At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we have worked with many people involved in bike accidents. When looking at the straight statistics of how many people are injured on bikes each year, California may seem to be one of the less safe states in the country. That said, when numerous factors are looked at, we become one of the safest. Keep reading to learn more and remember to contact a personal injury attorney if you are ever injured in a bike accident.
First: A Close Look at What We Considered
As noted above, this list does not just consider which states have the most bike accidents per capita. It weighs several factors, such as whether or not bike helmet laws are in place, the biking while under the influence laws, LAB rankings, and more. These are the states in which lawmakers seem to have taken bicycle safety seriously.
Oregon
The state of Oregon requires that riders 15 years old and younger wear helmets, and it is against the law to ride while intoxicated in the state. Other bills have been passed to protect cyclists, including those that require large vehicles to have crossview mirrors that are better at detecting cyclists, plus a Share the Road license plate option that raises funds for the Bike Transportation Alliance and Cycle Oregon. In 1971, this was the first state to enact a complete streets plan that has led to many similar programs in the country.
California
Riders 18 years old and younger must wear helmets in the state of California and there are laws in place criminalizing riding under the influence. There are 13 cities in the state that are on a Top 25 Most Improved Bike Safety Cities, which looked at data over a seven-year period. This seven-year rise in safety rankings is due in part to following complete streets plans.
Colorado
There are no helmet laws in Colorado but there are laws protecting the public from people biking under the influence. Ten years ago, the Bike Safety Act was passed and there are several cities with complete streets legislation in place.
Washington
The state of Washington requires bike riders under the age of 17 to wear helmets and it is illegal to bike while under the influence. While their numbers have been historically poor, this state has the most improved safety scores thanks to aggressive local laws designed to make the streets safer for bike riders.
What to Do if You Are Injured in a Bike Accident
If you find yourself injured in a bike accident then your next move is simple: Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 and request a free legal consultation. We will carefully consider your case and let you know what your options may be. Call us now and let us get started right away.
