If you own a bicycle, you should keep in mind these seven safety tips to help reduce your chances of being involved in or seriously injured by a bicycle accident in Florida.
Pick the Right Size Bike for You
The first thing to do to help keep yourself safe on a bicycle is to make sure you are riding a bicycle that is the right size for you. Riding a bicycle that is too big or too small for you will make it difficult for you to properly control the bike. As a general rule, a properly-sized bicycle will allow you to straddle the seat with both feet flat on the ground while still leaving about two inches of space between the bike seat and your backside. Many bicycle manufacturers offer sizing charts that direct you to the correct size bike for your height.
Maintain Your Brakes
You should check your brakes every time before you set off, making sure that the brake handles engage the brakes and that the pads make contact with the disc rotor on the wheel. Lift your front wheel up and spin it, engaging your brakes to make sure they stop the wheel. Repeat with your back wheel.
Use Headlights and Taillights
You should strongly consider adding a headlight, daytime running lights, and rear tail light to help make yourself more visible to motorists both during the day (especially when riding in low visibility conditions) and at night.
Always Wear a Helmet
Although Florida law only requires bicycle helmets for riders under 16 years old, anyone getting on a bicycle should wear a properly fitting helmet. A proper bicycle helmet will greatly reduce your risk of serious head or brain injury in the event you crash or get into a collision on your bicycle.
If you get into an accident while wearing a bicycle helmet, you should immediately replace it. Never reuse a helmet after an accident, as they are designed to crack and deform to help protect your head and brain.
Don’t Ride With Headphones
Many people enjoy riding their bicycle with headphones in to listen to music or podcasts, which can help riders feel energized or relaxed or simply help make the time go by. However, you should never ride while wearing headphones, especially when in traffic. Listening to something on headphones can make it harder for you to keep aware of your surroundings, especially the presence of other vehicles.
Always Keep Your Hands on the Handlebars
While you may take a hand off the handlebars to take a drink of water or to check your cell phone, not having both hands on the handlebars makes it much harder to properly control a bicycle. This can lead to an accident if you encounter rough road conditions or if a vehicle or pedestrian suddenly appears in front of you.
Never Ride Too Fast for Conditions
Finally, you should always ride at a speed that you feel comfortable with given your skill and experience on a bike. You should also stick to speeds that are appropriate for traffic, weather, and road conditions.
Contact a Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Bike Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a bike accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. represent clients injured because of bike accidents in Miramar, Coral Springs, Davie, Boca Raton, and throughout Florida. Call (561) 533-0345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 813 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as offices in Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.