Now that spring is arriving in Portland, it brings more bicycles onto the roadway. Therefore drivers need to be aware of their presence and take extra caution driving through highly bicycled areas. This city is one of the most bike friendly in the nation, but accidents still occur. Therefore drivers and cyclists need to be diligent about being safe behind the wheel.
Most accidents between cars and bicycles happen at intersections. Because of this, Portland has bike boxes in order to help keep cyclists safe. Cars need to stop behind the painted areas to allow bikes to safely approach the light. Cars should also be aware of “sharrows” that indicate a shared lane between bikes and cars.
Those on bicycles need to be responsible for their safety as well. All cyclists must wear helmets at all times and follow all regular traffic laws, the same as motor vehicles. Bicyclists should also have reflective tape on their bike and should wear bright, reflective clothing when cycling at night or during a storm. This significantly helps with visibility and can help prevent an accident.
This is extremely important because when a bike and car collide, it almost always results in serious injuries. The bicycle provides no protection from the 4,000 pound car, leading to broken bones, concussions, and more. No one wants to be injured and no one wants to seriously injure another person. If everyone focuses on safety, we can prevent as many accidents as possible.
Even with this diligence, however, accidents will happen. When they do, it is important for the cyclists to see a doctor immediately. Even if things seem alright, there could be internal injuries which are not readily apparent. By seeing a doctor right away, you can be sure that all injuries are identified and treated.
If you have been injured while riding a bike, a bicycle injury attorney at Johnson Law will fight to make you as whole as possible. We have helped many clients who have been injured on the roadways and will put that experience to work for you. To learn more about how we can help after a serious injury, contact Johnson Law today.
