Personal Injury Law

Bicycle Safety 101

By Megan

    Yes, yes we know: summer is upon us!  The flowers are in bloom, the sun is shining, and people everywhere are smiling.  You wake up in the morning and actually want to be outside (it's a beautiful thing, isn't it?).  What better way to start your day than an early-morning ride on your Schwinn bicycle?  You hop on and are just crossing the intersection two blocks from home when a car suddenly lays on the horn, causing you to look up and panic.

    The car's just yards away and in swerving to avoid him, you wipe out sideways on the ground.  A collision was avoided, but are YOU really better off in terms of physical harm?  Though you simply wrecked your bike, just how serious are your injuries?  If you hit your head, they may be more serious than you know.

    Whether you're riding your bike to work in heavy commuter traffic or going for a leisurely ride through the neighborhood park, you need to be wearing a helmet.  Head injuries cause 75 percent of the 750 bicycle deaths that occur annually, and medical research has shown that wearing a helmet can prevent approximately 85 percent of such cyclists' injuries.

    Yet, despite awareness of the benefits of helmets, only 50% of bike wearers report wearing one on a regular basis, while 43% claim they never wear one.  Seems shocking.  Are we really that naïve in thinking we're invincible, or are we that image conscientious that we aren't willing to sacrifice our appearance for our safety?

    Well, get over yourself people.  And get a helmet.  Because riding without one just isn't worth the risk.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on June 04, 2008 (boomark / email).