Since Florida Ranks High For Bicycle Fatalities, What Can Be Done To Minimize Fatal Bicycle Accidents?
Because of the many health benefits and benefits to our economy, it is very important that we encourage people to ride bikes. But because riding bicycles is a vulnerable activity due to the cars and drivers cyclists share the road with, it is important that communities do the following things to reduce fatal bicycle accidents:
- Educate drivers and cyclists how to share the road safely.
- Encourage policy makers to create better and safer infrastructures for bicyclists, such as more bike lanes or barriers between cars and cyclists.
- Petition for traffic patterns to be changed if there are more cyclists on a certain roadway.
- Adopt a bicycle helmet law to protect against serious head injuries in the event of a crash.
- Place extra lights on roads cyclists frequently travel to make them more visible to motorists.
While there are a number of things communities can do to help reduce fatal bicycle accidents in Florida and nationwide, it is important that cyclists also do their part. Although there is no bicycle helmet law in Florida for adults, all cyclists should consider wearing a helmet to protect their heads. Doing so would greatly reduce a cyclist’s risk for a bicycle fatality due to a head injury.
In addition, cyclists should make sure they have the proper lights and reflectors on their bicycles and wear reflective clothing when riding in the dark. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, about a quarter of bicycle crashes take place in darkness. When cyclists take steps to make sure motorists see them, and they protect themselves as best as possible, they reduce their chances of being in a serious bicycle accident.
Unfortunately, drivers might be negligent, even if you did everything you could to reduce your chance of being in a cycling accident. If you were harmed or your loved one was killed on a bicycle.
If your loved one was killed in a bicycling accident, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact our offices for a free consultation.
