What is my potential liability regarding renting bikes and bike equipment to clients doing multi-day self guided bike tours?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What is my potential liability regarding renting bikes and bike equipment to clients doing multi-day self guided bike tours?
Some of my clients tell me they occasionally plan their time poorly and end up riding after sunset without any lights. We currently do not provide lights for the bikes but I am considering doing so to address this situation, albeit with it being made clear to my clients that riding after sunset is strongly discouraged. Does providing lights increase my exposure should a client have an accident after sunset while using lights we provide vs. the same client having an accident after sunset with no lights or using their own lights?
Asked on December 2, 2014 under Business Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
Providing lights would reduce your potential liability. You know that some of your clients end up riding after sunset, either deliberately or through poor time management; therefore, you are aware that you bikes will be used after dark. Riding at night without lights is much more dangerous; therefore, it could be viewed as negligent to rent bikes without lights when you know that at least some of the time, they will be used at night. Providing lights will your potential liability in that regard.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.