Cars and Bikes – Safety First
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. Accidents involving cars and bikes are all too common. Special nuggets of safety advice are given to most children when they are being taught how to ride a bicycle. These tips ring just as true for adults. Some of the factors that can lead to a serious auto accident involving a bicycle include:
- Lack of Daylight: One of the common themes involving bicycle accidents is the lack of daylight. When people ride their bikes at night, sometimes a driver doesn’t see the bicycle until it is too late. Without daylight, it can be a challenge to see the small silhouette of a bicycle. Therefore, anyone biking at night should wear some reflective gear.
- The Speed of the Vehicle: Speeding often plays a role in auto vs. bike accidents. If a driver is speeding, he or she will come up on a bike much more quickly than they would otherwise. This means that the time to swerve or stop (for both the car and the bike) is significantly reduced. When this happens, the chance of being involved in a severe bike accident increases.
- Wrong Side of the Road: Sometimes, bikers are riding on the wrong side of the road. While pedestrians should be walking on the side of the road against traffic, it is important and lawful for bikers to ride on the side of the road with the flow of traffic. Riding against traffic increases the speed with which the car and the bike meet, leading to a reduced amount of time for drivers to avoid each other. This contributes to severe accidents.
Due to the lack of a metal frame around a bike rider, there is always the potential to suffer serious injuries.
Injuries Can Be Serious
When someone is involved in an accident while riding a bike, there are many different injuries that they could sustain. Some of the catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: It is vital for anyone who is riding a bike to wear a helmet at all times. Without this helmet, someone can sustain significant injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. If someone is ejected from the seat of their bike as a result of an accident, they could strike their head on the pavement or on the hood of the car. This can lead to severe damage to the brain tissue and blood vessels underneath.
- Spinal Cord Damage: Someone involved in a bicycle accident could also sustain tremendous damage to their spinal cord. If their head strikes the pavement, the force of this impact can be transmitted down their neck and into their spinal cord. This can damage the nerves that are vital to supplying motor and sensory function throughout the body. This could be a life-changing injury for the bicycle rider.
Watch YouTube Video: Cycling Safety Tips: Dealing with Car Doors. This short video provides some safety tips on how to cycle safely on the road and avoid accidents with motor vehicles.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer & Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. While bicycles serve an essential role in society both for transportation and for pleasure, a collision with a car can lead to serious injuries. If you or someone you loved has been injured while riding a bicycle, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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