Your Legal Rights at Work

What You Need To Know If You Ride A Personal Vehicle Instead Of A Car Or Motorcycle

by Lewis Hamilton

You may include yourself among the many people out there biking on the road, skateboarding on the sidewalk, or using some other modern ride-on. These conveyance devices aren't automobiles or motorcycles, but if you find yourself in an accident while on one of them, you still have many rights.

Those rights include pursuing a personal injury case. However, you need to understand a few things before you attempt to sue someone for personal injury. After all, you may find that you're the negligent one or in violation of a law rather than the other way around.

Do You Know Your Local Laws?

Many people get on their bike or hop on their electric-powered vehicle and hit the streets. They never really stop to think about whether there are laws about where they can go in and around their neighborhoods. Since these laws come from local and state governments, they vary from place to place.

For example, in some places it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. The biker has to use the street and ride with automobile traffic. In other places, it's okay to ride on the sidewalks. Yet, in still other places, it's only okay to ride your bike on designated bike paths.

Researching the Law as it Applies to You

The trouble is it's hard to know where to start looking for these regulatory rules. In some places, the local traffic authority regulates the use of personal vehicles. In other places, things like electric-powered scooters and the like may have laws that govern just them, but not other types of vehicles.

Knowing what you can or cannot do will allow you to ride safely while also staying on the right side of local law. It will also play a large role in any possible personal injury case. Since there are so many variances, you will have to find out on your own which laws apply to you. Here's a few ways how.

Ask at the venue where you purchase the vehicle. Most places that sell personal conveyances know of the laws that go along with them. These can include:

  • What kind of safety measures you need to take
  • Where you're allowed to operate the vehicle
  • Where you can find more information

Contact your local traffic authority. They will let you know:

  • If there are specific laws regarding your choice of vehicle
  • If there are specific areas where the conveyance isn't allowed
  • What you can expect if you violate local laws

Search for local groups online. If you're doing something in your locale, then the odds are that others are too. If you look around online you may find a local group that discusses the ups and downs of riding a particular type of ride-on in your area.

Understanding these things can help you a great deal if you do find yourself in an accident. If you know that you were on the right side of the law, then that makes your potential case even stronger.

Even if you are in violation of a local regulation, it doesn't mean that you won't have a case. It's best to speak to a personal injury and accident lawyer as soon as possible rather than guess.

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