Wearing a helmet is certainly a good idea for any cyclist. It significantly decreases the odds of a traumatic brain injury or a fatal accident.
But what wearing a helmet doesn’t do is help you avoid vehicles that are going to cause those accidents. Many crashes are caused by negligent drivers. Below are a few things that cyclists can do to attempt to avoid these collisions.
1. Utilize lights
A headlight on a bike is important any time of the day, but especially at dawn, dusk or during the night. Those who ride their bikes as a means of commuting to and from work need to be especially wary of light conditions.
2. Don’t get distracted
Phones can be distractions for cyclists just like anyone else. Riders should always keep their eyes on the road, and they should also avoid distractions like listening to music on a pair of headphones.
3. Watch for doors
One of the more common cycling accidents is when someone opens a door into the street. The cyclist then hits this door because it actually opens into the cycling lane or the right-most portion of the traffic lane. Cyclists need to watch for doors and try to keep enough distance to avoid a collision.
4. Ride with traffic
When possible, cyclists should focus on riding in the traffic lane, in the same direction traffic is proceeding. They should not ride against traffic, on the wrong side of the road or on the sidewalk.
After an injury
Of course, many cyclists do everything they can to avoid accidents and are still injured because of the negligence of the drivers around them. When this happens, they need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.