Summer Safety: Sharing the Road with Bicycles and Motorcycles means Being Careful

By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on June 18th, 2010

With the warm, lovely weather of summer upon us, it’s a great time to remind drivers that we’re sharing the road with others who aren’t wrapped protectively in vehicle cocoons of steel, plastic and rubber.

Thousands of others are out there on the roads with only two wheels on bicycles and motorcycles and are much more vulnerable to serious injury.

As motorists, we all need to be careful and more aware to protect ourselves from legal liability in the event of an accident involving a two-wheeled vehicle. And if it’s one of us riding a bicycle or motorcycle, then we need to understand our rights and protections as well, to safely operate our vehicles on the roads in a sea of cars and trucks.

Thousands of people are injured or killed in traffic accidents involving motorcycles and bicycles each year in the U.S. You and your loved ones certainly don’t want to become one of those tragic statistics. The monetary losses from those injuries and deaths are also significant and you certainly don’t want to be on the wrong end of any legal judgments in such cases.

As drivers of cars, trucks and SUVs, we always need to remember to watch carefully for smaller, less visible vehicles like bicycles and motorcycles as we drive.

Remember to double-check your blind spots surrounding your vehicle and try to anticipate what bicyclists and motorcyclists are going to do as they cross your path.

Give them extra space when following them because they can stop far more quickly than you can stop your bulky vehicle.

Also give them extra space in case they lose control due to road surface irregularities or mechanical problems.

Bicyclists have unique challenges being seen by other motorists on the roadways due to their much smaller profiles. The Web site BikeSafe.com outlines many typical scenarios in its “How Not To Get Hit By Cars” guide, including motorists who accidentally open their car doors in front of an approaching bicyclist and other drivers who turn right at an intersection in front of a bicyclist.

Bicyclists must remember to use quality lights on their bikes and on their arms or legs when riding at night to be visible to drivers, and to follow the appropriate rules of the road at all times. Not using such safety devices can affect their legal liability in an accident.

Make sure that the bike you are riding is in good condition, fits you properly and always  wear a properly-fitting helmet, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Motorcyclists have similar needs. When operating a motorcycle, you should wear full protective gear including a helmet, jacket, gloves, long pants and boots to protect you in the event of an accident, according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The MSF also offers excellent rider training programs for beginning motorcyclists as well as advanced classes for expert riders to help build and maintain your survival skills on the roads. All motorcyclists should take advantage of such opportunities.

For operators of both motorcycles and bicycles, one of the best ways to protect yourselves is to ride as though you are invisible to other motorists. Imagine that they can’t or don’t see you and ride defensively to protect yourself at all times.

Always remember that in any contact with a car or SUV, the motorcyclist or bicyclist is at a huge disadvantage and will likely be the loser.

Safety is the responsibility of all of us this summer, from motorists of the four-wheeled kind to motorcyclists and bicyclists.

As you drive this summer, remember to practice safe driving habits by carefully watching for vehicles of all sizes and be sure to maintain adequate following distances. In addition, be sure to use caution around slower-moving vehicles and drive defensively rather than aggressively to help minimize the dangers to yourself and others on the roads.

It’s a good time to be safe however you choose to travel.

A lawsuit or major injury from a collision or crash involving a bicyclist or motorcyclist would turn the joys of summer into a nightmare.

So be careful out there, whether you are driving your car or SUV or if you’re cruising on your bicycle or motorcycle.

And in the event of a mishap, remember that the lawyers here at MyPhillyLawyer are here to help you in every way possible.

With the warm, lovely weather of summer upon us, it’s a great time to remind drivers that we’re sharing the road with others who aren’t wrapped protectively in vehicle cocoons of steel, plastic and rubber.

Thousands of others are out there on the roads with only two wheels on bicycles and motorcycles and are much more vulnerable to serious injury.

As motorists, we all need to be careful and more aware to protect ourselves from legal liability in the event of an accident involving a two-wheeled vehicle. And if it’s one of us riding a bicycle or motorcycle, then we need to understand our rights and protections as well, to safely operate our vehicles on the roads in a sea of cars and trucks.

Thousands of people are injured or killed in traffic accidents involving motorcycles and bicycles each year in the U.S. You and your loved ones certainly don’t want to become one of those tragic statistics. The monetary losses from those injuries and deaths are also significant and you certainly don’t want to be on the wrong end of any legal judgments in such cases.

As drivers of cars, trucks and SUVs, we always need to remember to watch carefully for smaller, less visible vehicles like bicycles and motorcycles as we drive.

Remember to double-check your blind spots surrounding your vehicle and try to anticipate what bicyclists and motorcyclists are going to do as they cross your path.

Give them extra space when following them because they can stop far more quickly than you can stop your bulky vehicle.

Also give them extra space in case they lose control due to road surface irregularities or mechanical problems.

Bicyclists have unique challenges being seen by other motorists on the roadways due to their much smaller profiles. The Web site BikeSafe.com outlines many typical scenarios in its “How Not To Get Hit By Cars” guide, including motorists who accidentally open their car doors in front of an approaching bicyclist and other drivers who turn right at an intersection in front of a bicyclist.

Bicyclists must remember to use quality lights on their bikes and on their arms or legs when riding at night to be visible to drivers, and to follow the appropriate rules of the road at all times. Not using such safety devices can affect their legal liability in an accident.

Make sure that the bike you are riding is in good condition, fits you properly and always  wear a properly-fitting helmet, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Motorcyclists have similar needs. When operating a motorcycle, you should wear full protective gear including a helmet, jacket, gloves, long pants and boots to protect you in the event of an accident, according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The MSF also offers excellent rider training programs for beginning motorcyclists as well as advanced classes for expert riders to help build and maintain your survival skills on the roads. All motorcyclists should take advantage of such opportunities.

For operators of both motorcycles and bicycles, one of the best ways to protect yourselves is to ride as though you are invisible to other motorists. Imagine that they can’t or don’t see you and ride defensively to protect yourself at all times.

Always remember that in any contact with a car or SUV, the motorcyclist or bicyclist is at a huge disadvantage and will likely be the loser.

Safety is the responsibility of all of us this summer, from motorists of the four-wheeled kind to motorcyclists and bicyclists.

As you drive this summer, remember to practice safe driving habits by carefully watching for vehicles of all sizes and be sure to maintain adequate following distances. In addition, be sure to use caution around slower-moving vehicles and drive defensively rather than aggressively to help minimize the dangers to yourself and others on the roads.

It’s a good time to be safe however you choose to travel.

A lawsuit or major injury from a collision or crash involving a bicyclist or motorcyclist would turn the joys of summer into a nightmare.

So be careful out there, whether you are driving your car or SUV or if you’re cruising on your bicycle or motorcycle.

And in the event of a mishap, remember that the lawyers here at MyPhillyLawyer are here to help you in every way possible.