Were You Injured While Riding A Bike?

Attorney Mark Morse helps cyclists get back up

Cycling is a fun and popular way to get around the greater Providence area, especially during warm New England summers. Under Rhode Island law, a bicycle is a vehicle, which means cyclists have as much right to be on the road as anyone driving a car or truck. Unfortunately, many motorists don’t see it that way, and fail to share the road. When that happens, cyclists get hurt.

People who are involved in car accidents while cycling can sustain serious injuries. Without the body of a passenger car to protect them, cyclists are some of the most vulnerable people on the road. That’s why it’s so important for motorists to drive safely around bicycles and avoid collisions.

When they don’t, an experienced bicycle accident lawyer can hold them accountable. The Law Office of Mark B. Morse, LLC has been handling these cases for decades. He is committed to making our roads safer and helping injured cyclists recover.

Our Law Firm Understands Rhode Island’s Laws Governing Bicycle Accidents

In Rhode Island, a cyclist can be legally considered either a pedestrian or a vehicle operator, depending on the circumstances. A person riding a bicycle along a sidewalk is a pedestrian, but a bicycle being ridden in the road is a vehicle, with the same legal status as a car or motorcycle.

Motorists are required to take several steps to avoid injuring bicyclists:

• When overtaking a bicycle, pass on the left at a safe passing distance. This is defined as sufficient distance to prevent contact with the vehicle if the bicycle rider were to fall into the driver’s lane of traffic.
• Refrain from texting while driving – this is a general prohibition, but bicyclists are particularly at risk of being struck by distracted drivers.
• Yield to an oncoming bicycle in an intersection in the same manner that they would yield to an oncoming car.
• Refrain from opening car doors into the roadway in the path of moving traffic unless it is safe to do so.
  Bicyclists, too, have a responsibility to share the road. But when either party fails in that responsibility, it’s almost always the cyclist who gets hurt.

Trust An Experienced Attorney To Handle The Insurance Company

If you’re hurt in a bicycle accident, you’ll likely be dealing with the car insurance company representing the at-fault motorist. They’re not on your side. Their priority is to reduce their own liability and protect their client. That’s why you need to contact us.

Mark Morse knows the tricks the insurance companies use, and he’ll help you move your case forward. For instance, if the insurance company tries to argue that you were at fault for your injuries because you weren’t wearing a helmet, we know they’re lying – in Rhode Island, failing to wear a helmet cannot be used against the cyclist in a civil action.

With an attorney on your side to advise you of your legal rights, you can move forward and make a strong case for the compensation you need. A leader in his field for many years, Mark Morse is the lawyer other lawyers come to with their questions. He can answer your questions, too – and he’ll handle the insurance company on your behalf.

If you’ve been hurt while riding a bicycle, contact us today for a confidential consultation. Call (401) 831-0555