What Tourists Need to Know About Bicycle Rentals in Las Vegas

Bicycling is popular both as a mode of transportation and leisure activity in many parts of the county. Visitors to Las Vegas often wish to enjoy the convenience of a bicycle while enjoying the city, and several bike rental companies are available to service their bicycling needs.

But tourists in Las Vegas should ensure they understand both the risk involved with bicycles and the steps to take if they are injured in a bicycle accident while on vacation.

Bicycle Accidents: Common Causes

Nevada lawmakers use a variety of laws to support the safety of cyclists. These same laws act as a deterrent for motorists who may otherwise ignore the safety of these cyclists. But despite this protection, there is no way to eliminate the risk of accidents. Several factors have proven common to bicycling accidents in Las Vegas over time.

Driver Making Right Turns

One common cause of accidents between bicycles and motor vehicles happens when a motor vehicle makes a right turn. Collisions are possible when drivers fail to check for bicyclists before attempting a turn. Drivers should show extra diligence to account for blind spots on the right side of their vehicle. Drivers often become liable for accidents that happen in this way.

Driving Making Left Turn

Left turns from drivers can also be a source of accidents with bicyclists. These accidents often happen when motorists fail to see cyclists traveling on the other side of the street. An inattentive motorist can find they have turned directly into the path of a cyclist at an intersection. Bad consequences are possible for cyclists traveling with too much momentum to come to a stop after a car turns directly in front of them.

Rear-End Accidents

Bicycles do not move as fast as cars. This fact spells danger for cyclists traveling in front of a driver who is not paying attention to them. A driver who is not paying attention can run into the back of a cyclist even when the cyclist takes safety precautions like reflective clothing and lights on their bicycle.

Vehicle Doors

A bicycle does not have to collide with the front or side of a motor vehicle for cyclists to become injured. “Dooring” happens when a motorist opens his or her door without first checking for an approaching cyclist. When the bicyclist is not able to stop on a dime, a dangerous accident can happen.

What a Cyclist Should Do After an Accident

Bicyclists who become involved in an accident with a motor vehicle should seek immediate medical attention. Some injuries may not be apparent in the immediate aftermath of the accident, so you should seek medical attention even if you feel you are unhurt. If necessary, have a paramedic take you to the nearest emergency room.

It is not a legal requirement to call the police after an accident. But it is a good idea to do so even when injuries and damage are minimal. A police report is one of the best ways to prove an accident claim. You should also take photos of the accident scene, damage to your bicycle, the other car, and any injuries you suffer if you have access to a camera.

The aftermath of an accident is also the time to ensure you have contact information for the motorist involved in the accident with you. The same holds for any witnesses to the accident. Bicycle accident lawyers from Las Vegas will prove helpful to you at this point.

The Bottom Line

Enjoying time on a bicycle is one of the many fun things available to tourists visiting Las Vegas. Safety should always remain a priority for cyclists, and avoiding common accident causes will help cyclists stay away from dangerous situations.

Kerry L. Tucker

Early in his journalism career, Kerry L. Tucker had a revelation: there were not enough experts reporting on law issues. Legal matters are part of daily life. Yet, there seems to be a general aversion towards them. One of the main reasons for this is that the convoluted legal language is difficult for many people to follow. Therefore, he decided to change how the law is perceived by the public. Throughout his career, he met with many people who shared their personal stories with him. Some of these hit him harder. One of the cases that stayed with him and influenced his future career development was a car accident case involving a child. From then on, he decided to zero in on car accident lawsuits.

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