Do you ride your bike to work? Is it your primary means of transportation when going around town? Or do you simply use it for exercise? Regardless of your use, it is crucial to learn and understand bike safety. By knowing the precautions, you can reduce the risk of experiencing a bicycle accident and/or suffer injuries.

Admittedly bicycle safety isn’t entirely confined to the control of the cyclist. Motorists who share the road with bike riders also have the responsibility to observe proper behavior, respect, and courtesy to fellow road users, including cyclists.

All automobile drivers should be alert and be mindful for the safety of cyclists. Failure to recognize the cyclist’s rights to share the roads and traverse safely may result in injuries to the latter. A cyclist’s injuries could mean liability on the part of the driver who caused them.

So what does this mean to an everyday cyclist? As the injured party, he or she may seek compensation for damages against the erring driver.

If you or your loved one has sustained injuries in a bicycle accident, our highly experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options for seeking compensation.

In the meantime, the best way to ensure your safety while using your bicycle on the roads is to be alert for any potential danger. Here are simple tips to safe cycling.

Wear a Helmet

Did you know the risk of fatality in bicycle accidents in significantly reduced by wearing a helmet? So always wear one. But make sure you get a helmet that comfortably fits your head.

Choose a Bike That Matches Your Physique

Just like your helmet, pick a bike that fits you properly. So what’s the measuring stick to determine if your bike fits you?

If you’re standing over it, there should be one or two inches between you and its top bar; three or four inches if what you have is a mountain bike. When adjusting the height of the bike seat, make it so that your knee can still bend slightly while the other leg is full extended.

Check the Brakes and Tires

This is crucial especially when you’re going on a long ride or head off-roads. Always make sure the brakes work properly. You don’t want to crash onto the back of a vehicle or go straight down the intersection at a stoplight. Ensure that your bike decelerates or stops when you want it to.

Another important thing to check are the tires. Do they have the right pressure and inflation? A flat tire can be dangerous, not to mention very inconvenient.

Wear Reflective Clothing

Some drivers may have difficulty spotting bikers on the road. To catch their eye, you need brightly colored or reflective clothing, which allows them to see you easily. This safety tip is particularly applicable during nighttime rides.

Bring a Backpack for Your Stuff

Never put your stuff on one side of the handlebars. Some people tend to put their bags on one side, causing an imbalance of weight. This is potentially dangerous. Instead, put your stuff inside a backpack or in a carrier, which ensures the weight is centered and not only on one side.

Be Alert of Road Hazards

Other road hazards may include puddles and potholes, stray animals, and debris that may puncture the tires.

If you or your loved one has sustained injuries in a bicycle accident, our highly experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney can help you. Look to Dan Lovell of Empire Law Group.

The post Safety Tips for Cyclists appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.

Running away from a scene of a vehicular accident may be a means to avoid liabilities. Only if you will not be caught. Otherwise, you just caused more trouble to yourself.

Hit and Run Accident Attorney Dan Lovell of Empire Law group can represent you if you have been the victim of a hit and run accident. Pedestrians and cyclists are at high risk on roadways, crosswalks and sidewalks. Get legal representation today from a Las Vegas Attorney.

But not only it is morally wrong, it is illegal too. Every person has the legal duty to help another person in distress.

For the victim, hit and run posed difficulty in seeking redress against the erring party. Hitting someone or someone else’s property is already a legal wrong. Running away from the scene to avoid the consequence adds insult to the injury. Historically, hit and run has been tagged as a menace to the administration of justice. Thereby, elevating the status of this legal wrong higher from a mere act of civil negligence.

In some states, hit and run incidents are criminalized. The act is punishable by imprisonment on top of liabilities for damages.  Other states take running as an aggravating circumstance indicative of bad faith. Thereby, it justifies higher penalties and stiffer monetary indemnifications. Thus, the award would include moral and temperate damages on top of actual damages.

The Norms of Conduct in a Vehicular Accident

There are accepted norms which most states share. Primarily, parties to the accident are obligated to not abandon the other party in an accident. Furthermore, they are also obligated to help a party who needs immediate medical attention. This is the foremost of all principles. Other norms are as follows:

• As soon as practicable, stop your vehicle and do not move anything.
• Contact traffic authorities to document the scene of the vehicular accident.
• Whenever practicable, speak with other party and exchange contact and insurance information.
• Whenever practicable, also have personal documentation of the accident. Take pictures and know the names and contact details of the people around who may have witnessed the crash.

Collision of Unattended Vehicle or Things.

There are scenarios when someone hits an unattended vehicle or thing. When waiting for the owner to return is not practicable, the erring party may leave; provided, however, that he takes note of the identity of the damaged property. He should also leave a note containing his contact details. But that is only the bare minimum. This is mostly applicable if the accident only results in minor damage to property. Otherwise, it is best if he reports the incident to the authorities and has the accident documented before he leaves the scene.

Instances When Running is Permitted

Safety to one’s life is the paramount consideration in almost all circumstances. This is a basic principle. This includes being involved in a vehicular accident. Whenever there is a likely threat to one’s life, he may run from it. In such situation, one is permitted to run from the scene of a vehicular accident.

Parties involved in a vehicular accident are obligated to report the incident to the authorities. The reason is not only legal but also practical. One may use the report to process insurance claim, even if there is no case filed in court. The report will form part of road accident and safety statistics. These statistics may be used as bases for safety innovations. Moreover, it is best to speak with an attorney following or immediately after a vehicular accident. Your attorney will help defend your interest and mitigate exposure to liabilities arising from the accident.

The post Hit and Run appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.

The post Las Vegas Bicycle Accident Attorney appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.