Most cyclists know that wearing a helmet can help keep them safe. However, the risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is high in biking accidents, whether or not there are other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians involved. Hitting a curb and losing balance can result in a head injury. Bike helmets cannot eliminate that risk, but they can reduce it, making them a wise choice for bikers.
While wearing a bike helmet may be a sound choice, they are not legally mandated for most cyclists, as the state’s bike helmet laws do not apply to most adults. Understanding Clarkesville bicycle helmet laws can help people understand more about potential liability in a bike wreck. Our tenacious bicycle accident attorneys at Smith Hulsey Law could help you understand those laws before or after an accident.
Georgia Code Annotated § 40-6-296 is the state’s bicycle helmet law. It only applies to children under 16, and cyclists must wear an ANSI-compliant helmet. ANSI—the American National Standards Institute—coordinates voluntary standards in the United States. Details about ANSI-compliant bike helmets can be found in 16 C.F.R § 1203.53(a)(1). For consumers, knowing that the helmet is ANSI-compliant is enough.
Clarkesville cyclists older than 16 do not have to wear helmets, and not wearing one is not a criminal act or against the law. It is also not evidence of negligence in an accident. If a driver is fully responsible for the accident, their failure to wear a helmet is unlikely to impact findings of fault in an accident.
Although helmets are not required by law for adult bikers in Clarkesville, some safety equipment is necessary. Understanding those laws can help cyclists comply with them and keep them safer in an accident. The state also outlines other safety requirements for cyclists.
When used at nighttime, all bikes must have headlights and taillights visible from at least 300 feet. A red reflector can replace a rear taillight.
The brakes on a bicycle must allow the operator to cause the bike wheels to skid on dry, level pavement. There are no additional specifications, but cyclists can test their brakes by doing a skid test.
Bicycles cannot have hanging handlebars that would require riders to raise their hands above their shoulders to steer and operate them. For safety, a cyclist should be able to steer and maneuver the bicycle without difficulties.
Like helmet laws, violating these laws will not lead to criminal liability but could impact civil liability in the event of a bicycle accident.
Helmet and equipment rules are not the only laws impacting cyclists on Clarkesville roads. Any provision of the vehicle code that applies to all vehicles, not specifically to motor vehicles, applies to cyclists. However, unlike motorists, cyclists can ride on a paved shoulder. The law also states how cyclists can indicate left or right turns.
Additional rules apply specifically to cyclists. A person riding a bicycle cannot carry more people than it is designed for, including people on the handlebars. People cannot transport children under the age of one as passengers unless they are in a bike trailer or infant sling. Children between the ages of one and four can be in a child’s seat adequately secured to the bicycle.
Wearing a helmet keeps cyclists safer. However, the law only requires it of riders aged 15 and younger. For riders over 16, the law has no helmet requirements, though other safety requirements do apply.
When you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you may wonder about your available options for pursuing compensation for recovery. However, as our experienced lawyers could explain, if the lack of safety equipment did not contribute to the accident, it should not prevent recovery. Schedule a consultation to learn more about Clarkesville bicycle helmet laws and discuss a claim.
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