Bicycle Safety and Preventative Measures in Columbus

Compared to being a driver or passenger in a modern motor vehicle, riding a bicycle on public roads puts you at much greater risk of getting seriously hurt in a traffic accident. Unfortunately, a lot of that risk stems not from your own actions as a bicyclist but from someone else’s negligent driving that could lead to a collision with you.

However, bicycle riders can reduce their risk of being harmed from another’s misconduct by following these bicycle safety and preventative measures in Columbus. If you suffered injury by a reckless or careless driver despite taking precautions, a skilled bicycle injury lawyer such as David Bence could help you seek civil compensation for your losses.

Safety Measures To Take Before Riding

Many of the most impactful measures you can take to prevent accidents and keep yourself safe as a bicyclist in Columbus happen before you start riding. For example, checking your bicycle’s important components before every ride can seem like a chore, but identifying a punctured tire or loose chain before riding is better than discovering it when it causes a crash at high speed.

Likewise, state law does not require bicyclists over the age of 16 to wear safety helmets while riding, but choosing to do so anyway can significantly reduce your risk of sustaining life-threatening head trauma in a wreck. It may even save your life if a negligent driver strikes you during a ride. Wearing tight-fitting and brightly colored clothing can also be important to keeping your rides smooth and ensuring other people on the road can see you.

What Can Bicyclists Do To Prevent Traffic Collisions?

When you are on a bicycle ride around Columbus, safety measures to avoid collisions include staying in designated bike lanes or on bike paths when possible. If those areas are not available, you should keep as far to the right side of the road as you safely can unless you are turning. You should also obey all traffic lights and street signs, especially stop signs, the same way you would if you were driving a motor vehicle.

Another point worth mentioning is that using hand signals when turning can be very helpful for preventing bicycle accidents, as you likely do not have electronic turn signals on your bike. An extended left arm indicates a left turn, raising your left arm with your forearm bent up at a right angle indicates a right turn, and reversing that last position so your forearm is pointing down indicates you are about to stop.

Contact a Columbus Attorney if Bicycle Safety Measures Failed To Prevent an Accident

Adhering to common-sense bicycle safety and preventative measures in Columbus could be the difference between avoiding a serious accident and suffering life-altering harm. However, it can be difficult to protect yourself from the misconduct of others, as you may have discovered.

Our team at Bence Law Firm, LLC has extensive experience helping people like you who sustained injuries in a bike accident, and we fight tenaciously for the compensation you deserve. Call us today for an initial consultation.