MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. We have heard much about the importance of bike lanes. Many experts claim that they can keep cyclists safe when riding on city streets. But do they really? According to the Atlantic, one of the reasons why New York City’s bike lanes are so safe is that many include physical barriers in addition to painted lines on the road. Painted lanes can always be crossed by drivers not paying attention to the road, while few drivers are willing to risk damaging their vehicles by hitting a physical barrier. According to the Atlantic, Minneapolis currently has 15 miles of protected bike lanes. However, what happens in cases where there is no barrier, and what about cases where a bike lane crosses a major intersection?
According to Outside Online, in a recent court case in Oregon, officials ruled that a bike lane may not always extend into an intersection. In fact, according to Outside Online, current law affords cyclists little protections when it comes to right of way laws involving intersections. Unlike other countries where the driver is always at fault for hitting a cyclist, the U.S. continues to lag behind in laws that protect vulnerable road users. When it comes to highways and roadways, the car remains king, and riders share these roads often at their own risk.
In too many cases, bikers are often blamed for accidents in which they were struck by vehicles. For lawyers who handle cases that often result in serious injury or death to the bikers, the way the law determines fault when a biker is involved isn’t always clear cut. This can pose serious challenges for victims and families seeking compensation following a bike-related car accident. This is where having a qualified car accident lawyer like the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino in Minneapolis, Minnesota can be essential to receiving justice and the compensation you and your family may deserve under the law.
In fact, Outside Online reports that in many states and cities that have bike lanes, there are no clear laws in place that dictate the responsibility of cars and drivers when accidents occur. Bikers might think that the driver would be responsible if he or she crossed a bike lane and struck a cyclist, but in many states and cities, there are no clear laws that make this so.
In fact, some lawyers report on cases where bikers have been blamed for accidents in which they were struck from behind by drivers while riding in bike lanes.
As bike activists continue to fight for greater protections, personal injury lawyers are often fighting on the front lines with these cases, working hard to hold drivers accountable when they violate bikers’ right of way. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a bike accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, consider reaching out to the personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino. Our firm may be able to help you seek the damages you might deserve under the law.
THE LAW OFFICE OF MARTIN T. MONTILINO, LLC
3109 Hennepin Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 236-1320