Brain injury accidents are some of the most common incidents facing bicyclists today. The number of bicycle head injuries requiring hospitalization annually exceeds the total of all head injury cases related to baseball, football, skateboarding, kick scooters, snowboarding, ice hockey, in-line skating, lacrosse and horseback riding.
One of the reasons there are so many head injuries related to bicycling is a lack of widespread helmet use. It is estimated that indirect costs for injuries to unhelmeted cyclists add up to $2.3 billion annually. Of all the bicyclists involved in crashes, 1/8 of injured bicyclists and 2/3 of deceased bicyclists suffered brain injuries.
All the blame cannot be placed on simply not wearing helmets. Almost 37% of fatal crashes involved a cyclist or driver who had been drinking. The time between four p.m. and midnight is most active for car and bike accidents: 48% of bicyclist deaths occur within this time, mostly in urban areas and at non-intersection locations. Many of the drivers involved in a car accident with bike riders or pedestrians receive no punishment, according to a study by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. According to that study, only one out of four at-fault drivers is ever cited for hitting and killing pedestrians. With so many fatal or traumatizing brain injury accidents among bicyclists, knowing what to do after a bike accident can be crucial. Even more important can be knowing how to avoid an accident in the first place.
One of the easiest ways to avoid an unpleasant encounter with a car is to make yourself as visible as possible. Wear bright, reflective clothing, and apply as many lights to yourself and your bike as you deem necessary. A headlight will assist both you and drivers of cars with visibility, and taillights will keep you visible to cars behind you. Avoid riding your bike at times when people are more likely to drive under the influence, and, for your own safety, do not bicycle while drunk, either.
Whenever possible, ride on streets with lower levels of traffic and reduced speed limits. By limiting your encounters with cars of any speed, you are more likely to be seen and avoided. Be sure to signal turns and stops, and consider riding without headphones. The more you can see and hear approaching vehicles, the safer you will be.
Hopefully, you will never experience a situation where you need to know what to do after a bicycle accident. By following safety guidelines, wearing a helmet, and obeying the rules of the road, you greatly reduce your risk of being in a brain injury accident. Feel free to leave more safety tips in the comments for other bicyclists to read. Read more about this topic at this link.
