San Bernardino offers an array of biking opportunities, including cycling routes, scenic paths, and trails. They are also developing an Active Transportation Plan (ATP) to improve biking throughout the city. However, biking is not without risks.
If you suffered injuries in a bike accident that was caused by a negligent motorist, retain the trusted legal counsel of a skilled bike accident attorney at Valero Law Group today. We can help you understand your legal options and whether San Bernardino bicycle helmet laws could play a role in your claim.
What Are the Bicycle Helmet Laws in San Bernardino?
No state in the nation has bike helmet requirements that apply to adults. Children who are under the age of 18, however, must wear helmets whenever they ride in San Bernardino and throughout the state.
Ultimately, bike helmets offer a significant degree of protection from life-altering head injuries. A properly fitted bike helmet that meets all safety requirements can reduce the severity of a blow in a bike accident. There are, however, no guarantees, and even helmeted bikers can suffer serious head injuries. Making safety the top priority while riding is always the best policy.
Cyclists Are More Vulnerable than Other Motorists
When riding a bike, the risk of injuries from traffic accidents increases considerably for all the following reasons:
- A bicycle lacks the protective shell that a car offers
- Bicycles take up far less space on the road and are, therefore, far more difficult to see
- While sharing the road with traffic, bikes lack the power and speed to keep up with cars
- Bikes are far more vulnerable to potholes and other inadequate maintenance, or debris on the road
- Many motorists get frustrated with slower cyclists and might become aggressive
While no bicycle helmet laws exist for San Bernardino adults, wearing a helmet is important for protecting yourself in the event of a wreck.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Everyone who operates a vehicle has a serious duty of care regarding the safety of others on the road. Motorists who engage in common forms of negligence are far more likely to cause dangerous bike accidents. Common causes of bike wrecks include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigue
- Failure to follow the rules of the road, including failure to yield the right-of-way
- Impairment by alcohol or drugs
- Excess speed
- Aggression
These are among the many reasons to wear a bike helmet even if not required by law in San Bernardino.
How Helmet Usage Can Affect a Claim
A bike accident claim seeks fair compensation for physical, financial, and emotional losses. When injuries are serious, these losses can be difficult to accurately calculate.
If physical injuries do not include a head injury, wearing or not wearing a bike helmet is very unlikely to play any role in a lawsuit. When the victim suffers a head injury, however, that factor could affect the outcome of the claim.
In California, fault can be shared. This means that if the involved insurance company can effectively demonstrate that failure to wear a helmet directly contributed to a victim’s injuries, they can seek to have a percentage of fault assigned to the victim. If it is, the settlement amount will be reduced by that percentage. A seasoned attorney familiar with San Bernardino’s bike helmet laws can fight against such tactics.
Contact an Experienced San Bernardino Lawyer About Helmets in Bike Accidents
The surest means of obtaining fair compensation after a bike accident is having a seasoned bike accident attorney from Valero Law Group in your corner. While there are no San Bernardino bicycle helmet laws for adults, not wearing a helmet increases the risks you face and could potentially affect your claim. We will leave no stone unturned in our fierce advocacy for your rightful compensation, so please do not wait to contact us online or give us a call today.