Warm weather means enjoying the great outdoors, and what better way to do that than taking a ride on your bike? Cycling in your neighborhood, through the park, or even on the open road is great exercise and healthy dose of fun, but it still requires that you put safety first. Keeping bike safety tips top of mind could save you from an unfortunate accident.

Bhatt Law Group can help if taking a seemingly simple bicycle ride unexpectedly turns dangerous. Our Jersey City bike accident lawyers can help you navigate the personal injury claims process.

Contact us at (201) 798-8000 for a free consultation.

5 Bike Safety Tips

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports 45,000 bicyclists were injured in 2015 while more than 800 were killed that year. This means that, on average, more than two people lost their lives in bike accidents each day in 2015. Protect yourself from becoming a statistic by being smart with these five bike safety tips.

1. Wear a helmet. Covering your head could be the difference between life and death. According to an intra-department publication entitled “Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City, 1996-2005,” nearly all (97 percent) of the 225 bicyclists who died in crashes over the 10-year period failed to wear a helmet while three in four fatal crashes (75 percent) involved a head injury.

2. Make yourself visible. You put yourself in harm’s way when no one can see on your bike. Wearing dark clothing on a dark road makes it less likely for a motorist to see you and more likely they will hit you. Use bike lights and reflectors to stay illuminated and within drivers’ view.

3. Stay alert. Be certain to keep your eyes on the road and to remain aware of your surroundings. A bike ride is also no time to listen to music or to talk on the phone. You need to be able to hear the blare of honking horns and to know when to avoid a fast-approaching vehicle.

4. Obey the rules. Riding a bike rather than driving a car does not exempt you from the rules of the road. Be certain to obey stoplights and traffic signs to safeguard yourself and the people with whom you share the highway.

5. Prepare your bike for the ride. This may seem like the obvious, but be certain your bicycle is ready for your adventure. Check the air in your tires, be sure all the parts are properly secured on it, and adjust your seat to ensure comfort during your ride.

Contact the Jersey City Bike Accident Lawyers for Help

A bicycle ride should be an enjoyable exercise that leaves you feeling healthy and good about doing your part to help save the environment from automobile emissions. Still, you may find yourself suffering from accident injuries no matter how diligent you are about bike safety. Bhatt Law Group can help if you find yourself the victim of an accident through no fault of your own.

Call us at (201) 798-8000to schedule an appointment and we will do our best to assist you.