Myrtle Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer

After a bicycle accident, the future may look a bit frightening or even dismal if you have lost a loved one in the crash. What with medical urgency and family to inform, things can get hectic pretty quickly. One thing you can count on is that an Auger & Auger bicycle accident attorney will be here to answer the difficult questions which determine cause and fault while pursuing the best legal route on your behalf.

Bicycle Rides Aren’t Always Risk-Free

Much of the thrill of living in Myrtle Beach comes from the ability to walk out your door every day and breathe in the ocean air. The indulgence of riding a bicycle around this tiny city at the heart of the Grand Strand is apparent when you realize nearly 20 million tourists a year come to enjoy it with you.  

There are, however, specific rules of the road structured toward prevention of Myrtle Beach bicycle accidents. You may find some of them out of the ordinary, but given the logistics, they make total sense.  

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Here are several of the restrictions particularly relevant to riding in traffic:

  • Stay to the extreme right of the roadway going with traffic, not against it.
  • Ride on designated bike roadways whenever possible.
  • Walk your bike across all pedestrian walkways (it is illegal to do otherwise).
  • Obey all the same traffic signs and signals that are required of motorists.
  • Do not ride on sidewalks (unless designated for bike/pedestrian sharing).
  • Night bicyclists must have a headlight and red rear reflector.
  • Consider that you are invisible to other traffic and pedestrians!

Rights of Bicyclists vs. Motor Vehicles

Motorists tend to assume they have the right of way when it comes to sharing the streets with bicyclists. This is not only a dangerous assumption — it’s the path to potential disaster. Having a heedless mindset in this regard is liable to cause serious injuries or death to a bicyclist, and serious legal consequences for the driver.

Just as bicyclists must adhere to laws and practice safe maneuvers on the road, motorists have responsibilities when traveling amongst these riders. According to the South Carolina Code of Laws — specifically, Title 56, Chapter 5, Article 27 — the following sections pertain equally to motor vehicles as they encounter bicyclists on the roadways:

SECTION 56-5-3420 – A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter.

SECTION 56-5-3425 – (B) Whenever a bicycle lane has been provided adjacent to a roadway, operators of:

(1) motor vehicles may not block the bicycle lane to oncoming bicycle traffic and shall yield to a bicyclist in the bicycle lane before entering or crossing the lane.

SECTION 56-5-3435 – A driver of a motor vehicle must at all times maintain a safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and a bicycle.

Why Choose Auger & Auger to Represent You?

Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers is dedicated to providing compassionate and persistent representation, from our first consultation to the settlement of your case. Our goal is to achieve the compensation you deserve while keeping you apprised of all the steps we take along the way. We also offer all clients our A&A Zero Fee Guarantee™, ensuring no payment is due until we win your case.

Contact our Myrtle Beach bicycle accident attorney now at 843-385-9342 for a free consultation!