Bicycle accidents are of great concern because they seem to often end in serious injury or death.
There are many precautions you can take to decrease your chances of being involved in an accident with a vehicle.
Bicyclesafe.com lists common ways bicyclists get hit and how to avoid those situations.
The first is, “The Right Cross.” This is when a car is pulling out of a driveway, parking lot or side street on the right. A cyclist could be hit if they are in front of the car or they could crash into the car if it pulls out in front of them.
The site recommends four ways to avoid this type of accident. They are:
1. Use a headlight. Even during the daytime “a bright white light that has a flashing mode can make you more visible to motorists who might otherwise Right Cross you.”
2. Honk. “Use it whenever you see a car approaching (or waiting) ahead of you and to the right.”
3. Slow down. “If you can’t make eye contact with the driver (especially at night), slow down so much that you’re able to completely stop if you have to.”
4. Ride further left. Most bikers are in the habit of riding close to the curb to avoid being hit from behind. But when a driver to your right is looking before turning, they are looking in the middle of the street, so the farther left you are, “the more likely the driver will see you.”
The second collision type is, “The Door Prize.” This happens when a driver opens their car door in front of you and you run right into it. They recommend riding far left to avoid this type of incident also.
The third collision category is “The Wrong-Way Wreck.” This is when a biker is riding the wrong way, against traffic. The accident occurs when a car turns and hits you front on because you were riding against traffic. There is an easy way to avoid this, don’t ride against traffic. Bicyclinglife.com stated that, “riding the wrong way was three times as dangerous as riding the right way, and for kids, the risk is seven times greater.”
These are not the only ways that cyclists can be injured on the road, but they are common ones in which measures can be taken to decrease the likelihood of occurrence. If you or a loved one has been injured in a cycling accident, the bicycle accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm can help. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to find out what options are available to you.