Far too often, when car-bicycle accidents happen in Arkadelphia, Texarkana, Little Rock or elsewhere around Arkansas, someone made a costly assumption before the incident even unfolded.
One common assumption among some bicyclists is that car drivers will always use common courtesy simply because their vehicle represents many more tons of steal the cyclist’s bike.
That assumption can be deadly.
If anything, a bicyclist’s vulnerability on the road should serve as even more reason to ride responsibly.
So here are three things that bicyclists can do to stay safe and promote safety on Arkansas roads.
Use Your Noggin: Wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce a cyclist’s risk of injury by as much as 88 percent, according to research compiled by the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute from government studies. Statistically, it makes little difference whether a bicycle accident happens with a motor vehicle or another object or cyclist: Helmets overwhelmingly reduce injuries to the head or face.
Fashion Police Alert: Bicyclists can makes themselves more obvious to car drivers by dressing in brightly-colored clothing when they ride, especially at dawn or in the evening, which is when fatal bicycle-car accidents are statistically most likely to happen. Bicyclists who ride at night are more likely to be safe on the roads when their bikes are affixed with lighting and they wear reflective vests and helmets.
Same Road Rules Apply: In the eyes of the law, a bicyclist on the road is still considered a vehicle operator, and is therefore bound by the same rules of the road. That means bicyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic flow, and obey the same traffic rules. Accidents with cars happen – and can be deadly – when either drivers or bicyclists take liberties with traffic laws. Proof of such aggressive riding or driving also can make personal injury cases much more difficult.
In the Little Rock, Arkansas area, if you or a family member is involved in a car accident, motorcycle accident, or bicycle accident, please contact the Levar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers online today or call (888) 220-7068 for a free case consultation.
