October 2018 | | Gary Brustin

Cyclist Dies Trying to Prevent a Hit and Run

Posted on October 25, 2018October 8, 2019 by Gary Brustin

Hit and Run Accidents

Hit and run accidents are a serious problem among the cycling community. In cities across the United States, drivers are more likely to strike a cyclist and drive away than they are when they hit another vehicle. It could be said that striking an unprotected person on a bicycle is more panic-inducing than hitting a person in the protective shell of a car, but there is no excuse for hit and run accidents ever.

In the News

Unfortunately, a recent hit and run accident for cyclists turned deadly for a different reason in Long Beach. In this incident, two friends were riding down the street when one was struck by a Ford Expedition. After the accident, the driver of the car sped off, and the victim’s riding companion peddled after him.

The cyclist eventually ended jumping on the hood to try and stop the fleeing driver. Even as the car swerved, trying to throw the cyclist off, the cyclist tried to reach into the car to turn off the ignition. Unfortunately, after a half-mile, the cyclist was thrown off, and after hitting his head on the curb, passed away.

In a small bit of fortune, the first victim walked away with only minor injuries, but the perpetrator ended up fleeing after abandoning the vehicle. While this is a story almost straight out of an action movie, it shows how innately angry cyclists are at the frequency of hit and run accidents in their community. Unfortunately, it ended poorly for the cyclist trying to get justice for their friend.

Justice

Hit and run accidents are difficult not only for seeking legal action but if there is no one else to report the accident, then it can turn even more serious for the victim who needs medical attention. If you were involved in a cycling accident, even if it was a hit and run, contact us today. The Law Office of Gary Brustin can help you seek justice.

Houston’s Ghost Bikes Look to Bring Visibility to Fatal Cycling Accidents

Posted on October 18, 2018October 8, 2019 by Gary Brustin

Houston, we have a problem. Over the past four years, the city of a Houston alone has had 1,700 cycling accidents where cyclists were struck on the road. However, in only a quarter of those cases did the driver responsible stick around on the scene. This is a problem that every city in the United States has in some way. However, a Houston group is looking to bring attention to the deadly situation that cyclists face.

Houston’s Ghost Bikes

Ghost bikes are representative of accidents involving invisible cyclists, or those that need to travel in early morning or late at night with poor visibility conditions and end up at high-risk of accidents. A local Houston group, an offspring from a Ghost Bike group that started in St. Louis, places visible reminders of these accidents. Instead of a plaque at the scene of the crime, they wanted a more visible reminder of those that suffered from not being visible. So now they place bikes painted white chained to the area to represent fatal bike accidents.

Bicycle Accidents

The group hopes that the local government will take notice too. So many fatal cycling accidents get off with minimal punishments or none at all if the driver simply drives away before they are identified, something that is very common in Houston cycling accidents. With so many cycling accidents happening each year, eventually, someone is going to take notice of a city that has become a white bike ghost town.

While groups like Ghost Bike are helping to draw attention to cycling accidents, nothing gets more attention than legal action. If you have been in a cycling accident, you deserve to see justice served. Contact us today to see how the Law Office of Gary Brustin can help you. As a cyclist himself, he understands the dangers you are in each time you get on the road.

Colorado Adds Opt-In Rolling Stop Cycling Law

Posted on October 11, 2018October 8, 2019 by Gary Brustin

Rolling Stop Law

The “Idaho stop” or rolling stop law for cyclists has been pervasively spreading across the United States over the past year. However, while this is great news for cyclists, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for local governments with perhaps different cycling laws to have a voice. This is just what Colorado was concerned with when the rolling stop rolled on up to the doors of state government.

However, unlike other states that have allowed it, Colorado took a more cautious route. They approved the rolling stop for cyclists but ultimately left setting restrictions on speed and implementation up to the local communities in the state.

Colorado is already quite friendly to cyclists, and in that regard, a number of cities already have their own cycling laws on the rolling stop. Furthermore, the state government recognizes that not every intersection is right for it.

Local Communities

This new law allows for communities to opt-in to adopt the Idaho stop for their community as well as regulate what is considered a “reasonable speed” to roll on through. This comes after a failed bill from 2017 that had addressed the same issue but ultimately failed due to conflicts with cyclist laws that had already been put into place in popular Colorado cycling cities.

Around the Country

This sets a great precedent for other states considering the issue of rolling stops for cyclists. It shows that this issue can be shot down if it conflicts with other community laws, but by offering it as a more opt-in affair, it can be adapted for the whole state.

Unfortunately, while this makes it safer for many cyclists, accidents will still happen. If you have been in a cycling accident and need a lawyer to represent you who understand your pain, contact us today. Let Gary Brustin, a fellow cyclist, and his law office come to your aid.

3 Useful Tips for Safer Night Cycling

Posted on October 4, 2018October 8, 2019 by Gary Brustin

On the whole, cycling is a safe mode of transportation. While it’s true that if a cyclist and a motorist collide it’s the cyclist who’s more likely to be injured, those collisions aren’t as frequent as you might think. However, accidents do happen, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most of those accidents happen at night and in urban areas. To that end, let’s go over a few useful tips for how you can cycle safely at night, particularly in urban areas with heavy traffic.

Use High-visibility Gear

High-visibility gear is one of your best defenses against cycling injuries when traveling at night. If it lights up, reflects, or otherwise indicates your presence to motorists, use it. Reflective tape, for instance, can be placed on your seat, wheels, gear, and even onto your clothing while you travel at night. When headlights hit the tape, it lights up and tells drivers you’re there. Flashing tail lights that clip or screw onto your bike are also advisable, as are reflective helmets and headlights.

Go Back to Basics

If you’re an experienced cyclist, you know the basics, but it doesn’t hurt to remind yourself of them once in a while. This is particularly true if you’re traveling in a riskier-than-usual environment, such as cycling at night. The League of American Bicyclists advises cyclists to use a system called “ABC Quick Check”. A is for air, B is for brakes, C is for cranks and chain, Quick is for quick releases, and Check is to check the entire bike over. Again, this might seem rudimentary to someone who’s been cycling for a long time, but it’s worth doing when heading out at night. The more responsibly you cycle, the less of a chance there is that you’ll get injured.

Stay On the Road and Be Vigilant

Many cyclists, even those with years of experience, feel tempted to ride on sidewalks at night thinking they’ll reduce their risk of getting hit by a car if they stay off the road. However, most cyclist safety guides, like those provided by the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, warn cyclists that riding on sidewalks can actually put them at a higher risk. The reason for this is that motorists are looking for cyclists on the roads. They don’t expect cyclists to be on sidewalks. When you’re on a sidewalk, you’re invisible, so if you suddenly have to go back onto the road or you fall off the sidewalk for some reason, they’ll never see you coming. Of course, that means they’ll have very little time, if any, to correct their course. Never assume the motorists can see you. Stay on the road, be vigilant, remain observant, and don’t let your guard down.

Follow these tips, and you can go a long way to preventing an accident when cycling at night.

Have you been involved in a bicycle-related accident? Contact us today for legal help. We’re here to help you.