Author Bio – Michelle Eddy
Michelle Eddy is a staunch consumer advocate, fresh libertarian convert, and proud mother of three. Besides her legal career, she enjoys blogging about topics related to her expertise and life experiences, like parenting, child development, education, and law. In her writings, Michelle places emphasis on helping people to fight for their rights. She also works as a collaborative editor for Laborde Earles Law Firm. Her favorite quote is: “Sir, we are outnumbered 10 to 1″. “Then, it is a fair fight”.
The 5 Worst Cycling Habits
Sharing the road goes both ways, both out of courtesy and a concern for the safety of others – and one’s self. In 2018, 854 cyclists died on the roads, even though they only account for 2% of all crashes. Bicyclists that engage in risky activities on the road, or just plain bad habits, put themselves and others in danger. Find out what you can do to stay safer on the road the next time you’re out biking and what behaviors to avoid.
Not Wearing a Helmet
It may be tempting, but riding a bike without a helmet is extremely dangerous and highly correlated with death in an accident. In 2016, half of the cyclists who died in their accidents weren’t wearing a helmet. Even in cases of nonfatal accidents, one-third involve injuries to the head. In fact, over half of the 80,000 head injuries from cycling accidents, each year involve brain injuries, leading to potentially permanent damage.
Failing to Obey Traffic Laws
Cyclists that engage in risky maneuvers aren’t just saving time on their commute – they put themselves and others at risk. Dangerous behaviors cyclists may engage in on the road include the following:
- Not properly signaling a lane change
- Making sharp turns without having already moved over to the right (or left) as required
- Not wearing a helmet (for those under age 12)
While special precautions are taken to protect cyclists on the road (such as the Dooring law, which requires that drivers on a motorway look behind them for riders before opening their door), cyclists are still treated as vehicles on the road. This imbues them with rights as well as duties to keep the road safe.
Riding at Night Without Reflectors
Riding your bike at night can be a joy, but it’s important to do so safely. This means riding with reflective surfaces on your bicycle and clothing to increase your visibility to others. Cyclists with low visibility are at risk of being hit by passing vehicles, potentially at high speeds, as the driver of the vehicle might not see them until the last moment (if at all).
Skipping Rest Days
Cyclists might scoff at taking days off, but they’re vital to rebuild muscle and to rest the body and mind. Even the most experienced cyclist is vulnerable on the road if they’re driving while exhausted.
Riding Too Fast
Going fast on your bike can be exciting, but it can also be dangerous. If you’re riding with too much speed, you could be slow to react to obstacles on the road, or other drivers. You might see a collision coming but have little way of stopping it if you’re flying down the roadway.
What Do You Do If You’ve Been in a Cycling Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a cycling accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Cyclists face numerous dangers on the road, and even when they do abide by safety regulations, drivers can move recklessly and clip cyclists or run right into them. Drivers that are guilty of negligence for bicycle accidents can bear responsibility and may be required to pay substantial amounts of compensation to their victims. This is especially important if you’re facing high medical bills as a result of your accident and are out of work or have lost wages.
A biking accident can put you in serious danger and can leave you with high medical bills, lost wages, and permanent damage to your life. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you navigate this process to obtain the maximum amount of compensation to which you’re entitled. While your life may never be the same after your accident, your lawyer can help you put the pieces back together as best possible.
