Bike Safety For Bicycle Riders

Cycling has become more and more of a popular activity over the years. With more bikes being manufactured and new types of bikes being invented, more and more people are riding on the roadways more than ever before. Unfortunately, with more cyclists on the roadways, this means drivers need to be more aware of cyclists and riders need to practice safety.

Many states tout some pretty scary statistics for bicycle accidents. 63% of overall bike accidents result in a fatality, while over 65,000 cyclists in Colorado actually suffer from severe injuries, including concussions and other head traumas.

WEAR A HELMET

It’s your choice whether or not to wear a helmet, but with these statistics, why wouldn’t you? Most bicycles weigh between 15 to 23lbs, while a car weighs in at 4,000+ pounds. Even if you get bumped by a car you could be in for a world of pain without a helmet. If you get run into, rather than just bumped, the results could be catastrophic. When you don’t wear a helmet and other safety gear, the chances of physical damage to your body versus wearing one are much higher.

When you wear a helmet you are reducing your injury in terms of a head trauma, by a whopping 85%. That alone should be reason enough to wear one.

If you were in a bicycle accident and made sure you had a helmet or safety gear on and were still hurt by another vehicle, you will benefit from hiring a bicycle accident lawyer who can help you get compensation for your claim and find fault in the parties who were at fault.

SAFETY GUIDELINES

• – Follow The Rules Of The Road: If the specific location where you are riding your bike requires you to ride on the sidewalk, chances are you will be safer than a person that has to drive on the road next to cars. If you do have to ride on the road in the same lanes as cars or on a bike lane, make sure you follow the rules of the road.
• – Ride With Traffic: You should never ride against the flow of thetrafficon the road. Make sure you are always biking on the right side.
• – Be Cautious: Whether you are riding on the right or making a turn, make sure you let other vehicles know you are there and that you are using the proper hand signals. You should also be using lights at night and have reflectors on your bike.
• – Dress So You Are Seen: While riding at night or during the day, you should always wear brightly colored clothing so you stand out against the backdrop of the road and your surroundings. Let people be aware that you are on the road by allowing them to see you more clearly.

If you were in a bike accident and did all of these things above and were still hurt by another vehicle, contact a bicycle accident lawyer such as Sloat & Nicholson for a free consultation.