How to Ride Your Bike In Michigan

Bicycling can serve many purposes: recreation, a way to save money, and can even be beneficial to the environment. Whatever the reason, riders should be aware of the rules and expectations that come with being on the road. Laws regarding bicyclists vary from state to state, and knowing Michigan state law can help protect bicyclists and drivers who share a road. 

Biking In The Streets 

Bicyclists riding at a normal speed of traffic are expected to ride as close as possible to the right-hand curb or edge of the road, under Michigan law. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule: 

  • When passing another bicycle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction. 
  • When preparing to turn left. 
  • When conditions make the right hand edge of the roadway unsafe for the rider. 

Biking on Sidewalks 

Bikes may be ridden on the sidewalks in Michigan, but riders must remember to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and are required to give some type of audible signal to let them know they are going to be passed. 

How to Signal A Turn  

When riding a bike, cyclists are required to signal with their arms. By doing so, they can ensure that drivers know that they are about to turn. 

  • A left turn by extending their arm horizontally. 
  • A right turn by extending their left arm vertically. 
  • A stop or decrease in speed by extending their arm downward. 
  • Signal 100 feet - 200 feet before you are about to turn, so that drivers are aware of your intended action and have adequate time to react appropriately. 

Safely Parking Your Bike 

Bike theft has become a huge problem for riders. In fact, according to City Lab, over half of all active cyclists have had their bike stolen. Most occurrences take place in heavy populated places downtown area of a city where the act of stealing a bike blends in with the crowd. It is important to always lock your bike to a secure, visible location, which makes it tough for a thief to pick up and walk away with your bike. 

While only 1% of all transportation in the United States is via a bicycle, the frequency of bicycle-related accidents is alarming. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 900 bicyclists were killed in the United States in 2013 with an additional 494,000 emergency room visits due to bicycling-related injuries. While riding a bike with a helmet is not currently required under Michigan law, bicyclists are highly encouraged to take the necessary safety precaution to prevent potential head injuries. 

If you or somebody you know has been injured by a car while riding a bicycle, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Car drivers have a tendency to neglect bicyclists' right of way. Don't let automobiles bully you. Our attorneys are experienced in handling bicycle-related collisions, and will get you the help you need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle On Ann Arbor, Michigan Crosswalk

A car accident landed a 21 year old man in the hospital on Monday, April 25, 2016. MLive reported that the man was struck while crossing a crosswalk in the area of Plymouth Road and Willowtree Lane around 8:24 A.M. Police arrived on the scene not long afterwards. The Adrian, Michigan native was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital via Huron Valley Ambulance and was said to be in stable condition according to EMTs. The driver who struck him was a 42 year old Belleville, Michigan resident. Police cited the driver with a ticket for failure to yield. However, there is still no word on whether or not the man will press charges against the driver.

Ann Arbor Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

While driving, it is always very important to check crosswalks, especially in cities. Not only should drivers be on the lookout for other drivers and road obstructions but for bikers and pedestrians as well. Although this particular case did not end in death, car accidents involving walkers, bicyclists, or runners often end in serious injury or death. By looking both ways and by looking for pedestrians at crosswalks, it is very easy to save lives. Most times the driver is responsible for hitting pedestrians, and an accident like this may bury a driver in fines and jail time.

Pedestrians, although having the right away, also always need pay attention to traffic as well. Even if a pedestrian has a green arrow to walk, checking for traffic is always a good idea. Noticing a distracted driver can be the difference between life and death. Looking both ways can save your own life.

Taking chances with the odds of being struck by a vehicle at a crosswalk is an unsafe idea. Accidents always happen. Pedestrians and drivers alike need to check the flow of traffic and need to check whether or not a crosswalk is clear, before passing through. If you or someone you know has been involved in a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian or has been a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those involving pedestrians. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Fiat Chrysler Recalls 1.1 Million Vehicles Worldwide

Chrysler Recall Lawyer

Fiat Chrysler is recalling over a million vehicles worldwide, due to a gear shifting defect. CNN Money reported that the issue stems from the gear shifter allowing drivers to leave the car without putting the car in park, or forgetting to put the vehicle in park, causing the car to still be mobile. The shifter makes it very hard to tell what gear the car is actually in, which might seem like a small issue, but has lead to a recall of over 1.1 million vehicles worldwide.

The car does have warning signs, but this still has allowed for drivers to leave the vehicle without putting it in park. The remedy for the issue is to place more warning lights, and also make changes to stop the vehicle from moving even if it isn’t in park. The vehicles have been recalled are the model year 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans. Model year 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs are also included in the recall. So far, there have been 41 injuries that are potentially related to making this mistake. Those who are affected by the recall will be informed by Fiat Chrysler and the issues will be fixed at no charge to the owners.

Michigan Car Crash Lawyer

Typically an owner of a vehicle is informed by mail if their car has been recalled. It is also very easy for drivers to check whether their car has been recalled at safecar.gov. Simply enter the vehicle's VIN and the site will pulls up any active recalls the vehicle may have. Ensuring that a car is recall free is important because recalls are typically safety related and leaving a car unchecked is very dangerous for drivers. Cars which are operated despite having safety problems are likely to injure the driver and put everyone on the road in danger of a car crash.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those involving cars with recall notices and safety problems. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.