8 Smart Tips to Stay Safe While Riding a Bicycle

Riding a bicycle is a one-of-a-kind experience. Riding in the streets of Los Angeles, you feel like you’re on top of the world.

The speed, the drive, the incessant feeling of insatiable hunger for even more speed…

Unfortunately, all these things can lead to a scary bicycle accident if abused. In fact, this is how nearly 50,000 bicyclists get injured in traffic in the U.S. every year.

And while car drivers are to blame for most bicycle accidents on the streets of Los Angeles, many of these accidents can be prevented by the bicyclist.

Here at the Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg, our experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident attorneys ride bicycles every day. And one thing we’ve learned from riding bicycles on the streets of Los Angeles is this:

“If you want to get from point A to point B in one piece, ride your bike as if people are out there trying to kill you with their cars and trucks.”

Trust me, it works. But following these 8 smart tips to stay safe while riding a bicycle is equally vital to prevent bicycle accidents:

Wear a helmet

It may seem like the most obvious bicycle riding safety tip, yet so many bicyclists get themselves killed just because they refuse to wear a helmet. “I look stupid in it!” they think. Well, I don’t know about you, but I’d rather look stupid than be injured or dead.

Be predictable

The more predictable you’re to all the drivers you share the road with, the smaller the risk to get hit by a car. Pro tip: ride a bicycle exactly like you would drive a car.  

Stay visible

Avoiding blind spots is equally important to prevent a bicycle accident in Los Angeles. You see, many bicyclists tend to lane split (riding between lanes or rows of slow moving or stopped traffic), making them practically invisible to drivers in front of them.

Never speed through red lights

Leave speeding for the reckless. If you truly love your life, you should obey all traffic laws and lights.

Stay focused

Don’t eat and ride, text and ride or talk on the phone and ride. Eliminate all distractions.

Use hand signals

You have hands for a reason: use them! Communicate with drivers and other bicyclists to let know where you’re headed. You can play the guessing game later.

Use lights at night

When it gets dark, turn on the lights. Let other drivers see you from far away.

Maintenance

Make sure your bike is properly maintained before you take it for a ride. You don’t want to end up having a brake problem or a loosened chain in the middle of an intersection.

Since most bicycle accidents occur due to the negligence of car drivers, there isn’t much you can do against a huge car speeding through intersections and not following any traffic laws whatsoever.

If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, contact our experienced Los Angeles bike accident attorney and start collecting sufficient evidence of the other party’s liability.

Call the Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg at 310-997-0904 to get a free initial consultation about your particular case and learn what kind of evidence will get you the maximum compensation for your damages, pain and suffering.