If I Ride My Bike at Night, Am I Required to Have Lights on It? What if I Get Hit and I Don’t Have Lights?

The State of South Carolina has laws in place that are designed to protect bicyclists, and these laws include specific light requirements. When you’re on your bike, you don’t have the protective shell of a car to shield you from the life-threatening impact of an accident, which leaves you especially vulnerable to serious injuries and immense losses. Better understanding the laws that apply when you’re on your bike can help you stay safe out there, and if a motorist’s negligence leaves you injured, an experienced Conway, South Carolina, bike accident attorney can help.

Required Lighting

The lighting requirements that the State of South Carolina imposes for bicyclists include the following:

• If you ride your bike at night, you must equip it with a working white light at the front that is visible to motorists from at least 500 feet, and you need to keep it turned on.
• If you ride your bike at night, you must also equip it with a red reflector at the back that is visible to drivers from at least 300 feet. A safer option, however, is pairing this with a rear red light that motorists can see from at least 500 feet.

Finally, if you ride your bike at night, you must equip it with all the following reflectors:

• A clear reflector on the front
• An amber or clear reflector on the front wheel
• A red or clear reflector on the rear wheel
• A clear or amber reflector on each pedal

If your lights are also reflectors, additional reflectors at those locations are not required.

If You’re Hit and You Don’t Have the Necessary Lights

If you choose to ride your bike at night and you don’t have the lights required by law, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t seek compensation, but it’s very likely to affect the amount you receive.

South Carolina is known as a comparative negligence state. This means that even if you share fault – such as for not having the required lights and reflectors on your bike – you can seek compensation for the percentage of your losses that the motorist is determined to be responsible for. It’s important to note, however, that the other party must bear at least 51 percent of the fault in the matter in order for you to be compensated.

You Need an Experienced Conway Bike Accident Attorney on Your Side

If you’ve suffered an injury on your bike, the losses you face can be overwhelming, and while not having the required lights when riding at night can affect your settlement, it may not bar you from seeking the amount of compensation that the negligent driver is responsible for.

The savvy bike accident attorneys at the Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A., in Conway, South Carolina, appreciate how difficult your situation is and are standing by to help. Your recovery is too important not to fight for the compensation to which you’re entitled, so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 843-248-3177 for more information today.