Washington, D.C., has a fantastic urban infrastructure with bike lanes. Biking is an excellent exercise and a way to explore the city. For many, biking is a way to commute to work in the morning and evening, maneuvering around rush hour traffic. However, doing it safely requires infrastructure from the city. DC’s bike lanes are unique in that some are shared with buses. This is generally okay. But when it becomes a problem, the results can be catastrophic. The weight of a loaded Metro bus against a single bicyclist is unimaginable. And yet, our DC bike lane accident lawyers have handled these exact cases. While biking has become increasingly popular in circumventing traffic, it is critical to understand the laws governing bike lanes in DC. Below, we discuss the causes of DC bike lane accidents so you can better anticipate them before they occur.
Moreover, we discuss the laws that govern these lanes so you are not contributorily negligent should you get into a bike accident in the District. Navigating the aftermath of a DC bike lane accident is complex. When you are in the bike lane, the odds are that liability is not an issue. However, given that buses and even cars, in some instances, are allowed into the bike lanes in parts of DC, the law gets complicated. It is not unusual for a biker to be in the blind spot of an unsuspecting driver and an accident occur. We will also highlight how an experienced bike lane accident lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
If you find yourself injured while riding in a bike lane due to a third party’s negligence, it is crucial to act swiftly. Call our office today for a free consultation, as the immediate steps you take can significantly impact the outcome of your case.
There are an infinite number of causes of DC bike lane accidents. The most common ones we handle involve motor vehicle collisions because that is when insurance coverage is available to cover damages. However, there are other scenarios to consider.
As you might imagine, motor vehicle collisions make up most DC bike lane accidents. The positive side is that insurance coverage is probably available to compensate for your injuries. This is a critical component of your case. If a defendant does not have insurance, you may be wasting thousands of dollars paying for expert witnesses and filing fees to recover nothing. We may even get a sizeable judgment on the case. However, collecting that judgment may prove impossible as the defendant has no assets.
While coverage is more likely to be available, severe injuries are also more likely. Our DC bike lane accident lawyers handle hundreds of motor vehicle collisions yearly, so we understand how serious the resulting injuries can be. Moreover, being on a bike may encourage the adverse driver to try to flee the scene, knowing you cannot catch them on a bike. If the adverse driver does attempt to flee the scene, look to photograph their license plate as we can at least determine who the car is registered to.
Our advice to avoid motor vehicle collisions while riding in the bike lanes in DC is to be aware of buses that may also be allowed to use your bike lane. Further, the bike lane may also be a turning lane for regular cars and trucks. Thus, they may attempt to come into your lane at the last moment to make a right turn. The best thing you can do is avoid their blind spots and be ready to avoid an accident if possible.
An infrastructure issue in a DC bike lane accident can confuse drivers. Bike lanes shared with buses are confusing, especially because drivers may also use these lanes to turn. While it is clear that these bike lanes could have been more clearly designed, there is little use in suing the District of Columbia for a negligent design. That case will likely fail as rectifying the issue would cost the District a significant sum in redesigning its urban infrastructure.
While the most significant issue in DC bike lanes is far and away the combination of buses and cars using the bike lanes, pedestrian interference also plays an important role. Pedestrians seem to have no problem jaywalking in the District. When they jaywalk, they generally will look both ways before crossing. However, they are only sometimes looking out for bikers. They look for vehicles that pose the biggest threat to them and seem to think that bikers will move out of their way. However, if you are a biker in the bike lane and you have a green light when you strike a pedestrian, who is liable?
There is no question that a pedestrian is contributorily negligent if they are jaywalking. However, the question becomes whether you had the last clear chance to avoid the accident. If you did and failed to do so, you may be unable to recover from the pedestrian. Not to mention, the pedestrian does not have insurance coverage when out of their vehicle. However, if the pedestrian steps off the curb just as you are legally driving down a bike lane and have no last clear chance to avoid the accident, you can recover from the pedestrian. However, whether it is worth it to recover from the pedestrian will depend on whether the pedestrian has sufficient assets to cover your damages. Your DC bike lane accident lawyer can run an asset check on the tortfeasor to determine whether it is worth pursuing a negligence claim against the pedestrian in court.
The most important thing to note is that you do not have to use the bike lane just because there is one. In Washington, D.C., you may even ride on the sidewalk. While this may be unsafe for pedestrians, the law does allow it. Moreover, it is safer for you to ride in a bike lane than on a sidewalk. While a collision with a motor vehicle is undoubtedly more painful than colliding with a pedestrian, colliding with a pedestrian on a crowded sidewalk is far more likely.
Additionally, in a DC bike lane, you do have to share the lane with other vehicles in certain parts of DC. For example, in Downtown Washington, D.C., you must share your lane with buses and cars turning. While this makes navigating bike lanes more complex, it is meant to give bikers and buses a fast lane. But note that you may have a bus behind you for much of your commute.
Note that if you are injured in a bike lane in DC, you may have a right to compensation depending on the facts of your case. Explore your options by speaking to a DC bike lane accident attorney immediately.
Our DC bike lane accident lawyers have a depth of experience handling cases similar to yours. Founded in 1954, Gelb & Gelb, P.C. has made it our mission to serve the DC community and protect the rights to recover compensation for injuries caused by negligent third parties.
Call our office today for a free consultation if you are injured (202) 331-7227.