The summer months are upon us, which means that more cyclists will be out and about on Atlanta streets and roadways. Biking is a cost-effective, health-conscious, and environmentally-friendly way to commute to school, work, and other events, but riding alongside motor vehicles can also be dangerous for cyclists. Motorists don’t always show courtesy to the cyclists they are sharing the road with, and sometimes fail to notice them altogether.
Below, we will review some common causes of bike accidents in Atlanta, and discuss ways that cyclists can protect themselves from injury on the road this summer.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Atlanta
Bike accidents can occur a variety of ways, including bike-on-bike accidents (where two bikers collide), bike-on-pedestrian accidents (where a biker collides with a pedestrian), and bike-on-car accidents (where a car collides with a bicycle).
- Bike-on-bike accidents often occur when two bikers travel at a high rate of speed in congested areas or around corners. Failure to abide by traffic laws can also lead to bike-on-bike accidents.
- Bike-on-pedestrian accidents in Atlanta can occur when bicyclists fail to notice crossing pedestrians, or when they have to share sidewalks with pedestrians in areas without a bike lane. Bikers should always verbally warn pedestrians of their presence to ensure pedestrians have adequate time to step aside. While bike-on-pedestrian collisions might not sound as serious as a motor vehicle hitting a pedestrian, bike-on-pedestrian accidents can still cause severe injuries.
- Still, the most severe type of bicycle accident is a bicycle-on-car accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic accidents caused the deaths of 983 bicyclists in 2019. Some common factors that contribute to bike-on-car accidents include distracted driving, fatigued driving, drunk driving, tailgating a bicycle (following too closely), driving in a bike lane, aggressive driving, speeding, and disregarding traffic laws.
While cyclists have a responsibility to remain vigilant and to signal to motorists when they plan to make a turn or perform another maneuver, motorists have an obligation to prevent collisions by looking out for cyclists and operating their vehicles safely when driving around bikes.
Cycling Safety Tips
Because cyclists have little protection from injury during a collision, apart from their helmets and clothes, they are much more vulnerable to injury and death than occupants of passenger vehicles, who can typically depend on safety features like airbags, anti-lock brakes, seat belts, and the physical frame of their vehicle to provide at least some protection in the event of a crash.
As a result, bicycle accidents commonly result in devastating injuries, especially when cyclists are hit by vehicles traveling at high speeds. It may not be fair, but the onus is on cyclists to protect themselves from collisions. If you are biking in Atlanta this summer, consider following these bicycle safety tips:
- Wear a helmet – You should never ride a bike without wearing a helmet. While anyone over the age of 16 is not required to wear a bike helmet under Georgia law, wearing a helmet can protect you from devastating traumatic brain injuries if you fall off your bike during a collision. Make sure your helmet properly fits your head and has a strap that clasps tightly under your chin.
- Make sure that your bike is properly fitted to suit your body size – You may need to adjust your bike’s seat to ensure that it suits your body size. If you are using a mountain bike, ensure that there are 3 to 4 inches of space between yourself and the bike’s top bar. If you’re using a road bike, leave 1 to 2 inches of space. Your bike’s seat should be level with the handlebars.
- Be visible – Visibility is key to your safety, especially at night. Never presume that motorists can see you, even in broad daylight. Motorists often get distracted by texting and other activities while driving. Even when they’re concentrated on the road, their focus is often exclusively on other motor vehicles, and as a result they may fail to notice cyclists riding near them or in their blind spots. One way you can make yourself visible is to wear bright colors at all times while riding your bike.
- Regularly inspect and test your equipment – Inspect your bicycle equipment before you head out each day to ensure that it is in good working condition.
- Avoid cycling at night when possible – If possible, you should avoid riding after dark. If you must ride after dark, you can make yourself more visible to motorists by wearing reflective gear, installing tire reflectors, and using front and rear bike lights.
- Watch out for potential hazards or obstructions – Motorists might be able to hit a pothole or traverse a section of loose gravel without any major issues, but bicyclists have to be much more careful when encountering dangerous road conditions. Be on the lookout for potential hazards so that you have time to navigate around them or reduce your speed. If you are biking with a group of other cyclists, be sure to alert the rest of the group about the road hazard.
- Don’t get distracted – Avoid distractions as much as possible and focus on the road ahead. Any activity that causes you to take your eyes off the road could potentially lead to an accident.
- Control your bicycle – Having both hands on your bike’s handlebars at all times would be ideal, but if you must signal to other vehicles or perform another task, make sure that you keep at least one hand on the handlebars at any given time.
It is impossible to predict how others will behave on the road, but by following these safety tips, you can reduce your chances of being involved in a devastating bike accident this summer.
Injured in a Bicycle Accident in Atlanta? Contact Us Today
If you were hurt in a bicycle accident that you did not cause, you could be entitled to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and other non-financial damages. Contact a bicycle accident attorney at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers PC today to discuss your case in a free consultation.
