One of the most dangerous accident situations occurs when a cyclist moves into the roadway to make his or her left-hand turn. At the same time, a vehicle comes up quickly from behind and “rear-ends” the cyclist. Unfortunately, this can result in severe injuries or even death.
Advice to Cyclists – Minimize the Opportunity for a Merge Left / Rear-End Collision to Occur
When you are riding always look out for and listen for vehicles behind you. Some cyclists make a habbit of using either a helmet or handlebar mirror. Always be careful to not make a rushed decision when you are on the bike. If you are not certain if it is safe to move to your left, simply stop riding and look behind you to be sure it is safe.
Stay to the right as long as you can and make sure the left lane is clear. Carefully observe the placement and speed of all on-coming vehicles. Look in all four directions. Most importantly, take your time. If the situation is not right, do not take a risk. Wait until you are certain the road is clear. It is very difficult to estimate an approaching vehicle’s speed when glancing behind you. Of course, given the weight and speed of a vehicle in relation to the size, weight and speed of a vehicle, you will always be at the mercy of whether the vehicles sees you. In this regard, anything that makes you more visible is critical. This includes lights (even in daytime), wearing fluorescent colors and using reflective clothing. Be careful not to trust that you make “eye contact” with the driver of a car/truck. My experience as a lawyer for cyclists and as an avid cyclists has taught me that distracted drivers (ie, cell phones) may appear to see you but in reality you are just looking at a blank stare.
If our firm handles your case, we look at every angle from the perspective and experience of a firm that ONLY handles bicycle and motorcycle accident cases. This knowledge and experience we have in representing over 1000 bikers is bestowed upon all our clients. There are only a handful of firms in the country that have this type of experience representing cyclists and bikers. We always give you an honest opinion of your case once we have the opportunity to evaluate and investigate all the facts.
It is important to be represented by an attorney who is experienced in cycling law. If you would like more information, please feel free to reach me directly 1-844-Bicycle or complete the free consultation request form.
