Bicycle Safety Tips | Denver Personal Injury Attorney | D.J. Banovitz

Many people think that bike safety consists of simply wearing a helmet; however, there are many steps that bicyclists can take to protect themselves in high traffic areas and avoid bike accidents. By remaining vigilant and practicing bike safety, you can decrease your chances of being involved in a bike accident.

Unfortunately, bike accidents can still happen even when bicyclists are careful. If you have recently been involved in a collision that was caused by a motorist, a Denver personal injury lawyer can help you file a bike accident claim in order to recover damages for your:

Injuries;
property damage;
lost wages; and
more.

Wear a Reflective Vest

While reflective vests may not look fashionable, wearing one during both the day and night in high-traffic areas will ensure that drivers can clearly see you and help you avoid getting rear ended. For increased visibility, always position yourself vertically when you hear a car approaching so the motorist can see your reflective gear.

Use Lights

Bicycling at night in traffic can be extremely dangerous without using lights on your bike. Without lights, motorists cannot see you and could potentially turn into your bike or sideswipe you. For maximum bike safety, always use a headlight and rear light so motorists are aware of your presence.

Use a Mirror

Mirrors are relatively inexpensive and can help you keep an eye on vehicles that are approaching you from behind. If it looks like a motorist doesn’t notice you, you can quickly jump off of your bike and move onto the sidewalk to avoid a bike accident.

Signal Your Turns

Clearly communicating your intentions to motorists can help you avoid bike accidents by eliminating surprises. To signal that you are going to make a right turn, point your right arm out; you should point out your left arm to indicate a left turn. Be careful when signaling your turns to avoid sticking your hand in front of a vehicle that is moving closely behind you.

Do Not Hug the Right Side of the Street

When bicyclists ride on the right side of the street in high-traffic areas, they run the risk of crashing into a door when a driver exits a parked vehicle. Bike accidents caused by colliding into an open door can result in serious injuries and even death.

To avoid cycling into a car door, always ride to the left of the lane. While cycling like this may feel uncomfortable, you are more likely to get hit by an open door if you ride too close to the right than you are to get hit from behind by a motorist who can see you.

Never Stop in a Motorist’s Blind Spot

Many bike accidents are caused when a bicyclist pulls up next to a vehicle at a red light; when the light turns green, the vehicle may turn directly into the bicyclist. To avoid bike accidents at a red light, bicyclists should always stop behind a vehicle rather than to the right of it. Take great care to never stop in a motorist’s blind spot.

Don’t Ride on Sidewalks

There are several reasons why bicyclists should avoid riding on sidewalks. Besides the increased chance of colliding with a pedestrian, bike accidents can also occur when you get off of the sidewalk to cross the road and motorists don’t see you.

Avoid Busy Roads

Many new bicyclists make the mistake of travelling the same roads they take when driving. However, by travelling down roads with fewer vehicles, you can avoid bike accidents. Look for neighborhood streets with slower traffic and try to cross busy streets instead of cycling on them.

Contacting a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer

Bike accidents are not always avoidable, even when you use proper bike safety guidelines. If you were injured by a negligent motorist, a Denver personal injury lawyer can help you file a bike accident claim to recover compensation. The Law Office of D.J. Banovitz prides itself on giving honest, straightforward answers to your questions and concerns after you’ve been seriously injured in a bike accident, car wreck, slip and fall, or other type of personal injury accident. When another’s negligence causes you harm you deserve to know the truth about your rights and options in a personal injury claim.

To learn more about how bike accident attorneys matter in preserving your personal injury claim, request a FREE copy of our book, 7 Costly Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Colorado Injury Case. When you’re ready, contact us for a FREE consultation – 303-300-5060.