Struggling avoiding bicycle accidents in Utah?
As the weather here in Utah is gradually warming up to summer temperatures, more people are taking to the streets on their bicycles, whether it is for cost-efficient commuting or recreation. However, more bicycles on the road typically lead to a spike in bicycle accidents. Here is what to do to avoid a bicycle accident in Utah.
If you yourself, a loved one or a friend has endured a traffic accident you could be entitled to claim, if you’re thinking you might want to pursue this you could check out many law advisers, if you’re not sure where to start contact Jeff Metler and his team as a starting point.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 51,000 bicyclists in the U.S. were injured in traffic in 2009. With the number of distracted drivers on the road constantly increasing, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that number increase significantly by the end of this year. Going across state lines, our neighbors to the west, in Las Vegas, also suffer the same sorts of accidents and injuries as a result of careless driving; they too often search for appropriate legal advice in the aftermath of the incident.
Accidents involving vehicles and bicycles often have fatal consequences. There is also a high chance that the person on the bicycle will end up with life-changing injuries that could cause disabilities, due to their lack of protection. With this and the increasing number of traffic injuries in mind, it might be a good idea to consider disability insurance. You can find what the disability insurance cost is.
While some cities around Utah are more proactive in creating bike lanes for cyclists on the road, there are still many areas where they don’t exist. Here are a few tips for cyclists and motorist to avoid these types of accidents.
For the motorist:
- Remember to share the road. If you live in a Utah city that hasn’t implemented bike lines, be sure to give the cyclists enough room on the side of the road.
- Don’t tailgate cyclists if you aren’t able to pass them on the road. If they happen to stop abruptly, the cause of the accident will be your fault for following too closely.
- Be especially careful at intersections. These are some of the most common places for auto/cyclist accidents. Bicyclist may not be as visible in turning lanes.
For the bicyclist:
- Always wear a helmet. Even if you are only taking a leisurely ride on your bicycle, a helmet should never be a question. Even tipping over on a bicycle can cause serious head injuries in the absence of a helmet-coming into contact with a moving vehicle could produce even more server injuries.
- Go with the flow of traffic. Bicyclist should consider themselves drivers of their own vehicles. Use the same traffic rules as you would if you were driving a car-especially in intersections.
- Use hand signals whenever possible. When riding your bicycle on roads in Utah in the absence of bike lines, it’s imperative that drivers know what your intentions are when coming to an intersection.
If you have been involved in an auto or bike accident, contact Jeff Metler, a trusted Utah bicycle accident attorney. You may have a case against a negligent motorist and could be entitled to receive compensation for medical bills you incurred as a result of injuries from the accident.