Bicycles are a healthy and environmentally friendly way of traveling. However, there are a lot of problems that come with riding a cycle. Riding a bicycle can be detrimental, if not done carefully. However, even if you are careful, there are several occasions that you can suffer from an accident due to someone else’s negligence.
THE RISKS OF A BICYCLE ACCIDENT
LACK OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT
There are various problems related to riding a bike. People usually forget how dangerous a bicycle accident can be if it is with a speeding vehicle. Additionally, most bicycle riders do not use safety equipment, such as helmets and knee pads, which makes the journey even more dangerous. Researches show that most bicyclers can save themselves from a ton of issues if they wear the safety equipment properly.
T JUNCTIONS
Secondly, there are many dangers out on the road for cyclists, especially when they are traveling on main roads, such as highways. The most common reason why most cyclists get into an accident is because of T-junctions. There are speeding vehicles coming in near a T-junction, which can become a cause for an accident.
IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVING
Some bicycle riders, who act irresponsibly, do not know how to handle themselves or their vehicles out on the road. They fail to comply with the road rules and do not give passage to incoming cars and that often leads to accidents.
OVERTAKING
Bicyclers need to keep in mind that it is essential to learn how to avoid overtaking vehicles. Most bicyclers try to overtake speeding vehicles without actually giving a thought to the amount of risk they are getting themselves into. Overtaking vehicles, without proper calculations, can result in severe bicycle accidents.
WEARING SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Although the bicyclers claim to wear reflectors, a headlight, and all the necessary nighttime equipment, they still get into trouble most of the time. Bumpy roads and open potholes are some of the leading reasons behind all of this. The level of visibility is quite low for the bicyclers at night and this often leads to accidents.
CONSEQUENCES OF BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
Since we have already talked about the risks of bicycle accidents, let’s get into the consequences of it. The obvious consequence of riding without safety measures or bicycle riding itself can be injuries (temporary or permanent ones). Let us do a quick review of the major injuries that a bicycle accident can result in.
BROKEN BONES
This may come off as a surprise, but most bicycle accidents result in broken bones. It is from the fact that the bicycle riders tend to ride at a comparatively slower speed. However, other vehicles, such as cars, bikes, and others tend to ride faster, thus causing the cyclist more harm.
INABILITY TO WORK
As a result of injuries, some of the bicycle riders end up unable to work. These cyclists have to suffer months of treatment and are hospital-bound during these times and that makes them unable to work for long durations. This is why personal injury claims can be extremely helpful for cyclists.
HEAD INJURIES
The most common thing that most cyclists go through are permanent or temporary head injuries, these injuries result from the impact of the road and can affect the all-over brain function of the individual permanently. With all that said, it is important to follow the right safety measures to avoid any unwanted incidents. It will also help you avoid the need for bike accident claims or bike accident injury claims.
If you, or someone you know, has suffered from a bicycle injury, reach out to Hamilton Douglas Legal. Our teams can assist you with the submission of bike accident injury claims.
