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Bicycling is a popular and healthy way to get around Hartford and the surrounding areas. Understanding Connecticut’s cyclist laws and rights is important, as unexpected accidents can happen. If you or a loved one was hurt while riding a bike, an experienced Hartford bicycle accident lawyer should be one of your first calls. A knowledgeable attorney can investigate the accident and help explore your potential legal options.
At Weber & Rubano, our bicycle crash attorneys have your back, and we can hold parties accountable for your injuries and other losses. With a total of 70 years of combined legal experience, our trusted attorneys can help build a strong injury and property damage claim. We can help maximize your recovery while you focus on regaining your strength after a crash. Contact our office to set up a no-cost, no-obligation case review with our team.
In Connecticut, cyclists and drivers should know their legal rights and duties. Bicycles are considered vehicles, and drivers have the same general responsibilities and rights as other motor vehicle drivers. Bicyclists can, but are not required to, use bike lanes. However, they can’t use highways unless paths are provided specifically for bicycle use. Cyclists can use crosswalks and sidewalks when they yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
Generally, cyclists must adhere to the following rules and regulations:
Before heading out on a bicycle, ensure you understand the local regulations for your area that may impact your ride and your route.
Additionally, while e-bikes are treated quite similarly to bicycles under Connecticut law, there are supplemental e-bike regulations in Connecticut that impact where you’re allowed to ride an e-bike.
Bicyclists in our area must obey traffic laws. It’s particularly important to follow the bike helmet laws, as many bicycle helmet studies show helmets typically reduce serious head injuries sustained in a crash by about 60 percent and can reduce accident-related fatalities by around 34 percent. Whether a bicyclist follows Connecticut’s traffic laws can impact liability and fault if a wreck happens.
All drivers must take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to bicyclists. When they fail, they can be responsible or at fault for causing accidents.
To win a bicycle case, you must prove:
Evidence like police reports, eyewitness statements, photos, and more can be used to support your negligence claim and prove fault. An attorney can help gather this evidence to build a compelling negligence claim.
A bicyclist can negatively affect their claim if they are found to have contributed to the accident. There are some factors that impact fault determinations in Hartford bicycle accidents, such as:
However, even if you are found to have contributed to your accident, you may still recover damages. This is especially true if you have a skilled attorney by your side who can argue the relative negligence percentages of the involved parties to show you deserve recovery.
The system of modified comparative negligence is used in accident cases in Connecticut. This legal theory allows a bicycle accident victim to still recover financially, even if they’re found partially responsible for causing the accident. They may still be awarded money so long as the percentage of their fault is not over 50%. Then, the amount they are awarded is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to their actions.
For example, if a bike rider is determined to be 10% at fault, and their total amount of damages is $10,000, they could still recover $9,000.
If you have more questions about proving fault and modified comparative negligence, it’s worth talking to a knowledgeable Hartford attorney. If you sustained serious injuries, an attorney can provide information to help you make an informed decision about whether to file a claim against the negligent party that caused your crash.
Bike collisions happen far too frequently in the Constitution State. In 2023, there were five fatal bicycle accidents in Connecticut, which is five fatalities too many. Across the state, there were 335 recorded bicyclist injuries in the same year.
You may already know about two unfortunate fatalities in our area. A Yale law student died after he was hit by a truck while riding his bicycle near Yale New Haven Hospital. A Hartford man died after he was involved in a bicycle accident on Wethersfield Avenue.
Bike accidents remain common, especially during cold Connecticut winters. Many drivers fail to keep bike riders safe, which can cause catastrophic and even fatal accidents.
Bicycle accidents happen for many reasons. Many bike accidents happen because of cars and other passenger vehicles. Common causes of bicycle accidents include:
To avoid a potential accident, you must follow Connecticut’s safety rules, wear brightly-colored clothes, and wear a helmet.
There are some important first steps to take after you are involved in a bicycle accident in Hartford, such as:
If you were the victim of a bicycle accident, a Hartford attorney with an understanding of Connecticut bicycle and vehicle laws can help make the process of filing a claim feel significantly less overwhelming.
Bicycle accidents can be stressful, and if you’re lucky enough to survive, they can leave you with life-altering injuries. An experienced attorney can help:
An attorney can provide substantial legal assistance. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Hartford from Weber & Rubano to discuss your bicyclist rights.
If you or a loved one was hurt in a bicycle accident, an experienced attorney from Weber & Rubano can help. With conveniently located offices across Connecticut, we can help you get the compensation you deserve. Let us put our experience to work for you today.
We treat every case like it’s our own, and we fight zealously for our clients. Contact our office right away to set up a free, no-risk initial consultation.