Bicycle accidents increase as bicycle riding increases. Gas is $4.42/ gallon and prices keep climbing. They show no signs of stopping. Instead of driving to work, you might think about riding your bike. Saving money on gas, fresh air, and exercise are great benefits. But there are risks that come with riding a bicycle on the same roads as cars, trucks, and buses.
Lack of Bike Lanes
Many streets in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette do not have bike lanes. So, cars, trucks, and buses have to share lanes and intersections with bicycles. Bicycle riders must be aware of and respect motor vehicles, road conditions, and other dangers to make sure they make it home safe. When a bicycle and a car, truck, or bus have an accident – the rider is largely unprotected. That means the rider almost always gets hurt worse than the driver.
Bicycle Accidents with Vehicles Cause Serious Injuries
When a car, bus, or truck hits a bike, the personal injuries can range from small to deadly. In more serious accidents, personal injuries include broken bones, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. All of these can have a devastating impact on your life. Other personal injuries include: internal injuries, neck injuries, whiplash, back injuries, and concussions.
Preventing Serious Bicycle Accidents
The National Highway Safety Administration is a great resource for bicycle safety. Some of the tips are obvious. Wearing a helmet and pads can help in some accidents. But because of the speed and forces involved in many of these crashes, severe injury and death can still occur. When it does, the road to recovery can be long and hard.
What to Do if You’re in a Bicycle Accident
Our team put together a car crash checklist and many of the same tips apply to getting help after a bicycle accident. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident you should get medical attention as soon as possible to rule out any serious injuries. You should be honest with your doctors. Do not exaggerate. Give them a full medical history and tell them exactly how you got hurt. They need to gather as much information as they can to put together the best plan for you. Depending on the situation, you may want a legal team to help get other parts of your life back on track as well.
If you have been seriously injured by a commercial motor vehicle, meaning a company truck, bus, van, or car – bicycle accident and personal injury attorneys at Stag Liuzza are available to give you a free consultation.
