As more of us take to the outdoors, unfortunately but statistically, the number of bicycle accidents associated with being out there will increase. And they don’t just involve children.
According to the most recent Alabama Traffic Crash Facts, a publication of the Alabama Department of Transportation, there were 277 bicycle accidents reported, with 209 involving injuries and 9 fatalities. These accidents involved people of all ages, with the largest number involved being between 51 and 60, followed closely by those aged 41-50 and 16-20. All of the fatalities involved those over 21. Of those reported, 14% occurred on rural routes and 86% on urban streets. Interestingly, almost half of all bicycle crashes were caused by the cyclist.
Nationally, in 2017, there were 783 fatalities in bicycle accidents which involved motor vehicles. The average age of those killed in was surprisingly 47, a number which has steadily increased over the last 10-15 years.
All of these could have been prevented. What can you do to avoid a bicycle accident?
Wear a helmet. According to LovetoKnow.com, this simple piece of safety gear can help to reduce the likelihood of suffering a head injury by 85 percent. Bicycle helmets can also lower the risk of brain injuries by 88 percent.
Obey traffic rules. You can view a full list of Alabama bicycle laws at: https://bikeleague.org/StateBikeLaws.
Be visible. According to recent research by a Clemson University professor: “…[a] fluorescent jersey [doesn’t] make the cyclist significantly more recognizable as a cyclist than a black jersey. [However] when the cyclist [wears] fluorescent leg coverings, observers recognized he was a cyclist more than three times farther away on average than when he work black leggings and a fluorescent jersey.”
Ride defensively. Be focused and alert to the road and all traffic around you; anticipate what others may do, before they do it. [Source: NHTSA]
Make sure your bike fits you and your brakes work. For tips on how to make sure your bicycle fits you, visit https://www.bicycling.com/skills-tips/a20036352/bike-fit-0/.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact an experienced Huntsville bicycle accident attorney at Watson McKinney today at 256-536-7423.