San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Is It Illegal to Ride a Bike While Wearing Headphones in California?

We’ve all been there; unsure of whether we’re breaking some California bicycle law when we ride a bike while wearing headphones. The short answer is yes. In the state of California, it is illegal to wear headphones that either cover or are put inside both ears, according to vehicle code 27400. This applies to both motorists and cyclists. Now, if you’re anything like us, you will have read that and immediately thought “aww, but why?!” Wearing headphones while riding a bike poses a variety of safety concerns, some of which we’re going to go over below. Why Is It Illegal to Wear Headphones While Riding a Bike? The main reason wearing headphones is illegal when cycling is simply because it’s dangerous…but isn’t riding a bike inherently dangerous anyway? Well, yes, the same way driving a car or walking down the sidewalk is dangerous, but wearing headphones adds more complexity to…
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Will the Kalamazoo Driver Face Charges for Horrific Bicycle Accident Deaths?

In response to a tragic bicycle accident that claimed the lives of five riders, Michigan state officials are fast-tracking a bill that would impose heavier penalties on drivers who injure cyclists. That should go a long way towards encouraging motorists in the future to act more cautiously, but what about the man who already took five lives? Charles Pickett Jr., the Kalamazoo driver responsible for the deaths of five cyclists, will reportedly be charged soon with five counts of second-degree murder. He will also be facing four counts of reckless driving, and more, if investigators find more evidence. How Did the Kalamazoo Bicycle Accident Happen? Approximately 30 minutes before the crash even happened, police were called by multiple people about a blue truck matching the description of Pickett’s vehicle. They told dispatchers that the truck was driving erratically and was likely to cause an accident. Down the road, five friends…
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How to Ride a Bike Around Pedestrians

Riding through traffic around cars can be scary, but it’s fairly straightforward; just obey the same rules of the road that you would if you were driving. What about when you’re riding a bike around pedestrians? Are the rules different then? What can you do to keep yourself and the foot traffic around you safe? How to Ride a Bike Around Pedestrians There are a variety of different circumstances in which you may have to ride through foot traffic. We’ve summarized some bike safety tips about what you should do in each of the following common situations. Pedestrian Crossing – When people on foot cross the road, they can cause the same sort of problems as a driver crossing an intersection. Sometimes they don’t look hard enough and fail to see you, the cyclist, barreling towards them. If the person walking is legally allowed to cross, like when signaled at…
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