There are a lot of people who love to ride bicycles and take them out regularly for a ride. As you might expect, bike riding spikes in the summer months as many take out their bike, get it tuned up, and hit the street for some exploring and sightseeing. This is all good until a riding mistake turns a fun day out on your bike into a Connecticut bicycle accident injury and forces you to skip your next few rides.
Just like when someone is behind the wheel of a car and makes a mistake, when you are behind the wheel of your bike and make a mistake, it not only affects you, but it can also affect other riders around you. Being aware of your surroundings and taking the appropriate precautions are good first steps to make sure that your bike ride is safe and will not lead to an injury.
There may be things you are doing now as a bike rider, things that may have developed as bad habits, that could catch up to you now and lead to an injury that injures you or someone you’re riding with. Here are some common mistakes that bike riders make that can lead to serious injuries.
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Riding with one hand or no hands on the handlebars: Often this mistake is saved for younger riders who want to test their limits, but adults will often take one hand off the handlebars as a way to become more comfortable. This is incredibly dangerous and could lead to serious injury. You should be riding your bike with two hands on the handlebars at all times.
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Making your bike’s weight distribution uneven or too heavy: If you’re riding a long distance it can be tempting to pack a lot of things for your ride and stow them on your bike, but this can also make it so that the weight distribution on the vehicle is off and can lead to a wobbly and uneven ride. It may be ok if you’re on a flat surface and there are few bikes around, but when you have to maneuver that extra weight may cause a problem.
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Not wearing a helmet or other appropriate safety equipment: While a helmet is not mandated for adult riders in Connecticut, not wearing one can lead to a serious injury or death. Accidents do happen and while you may find it more comfortable to ride without a helmet, you should prioritize safety over comfort for the long haul.
When you’re riding a bike, keeping safety top of mind is the best thing you can do. Believe it or not a bike leaves you quite exposed to injury or worse. While you may not be traveling at the same speed as you would be in a motorized vehicle, getting into a Connecticut bicycle accident is one of the most dangerous things you can do, especially if you’re not taking specific safety measures.
When you’ve finished your riding for the season, we hope you end with no injuries, but if you do find yourself injured you may wish to speak with an attorney about your injuries. Our experienced attorneys will speak with you and review your case to help you protect your long-term interests.
