Given that bicyclists don’t have the protections afforded to those in passenger vehicles, they can be severely injured or even killed when hit by a vehicle. And it doesn’t take much contact to cause devastating harm, either. What may seem like a minor bump can send a bicyclist careening off the road or topping into traffic where they’re at risk of being run over.
These accidents can leave victims with extensive harm, too. Physical disability, extensive pain and suffering, psychological trauma, lost enjoyment of life and financial losses can all leave these individuals struggling to figure out how to get by. Although a personal injury lawsuit might help a bicycle accident victim recover compensation for some of these losses, the hope is that you never get to the point of needing to figure out next steps after a wreck. That’s why in the remainder of this post we want to look at what you can do to hopefully avoid one of these crashes.
There are several ways you can keep yourself safe from a bicycle accident. This includes doing each of the following:
- Checking your bike: Before hitting the road, you’ll want to make sure your bike is in safe operating condition. Otherwise, you may be putting yourself at unnecessary risk.
- Wearing a helmet: If you’re struck while riding a bike, you want to be wearing proper safety equipment so that you mitigate your risk of injury. This starts with wearing a helmet.
- Wearing reflective clothing: If you’re going to be riding at nighttime, you want to increase your visibility. You can do this by wearing clothing that reflects headlights.
- Obeying traffic laws: When you’re out on the road, you need to adhere to the same rules as motorists. So, be sure to signal your intent to turn, stop at stop signs and stop lights, maintain your lane and avoid cutting off vehicles.
- Remaining alert: Driving conditions and circumstances can change in a matter of moments. If you don’t stay aware of your surroundings, then you could be taken by surprise, which might reduce the effectiveness with which you react. So, always be aware of your surroundings and anticipate the other driver’s will act in erratic ways.
- Keeping a safe following distance: A lot of bicycle accidents occur when bicyclists slam into the back of the vehicle in front of them. You can avoid this by giving yourself plenty of distance to slowly stop if you need to.
- Making yourself visible: Bicyclists are often struck because other drivers don’t see them and aren’t aware of them. You need to make yourself visible to reduce your risk of accident. This includes riding where drivers can see you in their mirrors and positioning yourself in a lane so that you’re safe but can’t be missed.
- Being mindful of doors: A bicyclist can be seriously injured when a car door is opened in front of them, and they slam into it. If you’re riding near cars parked on the street, then be mindful that a door could be thrown open at any time. Try to give yourself just enough space to avoid these opening doors.
What should you do after a bicycle accident?
If, despite implementing these tips, you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident, you should consider taking legal action to find accountability and hopefully recover compensation for the harm caused to you. To increase your chances of winning one of these cases, you need to gather strong evidence of the other driver’s negligence and the extent of your damages. If that’s something that you need help with, then be ready to seek out any guidance you may need.