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In Utah, how to handle bike accidents involving pedestrians is a key topic as more people choose bikes for travel. Each year, many crashes happen between bikes and people walking, causing pedestrian and bicyclist injuries. At Reshlaw Accident & Injury, we help victims get compensation for their medical bills and lost wages.
Unlike motorists, cyclists and walkers are exposed road users with no physical barrier for protection like motor vehicles. We know how these bicycle-pedestrian accidents affect your health, wallet, and daily life.
Bicycle accidents involving pedestrians differ from car crashes. As more people ride bikes in Utah cities, these accidents happen more often. Cyclists move faster than people walking but lack the safety features of cars or other vehicles, creating danger when they hit pedestrians.
Many bicycle or pedestrian accident cases happen in shared spaces where traffic rules aren't clear. Most bike riders don't know who should go first at cross streets or when traffic signals change.
Despite slower speeds than car accidents, these crashes still cause serious injury. When a cyclist hits someone walking, both can get badly hurt because they have no protection.
Key risk factors include:
Shared paths with mixed traffic
Unclear right-of-way rules
Speed differences between bikes and walkers
Poor visibility at intersections
Most bicycle accidents involving pedestrians result from preventable issues. Distracted cycling is a major cause. Riders looking at their phones often miss seeing pedestrians. Similarly, pedestrians using devices may step into bike lanes without checking for bikes riding nearby.
Ignoring traffic laws leads to many crashes. Cyclists running red lights or stop signs, or pedestrians crossing outside designated crosswalks, create risks. In downtown Salt Lake City, we've seen cases where cyclists didn't yield to people in crosswalks, affecting pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Speed is crucial. Fast cyclists have less time to react when pedestrians step into their path. On busy trails, cyclists riding too quickly have caused accidents, leading to pedestrian injuries. Practicing situational awareness is key to improving bicyclist safety and reducing insurance claims from such incidents.
Negligence forms the basis for most bicycle and pedestrian accident claims. When cyclists or pedestrians don't take proper care and cause harm, they may be legally responsible for the injuries. This might include a cyclist texting while riding or a pedestrian suddenly stepping into a marked bike lane.
The law requires proving that someone failed to care for others' safety. Cyclists must obey traffic laws and watch for pedestrians, while pedestrians should use crosswalks properly and stay alert when crossing bike lanes.
Utah courts look at what each person did when determining comparative fault. Did the cyclist stop at traffic signals? Was the pedestrian crossing against the light? These factors greatly influence who gets compensation after such unfortunate events.
When bicycle accidents involving pedestrians happen, taking the right actions right away can help your health and legal case. Here's what to do at the accident scene:
Check for injuries to all parties involved. Even minor-looking accidents can cause internal injuries that aren't obvious right away. If anyone shows signs of a head injury, call 911 for emergency services.
Contact the police to file an official police report. This creates a record of what happened. Ask for a copy of this report for your records.
Document everything. Take photos showing the positions of all parties involved, as well as any visible injuries, road conditions, and traffic signs in the area.
Share your contact and insurance details with all parties involved. Get names, phone numbers, and insurance details. If there were witnesses, get their contact information for witness statements later.
Avoid saying anything that might sound like you're admitting fault. Don't discuss who caused the accident until you've talked to a lawyer.
Bicycle accidents involving pedestrians typically cause specific types of injuries. Getting medical treatment right away is key, even if you feel fine at first.
Head injuries are the most serious injuries for both cyclists and pedestrians. Even at low speeds, the impact can cause concussions or brain injuries. These injuries might not show symptoms right away, but they can affect your thinking and quality of life later on.
Broken bones commonly occur when pedestrians are hit by bicycles or when cyclists fall. Wrists, arms, and collarbones often break during falls. For pedestrians, leg fractures often result from direct hits by bikes.
Other common injuries include:
Spinal injuries range from mild strains to serious spinal cord damage.
Road rash and skin scrapes that can get infected
Soft tissue injuries like sprains and muscle tears
Internal injuries that may not be visible from the outside
Medical expenses for these injuries add up quickly. Many victims also face lost wages from missed work during recovery.
After bicycle accidents involving pedestrians, you have important legal rights under Utah law. As vulnerable road users, cyclists and pedestrians both need adequate protection.
The pedestrian safety action plan in Utah aims to improve pedestrian safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities through better bike lanes and raising awareness. Despite efforts to reduce pedestrian accidents, they still happen, and victims need to know their legal rights.
You can seek compensation for:
Current and future medical bills
Lost wages from missed work
Pain and suffering
Cost of ongoing therapy
This applies whether you were the cyclist or pedestrian in the collision, as long as you weren't mostly at fault. The other party's insurance company will try to pay less, which is why having legal help matters.
Utah law sets specific responsibilities for both pedestrians and cyclists sharing public spaces.
Cyclist responsibilities include:
Yielding to pedestrians on sidewalks and in designated crosswalks
Giving a signal before passing pedestrians
Obeying all traffic laws, including stopping at red lights and stop signs
Riding at safe speeds in areas with pedestrian traffic
Using proper lighting and reflective clothing at night
Staying alert and watching for crossing pedestrians
Pedestrians have legal duties, too:
Using crosswalks when available
Following pedestrian signals at intersections
Not walking in bike lanes when sidewalks exist
Looking carefully before crossing
Staying visible to cyclists, especially at night
Not suddenly changing direction on shared paths
These rules matter greatly in determining fault after an accident. Cyclists should avoid riding in crowded pedestrian areas when possible. Pedestrians should watch for bikes before stepping into the street.
To win a personal injury claim after a bicycle accident involving pedestrians, you need to prove who was at fault. Strong evidence makes the difference in getting fair compensation.
Witness statements provide crucial outside views of the accident. Independent observers can confirm whether a cyclist ran a red light or if a pedestrian stepped suddenly into a bike lane. We recommend collecting contact information from all witnesses at the scene.
Physical evidence tells how the accident happened. Damage to the bicycle, torn clothing, or marks on the pavement help show what happened. Photos taken right after the accident preserve this evidence.
Traffic camera footage can provide clear proof of how an accident occurred. When available, these recordings show which party violated traffic rules or failed to take proper care.
Medical records connect injuries directly to the accident. Getting medical treatment after an accident not only helps your health but also creates vital proof of your injuries.
Bicycle helmets play a big role in preventing injuries and affecting legal outcomes after accidents involving pedestrians. While helmets mainly protect cyclists, using one shows you care about safety.
Many cyclists don't know that helmets aren't required by law in Utah for adults, though some local rules may apply to children. Despite no law requiring them, helmet use is still strongly recommended to prevent the most serious injuries.
From a legal standpoint, not wearing a helmet doesn't stop cyclists from seeking compensation after being injured. However, not wearing head protection might affect how much money you can get, especially for head injuries.
Using proper safety gear like helmets and reflective clothing, especially at night, shows you take safety seriously. Using lights and signals shows you're following traffic rules and staying aware of your surroundings.
Utah uses a comparative fault system that affects compensation in bicycle-pedestrian accidents. Under this system, your money may be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you're found more than 50% responsible, you may get nothing.
For example, if a cyclist hits a pedestrian who stepped into a bike lane without looking, both might share fault. If the court awards the pedestrian $10,000 but finds them 30% at fault, they would actually get $7,000.
In real cases, the fault is often shared. A pedestrian might be partly at fault for crossing outside a crosswalk, while a cyclist might share the blame for speeding. Our attorneys work hard to make sure fault is fairly assigned based on all the facts.
If you've been hurt in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, don't face the legal process alone. At Reshlaw Accident & Injury, our Utah personal injury attorneys know how to handle these complex cases.
We offer free consultations to discuss your personal injury claims and explain your options. Our firm works on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.
Contact us today or visit our website to schedule your free consultation. Let us fight for you while you focus on recovering from your pedestrian and bicyclist injuries.
