Many cyclists get their bicycles out in the spring and early summer weeks when the weather is nice. Before you head for the first ride, you have to make sure that you and your bike are ready for the journey. Even if you’ve ridden already this year, checking everything before each ride can enhance your safety.
Bicycle safety starts with making sure the bicycle is a good fit for you. You shouldn’t feel like you’re cramped, but the bicycle shouldn’t be so big that it’s hard for you to control. It should be in good repair with working brakes and tires that grip the road for stability. Once you check the tire inflation, brakes and other components, you can move along to preparing yourself for the ride.
Choose your gear
The gear you choose can have a significant impact on your safety. You shouldn’t wear anything that’s loose because these items might get caught in the moving parts of the bicycle. Even your shoelaces can lead to problems if they get stuck in the bike chain.
Your helmet is another critical piece of safety equipment because it protects the head and neck if you’re involved in a crash. Ensure it is an approved helmet that’s in good shape. Taking this one step can reduce the risk of suffering a head or brain injury by an estimated 85% to 88% over not wearing one at all.
Ride safely
As you ride your bicycle, make sure that you’re following applicable traffic laws. You should never assume that motorists see you or that they will respect your right of way because many will overlook you or think that you don’t have rights because your vehicle is smaller than theirs.
Despite your best efforts, there is a chance that you will be struck while you ride. If this occurs, you need to get medical care to find out what injuries need to be addressed. Don’t be fooled into thinking that any injury is minor because even something like road rash can end up being serious if the wounds become infected.
You might miss work and have to cover costly medical care. The option to seek compensation could help you to get these taken care of without placing the financial burden on you. Instead, the lawsuit seeks to shift the liability to the driver whose negligence caused them to crash into you.