Like most states, Indiana law provides rules about where, when, and how bicyclists can use public streets and bike paths. Most of these rules are designed to increase safety by prohibiting particularly dangerous uses of bicycles. When you’re ready to hit the road for a ride, keeping the following rules in mind will allow you to stay on the right side of the law and help protect you and your loved ones from injury:
- Obey traffic signals. In Indiana, bicycle riders may use the roads if they obey all the rules a driver must follow. This means riding on the right, stopping at stop signs, red lights, and railroad crossings, and signaling if you plan to turn.
- Ride single file. Groups that ride side by side increase their risk of being hit by a distracted or speeding driver. Ride in single file and keep to the edge of the road to help prevent a crash.
- Ride the bicycle correctly. Indiana law prohibits bicyclists from riding on any part of a bicycle except the seat. Riding on the handlebars or while balancing on the back axle can easily lead to injury.
- Don’t hitch a ride. Grabbing onto or hitching your bicycle to the back of a truck, car, or other vehicle while riding a bicycle may seem like an easy way to get a free ride, but this arrangement can turn dangerous very quickly. It’s better to pedal yourself and arrive safely than try to hitch a ride and get hurt.
- Use safety gear. Bells, lights, and reflectors all help others on the road or trail know you’re there and avoid a collision. The appropriate bike helmet can also help protect you from serious injury in a crash or fall.
Indiana Code Section 9-21-11 provides additional rules for bicyclists. It’s wise to review these laws before you hit the road. If you are injured in a bicycle crash, an experienced Indiana bicycle accident attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options.
A 32-year-old Greenfield police officer, Will Phillips, was killed while riding his police bicycle with other fellow officers near Knightstown when a car struck him. They were on a training run for the purpose of keeping their skills sharp and fitness levels the highest possible. The Indy Star reports the fatal bicycle and car collision occurred the morning of September 30 along U.S. 40 in Henry County. The 61-year-old female driver left the scene of the fatal collision only to turn herself in on October 4. She faces felony hit-and-run charges for leaving the scene of a wrongful death Indiana car accident.
This case is particularly disturbing and troubling to the founder of Sevenish Law, Randy Sevenish, who himself is a retired Captain from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department in Indianapolis, where he was assigned as SWAT Team Commander and Director of Training at the academy. He reports,
“This is truly a sad day not only for the Greenfield Police Department but for law enforcement throughout Indiana and the U.S. This is especially tragic for his young wife and family who must now move forward without their loving husband and father. Makes you want to cry. This was a very unnecessary event and even unconscionable the at-fault driver, allegedly an RN herself, left the scene when she should have known she had struck someone or something. It defies reason or logic and demonstrates the lengths some people take to attempt to avoid responsibility. Unbelievable and gut-wrenching. May God Bless Will and his family he now leaves behind.”
Under Indiana State Law IC 9-26-1-1, drivers involved in an Indiana car crash that results in injury or death must immediately stop at the scene and contact the appropriate authorities. Drivers are required to remain at the scene, exchange information with other parties involved, and most importantly, obtain medical assistance for the injured victim under the law.
In cases where a driver is found to have been negligent, a wrongful death claim may be filed to hold the driver civilly accountable for the fatal Indiana car crash. In hit-and-run accidents where the driver is not found or the driver is uninsured or underinsured, compensation may still be available to the victims through their own auto insurance policy.
At The Sevenish Law Firm, we understand the emotional and financial struggles a family goes through following a tragic fatal Indiana bicycle accident. Our skilled Indiana bicycle accident attorneys will remain on your side, fight for your rights and make sure the at-fault party is held liable. Please call us at 1-800-347-4611 for a free consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your claim.
