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In Arkansas, there are no statewide bike helmet regulations. However, there are important mandates regarding bike safety that all cyclists should know.
If you have been injured in a bike accident caused by a motorist’s negligence, contact an experienced bicycle wreck attorney from Mays, Byrd & O’Guinn, PLLC. Our lawyers handle complex injury cases involving Little Rock bicycle helmet laws and could defend your rights throughout the legal process.
Adults and children are always safer when wearing helmets while cycling. Although the state does not mandate helmets, Little Rock requires that your bike be equipped with a bell or other device that warns pedestrians at least 100 feet away of your approach. If you ride at night, your bike must have a white headlight and a red taillight.
The city encourages all cyclists to wear a helmet as a means of enhancing safety and reminds individuals that the city’s riding clubs will generally not allow participation if you do not wear a helmet.
No state law requires cyclists in Little Rock to wear helmets. Therefore, whether or not you were wearing a helmet at the time of your accident may not have a direct bearing on your claim.
Arkansas employs a modified comparative fault system, meaning you could still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for your accident or injuries. In such cases, injured individuals must bear no more than 50 percent of the blame for their injuries, and compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
If you suffer a head injury in a bike accident, the involved motorist could claim that your failure to wear a helmet contributed to your losses. However, a skilled bike accident lawyer could compile the necessary evidence to demonstrate that the motorist’s negligence led to your losses.
There are three primary elements that you must clearly outline to bring a successful bike accident claim.
To begin, the motorist must have breached the duty of care they owed you. This duty of care refers to the safety standard that drivers accept when operating a vehicle on public roads. When a driver engages in any form of negligence, they fail to fulfill this responsibility and could be found liable for resulting damages.
The driver’s negligence must also have been directly responsible for the bike accident that caused you harm.
Finally, you must have suffered legal damages as a result of your accident and injuries. These damages could include property damage to your bike, medical bills, lost income, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.
Every claim is determined in accordance with the circumstances involved. However, given that local laws do not mandate bicycle helmet use, not wearing one during your crash in Little Rock may not have an impact on your claim.
Little Rock bicycle helmet laws do not require cyclists of any age to wear helmets, but the state and city both highly recommend riders take this precaution. If a motorist leaves you injured in a bike accident, the attorneys at Mays, Byrd & O’Guinn, PLLC could help you toward the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.