Biking precautions could help avoid accidents
Facing serious hazards on the roadways can affect any traveler. However, bicyclists who travel on or near roads may face greater risks due to the lack of protection their mode of transportation provides. If a vehicle strikes you while biking, you could suffer serious, if not fatal, injuries that could greatly impact your life and the lives of your family.
In order to increase your safety on the road, you could take certain steps in hopes of preparing for the potential dangers you could face. Some actions, such as wearing a helmet, may seem obvious, but by considering the following suggestions, you may discover a safety measure you had not previously considered.
Prepare beforehand
Before heading out on your bike journey, you can help protect yourself by considering aspects of your bicycle, such as:
- Size – If you do not use the right size bicycle, you could place yourself in unnecessary danger. A bike that is too large can prove more difficult for you to control, and as a result, you may have a harder time avoiding hazards.
- Defects – You should also examine your bicycle to ensure its proper working order. If it has flat or warped tires, unreliable chains or brake issues, it may become more dangerous to ride.
- Reflectors – In order to increase your visibility, especially when riding at night, you may want to make sure that your bicycle has reflectors. These small additions could help drivers see you and give you enough room on the road.
Even experienced bicyclists could fall victim to overlooking an issue with their bikes, and therefore, creating a maintenance routine may prove beneficial.
Defensive driving
Though you may believe that only individuals behind the wheel of motor vehicles should drive defensively, you could also benefit from utilizing defensive techniques. Some actions that could help you stay focused and safer include:
- Travel in the same direction as motor traffic
- Know and follow traffic laws
- Obey traffic signals as vehicles would
- Scan for potential hazards and ways to avoid them
- Assume that other travelers do not see you
- Stay focused and avoid distractions like texting
Accidents happen
Unfortunately, even though you may take the time to work toward ensuring your safety and the safety of others, you cannot always predict what other travelers will do. As a result, you could find yourself involved in an injury-causing accident regardless of your actions. In such cases, you may wish to determine whether pursuing compensation for damages permitted under Nebraska law could work in your best interests.
