Ideally, everyone who drives a motor vehicle is as responsible around bicycle riders as they are around other cars, trucks, and tractor-trailers. In reality, irresponsible and even outright aggressive motorists can sometimes be toward bike riders. A collision caused by a negligent driver can be devastating for a bicyclist.
While there is no way to completely erase the risk that another person’s misconduct could cause you to suffer serious physical harm in a bike wreck, you can follow bicycle safety and preventative measures in Albuquerque to significantly reduce your risk of injury. If you need help filing a lawsuit over a bike crash, a skilled bicycle injury lawyer with years of experience could help you enforce your right to civil recovery.
Bicycle helmets are only legally required in Albuquerque for riders under the age of 18, but wearing a properly fitted and designed helmet is nevertheless the single best safety measure you can take to reduce your risk of serious injury in a bike crash. Wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce a rider’s risk of suffering a head injury, and helmet use is correlated with a reduction in the overall rate of serious and fatal injuries from bicycle accidents.
There are other safety precautions you can take to help prevent a bike crash in Albuquerque. Along with a safety helmet, bicyclists should also make sure to wear brightly-colored clothing that fits them snugly so they are more easily visible to nearby drivers and no dangling bits of fabric get caught up in the gears of their bike. In addition, riding during daylight hours is always safer than riding at night. If night riding is unavoidable, it is crucial to have functioning headlights and flashers attached to the bike itself or to the rider.
When bicyclists ride on public roads, they are subject to all the same traffic rules and regulations that motor vehicle drivers must follow. Obeying traffic laws by riding with traffic instead of against it, coming to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs until it is safe to proceed, and yielding the right-of-way when appropriate are all vital preventative measures that can minimize the risk of bicycle accidents in Albuquerque.
It is worth remembering that in the event of a collision, bicyclists will virtually always be hurt worse than motorists, no matter who is at fault for the collision. With that in mind, it often pays to engage in defensive riding by being extra cautious at intersections, making sure oncoming drivers are stopping before advancing into your path, and generally assuming that other people may do something reckless and correcting for that possibility in advance. These safety tactics can help prevent bicycle crashes in Albuquerque.
Unfortunately, even the safest and most responsible bicyclists can still end up seriously injured in crashes that were not at all their fault. If you find yourself in this situation despite following these recommended bicycle safety and preventative measures in Albuquerque, you can likely seek compensation for the harm you have suffered through a civil lawsuit or a private settlement demand.
Support from a knowledgeable legal professional could be essential to achieve the best possible case outcome and maximize the restitution you receive. Call us today to discuss your options.
