In a study done by the CDC in 2015, around 467,000 people are injured and approximately 1,000 people are killed in biking accidents each year. In 2018 there were over 18,510 accidents in the city of New York alone. According to experts, accident prevention and awareness is the most responsible thing a biker can do to prevent potential injuries. There are several ways that you, as a biker, can prevent injuries or diminish some of the severity you could potentially experience.
- The most important thing you can do is wear a bike helmet. Wearing a properly fitted bike helmet is the number one way to prevent a traumatic brain injury in the case of an accident. A helmet will not prevent all injuries, but it can help alleviate some life-threatening injuries that could potentially result.
- Ride in the same direction of the traffic flow and obey all of the traffic signals, signs, and lane markings.
- Make sure to wear bright colors, reflective clothing, or have reflectors on your bike. This is important to do even during the daytime because it makes you much more noticeable to drivers.
- Ride a bike that properly fits you and that works. If the bike is too big, it is much harder to control. If the brakes do not work, it will not matter how well you can ride the bike if you are unable to stop.
- Make sure not to ride your bike after consuming alcohol. When under the influence, your judgment is impaired and makes it much harder to maintain your balance. In 2019, 1 in 4 fatal accidents involved the rider drinking alcohol.
Accidents aren’t always preventable, so if you find yourself in a bike accident, there are a few things you should do, not only for your safety but also to ensure you can bring a case.
- If you or someone else is suffering from an injury, immediately call the police and tell them you need medical assistance.
- If you are able, take pictures of the crash scene. Make sure to keep these images to yourself and provide them to your attorney once you obtain one.
- Get all of the information from others involved, including the driver of the vehicle and any eyewitnesses.
- Contact your attorney
By contacting your attorney, even before an insurance company, you can ensure that you will be protected from private investigators and insurance adjusters that can hurt your case. Contacting an attorney at Pianko Law will allow you to focus on you or your loved one's recovery while we work on collecting the full settlement that you deserve.
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