At Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC, their Charlotte bicycle accident lawyers focus their legal practice on providing focused, high-quality legal help to injured people in bicycle accidents. They should be consulted for help assisting with claiming compensation.

What Are North Carolina Laws Regarding Bicyclists?

Like some other states, North Carolina defines a bicycle as a vehicle that is subject to state traffic laws. Therefore, every bicyclist in Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina must follow the same laws and rules as a driver of a passenger car or other motor vehicle. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Charlotte explains that as a result of this law, North Carolina cyclists are not allowed to:

- Operate their bicycles under the influence of alcohol or drugs

- Run through a red light

- Ride in the direction of oncoming traffic

North Carolina law also imposes several other rules that require specific actions from bicyclists in the state. These laws state that cyclists must:

- Stay off fully controlled-access highways such as interstates

- Take alternate routes when there is a fully controlled-access highway

- Have a white light on the front of the bike and a red reflector or illumination on the rear

- Wear a helmet while riding a bike only if the rider is under the age of 16 (adults riding a two-wheeler during daylight hours do not need to wear any forms of protective gear and equipment)