Sidewalk Riding Accidents in Columbus

In Columbus, bicycles are considered vehicles and riders are generally expected to obey all traffic laws, including riding with the flow of traffic, using bike or street lanes, and yielding to pedestrians. The only riders who are permitted to ride on the sidewalk are those who are under the age of 12.

In sidewalk riding accidents in Columbus, liability depends on several factors, including the rider’s age and who caused the accident. In some cases, injured sidewalk-riding bicyclists can seek compensation from a negligent driver, while other cases involve an injured pedestrian seeking compensation from a person riding on a sidewalk where prohibited. Regardless of your role in the situation, if you were injured in a sidewalk riding accident, bicycle accident lawyer David Bence and his legal team can evaluate your case for free and help you understand if you are eligible to seek compensation through the state personal injury claims process.

The Rules About Riding Bicycles on Sidewalks

While sidewalk riding is generally prohibited for those over 12 in Columbus, injured riders may still be eligible to seek compensation in a few different circumstances, including if their accident involved a motor vehicle and occurred in an intersection when the driver was required to cede the right-of-way due to a red light, stop sign, or crosswalk. Another example of an accident involving a bicyclist on a sidewalk in which the rider may have the right to file a claim would be if the accident was the result of a defect in the sidewalk that the property owner or the city was responsible for maintaining.

Rider liability due to sidewalk riding in an area where it is not allowed may reduce the amount of compensation that can be claimed for the accident. Riders can generally seek compensation for the financial costs of their injury, such as medical bills and wage loss, as well as the psychological quality of life impacts they suffered. 

What to Do If You Are Injured in a Sidewalk Accident

Injured riders who are less than 50 percent liable for the accident that caused their injury may file injury claims against relevant insurance policies held by the other parties who were at fault, such as negligent drivers or property owners. The legal team at Bence Law Firm can evaluate your case for free to help you determine all potential sources of liability and the insurance resources that may be available in your case to provide compensation.

Because it is often illegal to ride bicycles on sidewalks in Columbus, if a pedestrian or motorist is injured due to an accident caused by sidewalk riding, they may have cause to file a claim against the rider. Bicyclists are not required to carry insurance. However, other types of policies held by the rider may compensate the claim, including homeowner’s or renter’s policies, or even the rider’s auto insurance policy. In many cases, the injured party’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may be a resource for compensation.

Learn More About Sidewalk Riding Accidents in Columbus. Contact Bence Law Firm

There are many ways bicycle accidents can occur, including when a bicyclist is riding on the sidewalk. There are rules about sidewalk riding and liability that are difficult to determine on your own. Let the Bence Law Firm help you understand liability and your eligibility to file a claim after sidewalk riding accidents in Columbus. We can answer your questions for free. Contact us.