- March 8, 2016
Hundreds of people die in bicycle-related accidents every year in the United States, more than 90 percent of which involve automobiles. Bicycle accidents also cause roughly 540,000 injuries. In order to protect yourself while you ride and decrease your chances of an accident, please consider the following helpful safety tips:- Follow the same traffic laws that motorists abide by. This means riding with the flow of traffic, stopping at red lights and stop signs, and not riding on sidewalks.
- Yield the right of way to pedestrians.
- Be sure to use the proper hand signals when changing lanes, stopping, or turning.
- Use caution when crossing driveways or intersections.
- If you plan on riding at night, make yourself visible to other drivers by wearing bright clothing with reflectors. It is also a good idea to add reflectors to your bike.
- Base your speed on the volume of traffic as well as current road conditions.
- Maintain a safe distance from parked cars to prevent being hit by an opening door.
- Avoid listening to music through headphones, which can hinder your ability to listen and react to your surroundings. Like other drivers, bicyclists should have their undivided focus on the road.
As always, make sure that you are wearing a helmet! Studies show that riders who choose not to wear helmets are approximately 14 times more likely to suffer fatal head injuries than those who wear them. We hope you have found these tips useful and that you enjoy all that bicycling has to offer as safely as possible.
If you or someone you know have been hurt in a preventable bicycle accident, or if you have suffered the loss of a loved one, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a Detroit bicycle accident lawyer at Goodman Acker P.C. You may be eligible to file a personal injury claim seeking damages for things like pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, and more.
Request your free consultation by filling out an online form.