Bicycling and the Law
Richard L. Duquette
EP67 When Is a Turning Movement Illegal?
Turning movements include 90-degree turns and lane changes. When done properly, they keep a bicyclist safe on the road. When is a turning movement illegal? Tune in!
The California Vehicle Code 22017 states that turning movement must be done with "reasonable safety." For that, the bicyclist must provide a signal before making a turn.
Sometimes a car will speed up and try to catch up with the bicyclist. It is important for the bicyclist to protect himself and abide by the law when making a turn.
Bicyclists should use turn signals. It is important to consider if a vehicle may be affected by the turn.
Unfortunately, not all vehicles are paying attention when a signal is given. They could be busy texting, listening to the radio, or distracted. Nonetheless, Richard suggests to make it a habit to use turn signals for protection.
Many don't use signals when riding alone on a road. When an accident has occurred, they often say they did not see a car.
The California Driver’s Handbook suggests that the driver should give a signal even when there appears to be no other vehicle around. According to the Handbook, "The vehicle you don't see might hit you."
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© 2016 Law Firm of Richard L. Duquette
Bicycling and the Law
Richard L. Duquette
EP66 Night Riders and Commuters
Commuting and riding a bicycle, both improves health and saves money. More and more people are deciding to do so even in the dark. But when faced with an injury, how well do you know your rights? Listen to this episode on night riders and commuters.
"Although (commuting) is good for the heart and for the planet, you have to take safety very seriously." - Richard Duquette
According to Richard, insurance companies will try to claim your negligence. They see you partly at fault for an injury when commuting or riding in the dark, at times.
You can protect yourself by following the rules of the Vehicle Code. The California Vehicle Code defines darkness as "half an hour before dark or half an hour before sunrise."
When you are riding in the dark, it is important that you follow the rules and guidelines regarding bicycle lights. Consider placing lights on:
Front lights must be seen 300 feet away. Mount a light on your handlebars. Doing so illuminates both your bicycle and the road.
There are several kinds of lights. The two most important are the high-intensity discharge (HID) and the light-emitting diode (LED) lights.
Richard recommends using the LED light because it lasts longer and shines wider. You may check mtbr.com for further information on bicycle lights.
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© 2016 Law Firm of Richard L. Duquette
Bicycling and the Law
Richard L. Duquette
EP65 Recovering Damages for Veterans -- the Benefit of Sports for Our Military
What do recreational activities do for our soldiers? How do they help them recover? Tune in as Richard discusses their benefit and the factors by which the injured military could recover. Here's Recovering Damages for Veterans -- the Benefit of Sports for Our Military.
"He smiles at the young soldiers;
Tells them it's alright.
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight.
Soon there'll be blood and many will die.
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry."
- Eric Burdon, Sky Pilot
Richard has been a practicing lawyer for more than 34 years. During his career, he has assisted many combat veterans.
Often they return home suffering from the damages caused by the war. It is not a secret that they are highly exposed to injury.
There are basically two factors why an injured soldier could obtain money for his injury. The first one being the aggravation of a preexisting condition.
They could heal and find balance through sports. Athletics, triathlons and other recreational activities are medicine. Check out Richard's website for related articles.
Apart from aggravation, the soldier can also obtain money if he is unusually susceptible. According to Richard, they can often be fragile.
They can recover because the wrongdoer takes him as he finds it. There are a number of ways to prove an aggravation.
Download and listen to Recovering Damages for Veterans -- the Benefit of Sports for Our Military.
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© 2016 Law Firm of Richard L. Duquette