Bicycle Accident
California Considers Bill to Mandate Bicycle Helmets
California currently leads the nation in bicycle accident deaths, raising concerns among many avid bicyclists as well as experienced California bicycle accident lawyers. Bike crashes in California have increased in recent years even as similar crashes in other states have decreased.
In response to these growing concerns, state senator Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) recently introduced a bill into the state Senate that would require California bicyclists to wear helmets. SB 192 would amend California’s Vehicle Code to require everyone to wear a helmet while “operating a bicycle, riding on a bicycle as a passenger, or riding in a trailer towed by a bicycle.” Bicyclists caught breaking this law could be fined $25.
Avoiding the Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicycle accident cases have increased in California in recent years, raising the concerns of many experienced California personal injury lawyers.
The most common bicycle accident injuries include damage to the head and brain, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. Any of these injuries can cause severe pain, lingering impairments, and significant difficulties, some of which may last a lifetime. In the worst cases, severe bicycle accident injuries result in death.
Here are some ways to help reduce your risk of severe injuries and protect yourself when you’re out riding. When you drive, avoid distractions behind the wheel and always scan for bicyclists as well as cars – especially at intersections, where bicyclists are most difficult to see.
California Leads Nation in Bicycle Accident Deaths
Bicycle accident deaths are on the rise, and California currently leads the country in deaths, according to a recent article in the LA Times.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently released a report examining bicycle accident injuries and deaths throughout the fifty states. The report found that between 2010 and 2012, the rate of fatal injury in bicycle crashes increased by 16 percent. California lost 338 bicyclists between 2010 and 2012, and Florida lost 329 – the two highest totals among the U.S. states.
Four Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Bicycle Accidents
Bicycling offers great benefits. It’s good exercise, offers a great deal of fun, cuts your transportation costs, and reduces your impact on the environment while still allowing you to travel where you want to go. Like any mode of transportation, however, bicycling poses some risks. By knowing what the risks are, you can take steps to avoid them, decreasing your chances of serious injury.
Here are four ways to reduce your risk of bicycle crashes the summer:
- Change your route. In a car, you probably use the busier “feeder roads” to get where you’re going, like most people. On a bicycle, however, skip these roads in favor of less congested streets with bicycle lanes and paths through safe neighborhoods. Try to reduce your exposure to busy streets.
- Signal your turns. Let drivers know you’re about to turn by signaling with your arms. If you’re signaling a left turn, check your mirror or glance behind you to make sure you’re not sticking your left arm straight into the path of a passing car.
It’s National Bike Safety Month: Don’t Become a Statistic
May is National Bike Safety Month, and communities throughout California and the United States are marking the occasion by improving their bicycle safety.
Bicycle safety is a major concern in Long Beach and other areas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicycle accidents are one of the few categories of traffic crashes that haven’t experienced decreases in recent years. Instead, the number of bicycle accidents on U.S. roads has held steady or actually increased.
Here are a few more sobering statistics about bicycling:
Bicycle Accidents Affecting Children: Know the Facts
Learning to ride a bicycle represents a major accomplishment and rite of passage for many California children, but the activity also carries risks. Knowing what the most common dangers are can help you protect the children in your life from bicycle accident injuries. For more information about you and your child’s legal rights after an accident, talk to an experienced Long Beach, California bicycle accident lawyer.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 16 percent of cyclists killed or injured in motor vehicle crashes are 14 years old or younger. This number includes not only children who have mastered riding a bicycle, but also children who were riding tricycles or unicycles at the time of the crash.
Four Tips for Safer Bicycling on California Roads
Long Beach is home to many bicyclists who enjoy riding and take their safety seriously. Whether you’re a long-time bicyclist or are new to the sport, brushing up on your safety and knowledge of California bicycle law can help you ride more safely and avoid an accident.
Next time you set out on your bicycle, keep these four tips in mind:
- Ride near the right edge of the road, especially if you’re traveling slower than traffic. Move to the left only to pass another bicycle or vehicle or when getting ready to turn left. Never bike on a freeway: it is not only dangerous, but also often illegal. Most California freeways have signs prohibiting bicyclists.
LA County Cyclist Suffers Serious Injuries in ‘Dooring’ Incident
A bicyclist recently suffered serious head trauma after coming into contact with the open door of a parked vehicle in Brentwood, according to bikinginla.com.
The 37-year-old cyclist was traveling on a two-lane street when the driver of a parked vehicle opened his door just as the cyclist passed. The cyclist fell head first from his bicycle and was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery for head trauma.
One of the first responders at the scene, Brentwood Senior Lead Officer Maria Gray, said that the biker was not wearing a helmet at the time, although he was using a headlamp and tail light to make himself visible while riding at 6:46 pm in the evening.
California’s New Bike Law: Three Feet for Safety
California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed a bill into law that will require motorists to keep a distance of at least three feet when passing bicyclists on the road. The “Three Feet for Safety Act” was sponsored by the city of Los Angeles as part of the continuing bicycle master plan to make LA a more bike-friendly city.
Beginning September 2014, motorists who fail to pass a bicyclist with at least three feet of leeway will receive a fine of $35, which can be increased to a $220 fine for motorists that violate the law and cause an accident with a cyclist. In the event that a vehicle may not pass a bike at the allotted distance on a narrow street, motorists are required to slow down and pass at a safe speed.
Bicyclist’s Death Encourages Further Bike Safety Reform in Newport Beach
A 58-year-old bicyclist died recently after having suffered critical injuries in a collision with a white minivan along East Coast Highway. The woman was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash; unfortunately, she succumbed to major head injuries a day after the accident.
The bicyclist had been traveling west on East Coast Highway when she was hit by a white minivan. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident and have not yet issued any citations or taken anyone into custody.