Your Trusted Personal Injury Lawyers in Waterford, CT
Connecticut law legally classifies bicycles as vehicles. That means you have the same rights and responsibilities to the roadways as other motorists.
Legislation also states that cyclists are vulnerable road users and provides them with additional protection against careless drivers. Call our practiced lawyers for information about traffic laws for bicyclists in Waterford.
Waterford traffic regulations for cyclists include the following:
Our knowledgeable attorney can answer your questions about traffic laws for cyclists at the consultation. Ride defensively and safely, and consider visibility gear beyond legal minimums for additional protection.
Ensuring you know and adhere to the regulations for bicycle equipment in Waterford is also essential for your safety and to avoid citations. All cyclists 15 years old and younger must wear properly fitted and fastened helmets that meet the Snell Bicycle Helmet Standards, which will have a sticker on the inside for verification. If children sustain injuries or a police officer sees them riding without one, parents and guardians may receive citations to pay fines.
Furthermore, if a negligent motorist harms a minor while they are riding and the minor is not wearing the appropriate safety gear, it could affect the injury claim and the ability to obtain a settlement. When cyclists are riding from sunset to sunrise or in any condition with low visibility, the bike must have a white light on the front, visible for at least 500 feet, and rear and side reflectors, visible for at least 600 feet. All bikes must have brakes that can stop in 25 feet while traveling at ten miles per hour on dry pavement.
Connecticut regulations prohibit clinging, which means holding on to the cyclist or carrying passengers unless the bike’s design allows for carrying them. However, that excludes parents transporting small children, under four, if they are in a secure bicycle seat, sling, or backpack.
You must have at least one hand on the handlebars at all times, and it is unlawful to carry items if it prevents you from doing so. Always ride with the flow of traffic and never against it, and never enter highways or parkways with limited access, unless there is a bike path. As with operating any vehicle, cycling while impaired by alcohol or drugs is illegal.
Motorists must travel with care when close to vulnerable vehicles, such as bicycles, and ensure there is at least three feet of clearance when passing. They must avoid right turns and cut them off when bicycles are approaching.
The violation, called a right hook, could result in steep fines. Operators of all vehicles, including motorized vehicles and bikes, may be subject to infractions and penalties for violating traffic safety rules and laws.
Cycling is loved by many for transportation, exercise, and entertainment. Sadly, crashes involving motor vehicles are relatively common and often severe for those on bikes without the protection provided by cars.
Knowing and adhering to the traffic laws for bicyclists in Waterford is the most effective way to ensure your own safety. Call our knowledgeable attorney if you need help obtaining a settlement for damages caused by a negligent driver.
We are committed to provide personalized attention to each and every client’s case – no matter how large or small– because that is each client’s only case. We are proud of our firm’s reputation of combining integrity and compassion with an unflinching dedication to getting the right result. We will do what we say.
