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How to avoid bicycle-car accidents

Perhaps you have recently noticed an increasing number of bicycles on our local roads. There are a number of economic and health/fitness-related reasons for this trend however, many Pennsylvania drivers are not used to sharing the road. Thus, there has been a significant rise in the number of Pennsylvania bicycle-car accidents.

According to PennDOT records, bicycle fatalities in Pennsylvania increased in 2009, with a total number of bicycle fatalities totaling 16, which is twice the number of fatalities as the year before. Four of those 16 bicycle fatalities were children under the age of 18, while over 550 bicyclers under the age of 18 were injured in bicycle accidents in 2009.

The source of many of bicycle accidents is motorist error. Often times, motorists are not in the habit of checking side-view mirrors for cyclists (or pedestrians) and may make contact with them in the course of a right turn or an attempt to pass a left-turning vehicle. If a bicyclist is hit by a motorist and knocked from his/her bike serious personal injuries, including head trauma, skin burns, cuts and bruises, and broken bones could result.

Bicyclists, too, are sometimes at fault when a bicycle-car accident occurs. The best preparation a cyclist can have is proper training in the rules of safe cycling, especially when traveling on some of Pennsylvania's picturesque, yet windy, narrow country roads. Common mistakes include riding against traffic rather than with traffic and not using proper signaling techniques. Always ride as far to the right on the road as possible, with the flow of traffic.

In addition, bicyclists, like motorists, are required to observe all traffic signs and signals and to signal when intending to make a turn. To further ensure safety, use the pedestrian rule before crossing a street - look left, right, then left again before proceeding through an intersection.

Cyclists can guard themselves somewhat from harm by wearing protective gear, such as a helmet, knee/shin guards, arm guards, and also by wearing bright-colored clothing, and equipping the bike with reflectors. Besides outfitting yourself for safety, also prepare your bike for a safe riding experience. For example, adjust your bicycle to fit your height, make sure the tires are properly inflated, and thoroughly test the brakes to make sure they work. If you are riding your bike near or after dusk, be sure to have the proper front and rear lighting which is required by law.

Distracted driving is not a term that applies only to those driving cars. Cyclists should remain distraction-free and refrain from cell phone use, as well as headphone use when riding. It is important to set this example for younger riders in your family too, as bicycle safety requires clear vision, hearing, and the ability to focus on the road. As for younger riders, please remember that Pennsylvania law requires bicycle riders under the age of 12 to wear helmets.

As a cyclist, be proactive and learn to anticipate the behavior of motorists, as sharing the road is not always their first priority. If you are injured in a Pennsylvania or New Jersey bicycle accident due to driver negligence or recklessness, contact the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Saile & Saile LLP for a free consultation. Bicycle accident injuries can be severe and very expensive to treat. We fight for the compensation you deserve.