Bicyclists in the Rochester area do have certain rights at intersections and are entitled to pursue damages if they suffer a personal injury as a result of a driver’s negligence.

How successful a personal injury claim will be when it involves a bike rider crossing an intersection depends on the specific facts surrounding the collision between the bike and the motor vehicle.

Bicyclists are generally required to obey the same rules of the road as a car or other motor vehicle.

Where bike lanes are present, bike riders are expected to use them. Where there are no bike lanes, bike riders are required to ride on the shoulder of the road in the same direction as the flow of motor vehicle traffic.

At an intersection, a bike is treated like a car, not like a pedestrian.

This means that they are supposed to continue traveling in their designated area of the road – not use the crosswalk or sidewalks to cross the intersection – and obey all traffic signs or signals such as stop signs or red lights just as if they were driving a car.

Motor vehicle drivers are required to yield to a bike that has the right of way at an intersection just as they would yield to another car.

When a bike rider is obeying all the rules of the road and is struck while lawfully crossing an intersection with the right of way, he or she is much more likely to be able to successfully pursue a claim for any serious injury suffered.

In contrast, it can be much more difficult to pursue a claim if the bicyclist was crossing against the light or otherwise entered the intersection without having the right of way.

If you have been injured while riding a bike, we are experienced personal injury lawyers who can help you.

Please call us at 585-484-7432.