What Should You Do At The Scene Of A Crash Involving A Bicycle
Bicycle Safety Laws In Nevada
Nevada has specific laws regarding the operation of bicycles on Nevada roadways. Some examples of the things required of Nevada cyclists by these laws include:
- Nevada cyclists are required to follow most of the traffic laws applicable to the driver of a vehicle,
- Cyclists are required to keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times,
- Cyclists must stay to the right side of the road when it is safe to do so,
- Cyclists must travel with the flow of traffic (in the same direction as traffic),
- Cyclists must have lights and reflectors to ride at night,
- Cyclists must allow vehicles to pass in certain situations,
- Cyclists must use hand signals when turning, and
- It is illegal to operate a bicycle in Nevada while intoxicated.
As with pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers must always yield the right-of-way to cyclists. However, they often fail to do so, which is the major cause of crashes involving bicycles and motor vehicles in Nevada.
Common causes of bicycle crashes in Nevada, as well as throughout the United States include speeding, distracted driving, improper lane changes, and failing to check vehicle blind spots before turning. Unfortunately, some accidents result in fatal outcomes for the rider. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there were 857 bicyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2018. Historically, about 75% of the fatalities occurred in urban areas and in about 15% the driver of the vehicle was over the legal limit for alcohol. In other words, the driver of the vehicle was drunk. If you were recently injured in a bicycle accident caused by a drunk driver, call a Las Vegas bicycle accident lawyer at SJW. A civil case can still be brought against a drunk driver while their criminal case is pending. We can conduct an investigation and obtain the traffic accident report, including the DUI related charges and police investigation. If you would like to learn more about DUI-related accidents, click here to visit our DUI page.
