San Diego residents get the benefit of being able to ride their bicycles basically year-round, with beautiful weather that most other people throughout the United States don’t get to experience 365 days a year. Furthermore, in recent years, the city and county governments in San Diego have made it a priority to make bicycling safe and accessible.
Unfortunately, there are still far too many instances of bicycle accidents caused by automobiles slamming into bicyclists who are obeying the rules of the road. Bicyclists who are involved in these types of accidents can suffer broken bones or even more serious injuries. In the worst-case scenario, these accidents can be fatal.
As a result, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has published some basic safety tips for anyone who chooses to ride their bicycles in areas where interaction with traffic may occur. First and foremost, these tips point out that people who are riding bicycles need to remember to obey the rules of the road, just like everyone else. The next tip is for bicyclists to always remember to wear a helmet. This is, in fact, a requirement for children 14 years of age or younger. Next, bicyclists should be riding with the flow of traffic, not against. It is also important to pay attention not only on the path in front of you, but also behind you, to make sure you don’t divert into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
There are quite a few steps that bicyclists can take in order to attempt to ensure their safety while riding. However, even with every precaution, there are always drivers out there who may be driving while distracted. If those types of drivers cause a bicycle accident, a personal injury lawsuit may be pursued in order to attempt to secure financial compensation.
Source: sdsheriff.net, “Bicycle Safety Tips,” Accessed Oct. 10, 2015
