Riding a bike is great for many reasons. You can get your exercise on, hike through the wilderness, and even go site seeing.
However, bicycle accidents do happen, and can result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. Liability for bike accident injuries comes down to negligence, whether the driver caused the cyclist’s injuries, or negligence by the cyclist caused or contributed to the accident.
Negligence by a driver can take many forms. For example, speeding, running a stop sign, and drifting into a bike lane all constitute driver negligence. Driving under the influence is also a major cause for many bike accidents. In addition, Drivers who are on the road at night should be aware of their surroundings for bicyclists.
For cyclists, there are safety guidelines to follow when out and about. At night, when visibility is at risk, it is especially important to follow these tips in order to avoid injury by a car:
- Bicycle helmets: Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head and brain injuries in the event of a crash. All bicyclists, regardless of age, can help protect themselves by wearing properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride.
- Bicycle helmet laws for children: These laws are effective for increasing helmet use and reducing crash-related injuries and deaths among children.
- Active lighting and rider visibility:
- Fluorescent clothing can make bicyclists visible from further away than regular clothing during the daytime.
- Retro-reflective clothing can make bicyclists more visible at night.
- Active lighting can include front white lights, rear red lights, or other lighting on the bicycle or bicyclist. This lighting may improve the visibility of bicyclists.
- Use hand signals: There are hand signals to use for both bikers and car drivers in order to constitute clear communication while on the road. These include passing signals, turning signals, “stop” signals, etc. These are helpful and used to prevent accidents.
Remember, when you’re out on a daytime or evening bike ride, be sure to follow these guidelines for your personal safety. After all, Bike riding should be an enjoyable experience.
