Bicycle Accident

A bicycle wreck around Five Points, on a public path, or on a driveway crossing is still a North Carolina crash claim. A driver leaving or entering an alley, a building doorway, a private road, or a driveway must yield to a cyclist on a sidewalk or walkway that crosses that opening, as G.S. 20-173(c). The three-year injury window and contributory negligence still apply.

The youth helmet statute, G.S. 20-171.9, makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit a person under 16 to ride on a public roadway, public bike path, or other public right-of-way without a securely fastened helmet. No negligence or liability shall be assessed or imputed to any party on account of a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of that section. The pedestrian-and-bicycle guide on this site walks through those rules and the practical steps after the wreck.