Cycling Injuries and How to Avoid Them

 Posted on February 20, 2018 in Bicycle Accidents

Cycling is rapidly growing into a legitimate means of transportation in the United States. In metropolitan areas throughout the country, more and more commuters are electing to ride their bikes to work. Cities such as Portland, Oregon have even reprogrammed their traffic light infrastructures to encourage citizens to ride their bikes.

The benefits of biking as a means of commuting are easy to see: you save money that would be spent either on gas or public transportation, you get a workout before and after work, and you contribute to an environmentally sustainable future. However, cycling to work does come with risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2015 biking only accounted for 1 percent of travel throughout the United States, yet cyclists face a steeper risk of injury and even death than motorcyclists. If you or a member of your family are injured while riding your bicycle, contact our experienced team of personal injury attorneys to discuss your options.

Injuries on Bicycles

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 1,000 cyclists suffered fatal injuries throughout the United States in 2015. Additionally, well over 450,000 cyclists suffered injuries due to an accident while riding their bikes over that same span.

Suffering an injury while riding a bike can be incredibly painful, as average riders can travel at speeds upwards of 20 mph. Often, injuries come with a bigger toll than just physical pain. Throughout the year 2010, bicycle crash-related injuries cost American cyclists roughly 10 billion dollars in loss of work hours and medical costs.

How to Prevent Injury

When understanding the physical, emotional, and financial toll that accompany a cycling injury, it is wise to practice extreme caution when riding your bike. Listed below are a few simple tips that could help you avoid injury on your next bike ride.

• Wear Your Helmet: This may seem simple, but wearing your helmet can be the difference between life or death for cyclists. When traveling at speeds as high as 20 mph, a severe blow to the head could cause extreme head trauma and even death, if unprotected.
• Use Lights at Night: It is usually best to ride your bike in times of optimal visibility. However, for commuters who cycle to and from work, riding in the dark can become routine. Equipping your bike with head and tail lights as well as a reflector can help immensely with insuring a rider’s safety. Not only do headlights help you see your surroundings, but they can help on-coming traffic see you. Equally important, tail lights and reflectors give cars behind you a greater chance of seeing you, and thus limit the chance of a collision.
• Stay at Your Level: As mentioned before, average riders can reach speeds as high as 20 mph. That said, it is important for every rider to find his or her optimal speed. We all have places to go, but slowing down and riding at a speed that is comfortable for you can save you from a costly and painful collision.

Contact a Compassionate Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Cycling is becoming a huge part of the future for commuters nationwide. If you elect to ride your bike, it is important to recognize the risk. If you or a loved one are injured in a cycle-related accident due to another’s negligence, please do not hesitate to contact an experienced Waukegan personal injury attorney today.

Sources:

https://www.livestrong.com/article/413599-the-average-bike-riding-speed/

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/bicycle/index.html