Biking to school is a fun and healthy way for your teenager to start the day, but it also comes with some risks and responsibilities for their own safety. Beyond the obvious advice to always wear a helmet, teenagers should also think about these other safety precautions:

Teen Biking Safety Tips

• Remove Earbuds and Avoid Using Your Phone: While it might seem harmless for your teen to listen to music or use their phone while biking, it’s crucial that they remain fully aware of their surroundings. Earbuds muffle traffic, horns, and other important sounds that could alert them to potential dangers. Note that Virginia Code §46.2-1078 makes it unlawful to ride a bicycle while using earphones in both ears. Texting or using a phone while riding diverts their attention and reduces their ability to react quickly to sudden changes in their environment, such as a car turning or a large stick or pothole in their path.
• Wear the Backpack Correctly: It may be tempting for your teen to sling their backpack, guitar, or lunch box over one shoulder. But no matter how “cool” the look is, it can throw off their balance and make it harder to control the bike. Wearing the backpack with both straps on their shoulders helps distribute their weight and balance evenly.
• Avoid Giving Rides to Friends: Carrying a friend on the handlebars or anywhere else on the bike is dangerous and can lead to serious accidents. The bike is designed for one rider, and carrying extra weight can make it difficult to steer, see around the friend, or stop safely.
• Cross at Crosswalks: Although it might be quicker to cut across a median as supposed to waiting for  a crosswalk light, this is risky. Cyclists  should always cross the street at designated crosswalks where drivers expect to see pedestrians and cyclists. Too often drivers, especially those on their way to high school, are distracted on their phones. No cyclist or pedestrian should cross under the assumption that a driver has or will see you just because you see them.
• Travel with a Buddy: Remember the buddy system at camp? Riding with a friend to school can serve the same purpose. If something goes wrong, such as a flat tire or an accident, having someone with them can be incredibly useful  to seek help or make a phone call on behalf of the injured. Plus, two cyclists are more visible to drivers than one.

Avoiding Legal Issues

By following these habits, your teen will not only protect themselves but also safeguard their legal rights in the event of an accident in Virginia. Virginia follows the Contributory Negligence Rule, which means that if your teen is found to have contributed even 1% to an accident, they could be found at fault,  and their personal injury claim might be dismissed. Defense attorneys often look for any evidence of the plaintiff’s contribution to the accident. Even something as minor as briefly checking their phone while biking could be used to argue that they were negligent in acting for  their own safety.

Types of Bike Accidents

If your teen is injured in a bike accident in any of the following ways, particularly due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions, they/you may have grounds to file a lawsuit for compensation for their medical bills and suffering:

• Accidents Involving Motor Vehicles: This includes cases where a driver fails to yield, speeds, drives distracted, or opens a car door into their path without checking.
• Accidents Due to Dangerous Road Conditions: Such as potholes, uneven pavement, poor signage, lack of traffic lights, or debris on the road.
• Accidents Involving Defective Bicycle Parts: Including faulty brakes, defective tires, defective seats, or a malfunctioning chain.

We hope that providing information such as this keeps cyclists safe and helps prevent accidents. But even with our greatest efforts, mishaps still occur. If your teen is injured due to someone else’s negligence or a defective product, it’s important to seek professional legal advice to understand their rights and options for pursuing compensation. At Curcio Law, we are dedicated to supporting you and your family through every step of the legal process, ensuring you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. Don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation. Contact us today at 703-836-3366, email [email protected], or visit our website at www.curciolaw.com to learn more about how we can assist you.