If your children ride their bikes to school, it is time to remind them of some bicycle safety tips before they start another year. Riding a bike is great exercise and the first real freedom many children experience. Make sure that they understand the responsibilities that come with this freedom so that they remain safe in their trips to and from school. It is also time for bus drivers and other motorists to remember more children will be on bicycles and to be on the look out. Bicycle Safety Tips For Kids (And Parents) Always wear a helmet. Over half a million bike accidents happen every year and 59% of all bicycle accidents happen to children 15 years or younger. Only 15% of children use their helmets regularly. Start good riding habits by making sure your child wears a helmet every time they ride. Know the rules of the road…. Continue Reading
Category Archives: Bicycle Accidents
Subscribe to Bicycle Accidents RSS FeedBacking Up Vehicles: Will Cameras Prevent Injuries To Pedestrians?
Posted in Bicycle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Pedestrian Injury, Uninsured Motorist ClaimsThe mention of a pedestrian injury usually conjures up images of a driver hitting a pedestrian with the front of their vehicle. Though far less common, backing up vehicle injuries remain a source of significant injury to pedestrians– young and old. An alarming 17,000 people are injured every year when vehicles ‘back’ into them. Backing up vehicles also account for an average 288 pedestrian deaths each year when vehicles back over pedestrians in the rear of the vehicle. While keeping a cautious lookout can surely help prevent some of these car accidents from occurring, the fact remains that vehicle design compounded with certain angles in which pedestrians may be positioned— gives many drivers very little opportunity to detect what is in back of them. A proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aims to reduce the alarming number of ‘backing up’ accidents by requiring the installation of built… Continue Reading
25 Valuable Bicycle Blogs To Help Protect Child Riders
Posted in Bicycle AccidentsThere’s something special about children’s first bicycle. Maybe its the first glimpse of independence it provides to children? Maybe its the sense of accomplishment it provides to children as they progress to gradually shed their training wheels. While bikes can indeed be great for a child’s self esteem, bicycles are also a frequent source of injury– particularly when drivers fail to appreciate their presence. In order to help protect children-bicyclists, it’s important for parents to review common sense safety rules, again, again and again. Here are some terrific websites for to begin the process of gathering information about bike safety. Take a look at all of these fine sites as they all have very useful information– even if not outwardly apparent. Hopefully, these sites will help encourage a lifetime of bicycle safety. See Me Wear Bike Safety The importance of wearing visible, reflective clothing while riding bicycles is a very… Continue Reading
Its Time For Illinois To Recognize The Dangers Associated With Bike-Dooring Accidents
Posted in Bicycle AccidentsOnly recently have states and municipalities recognized the disastrous consequences dooring-accidents can have on bicyclists in urban areas. Thankfully, many cities– such as Chicago– have recognized the importance of preventing these injuries by incorporating ordinances to protect cyclists from the unavoidable harm caused when a car door is quickly flung open in front of them. According to Chicago Municipal Code: 9-80-035- Opening and closing vehicle doors No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers. Added Coun. J. 3-12-08, p. 22781, § 2 By some accounts, dooring-related bike accidents account… Continue Reading
‘Dooring’ Is An Under-Appreciated Danger Facing Bicyclists
Posted in Bicycle Accidents, Motor Vehicle AccidentsWhen a client tells me that they were involved in a bike accident, I begin to envision the horrific lay of the land as they are peddling down the street and a car ignores a traffic signal or is busy jabbering on their cell phone and….. whack… Well, not to say that the above circumstances don’t happen– and happen with a fair amount of frequency— the truth is that there’s another major component of bicycle injuries that tends to go unknown– until it happens to you or your child. I am referring to a type of bicycle accident that can every bit as harmful to the cyclist as getting hit by a car– ‘dooring’. Dooring refers to the process of when an occupant of a parked car opens their car door into the path of a cyclist causing a collision. In some circumstances when the cyclist does have time… Continue Reading
Dad Creates Unique Bike For Children With Special Needs
Posted in Bicycle Accidents, Community NewsMy wife, Lisa, was kind enough to tear out an article from our local newspaper, The Glencoe News, that details how a dad’s frustration resulted in the development of a bike specifically developed for children with special needs. After unsuccessful attempts to teach his autistic son how to ride a bike, Steven Cohen, was determined that practice wasn’t necessarily the answer when it can to teaching his son how to ride a bike. Instead, Steve stripped off the pesky pedals and chains effectively turning ordinary bikes into sort of a seated-scooter that allows the children to simulate much of the bike riding experience after they use their legs to gain momentum. Hopefully, other children who share similar difficulties will soon be able to experience the physical and emotional benefits of bike riding as Steven has plans to expand the development of his creation, known as JoRide, to other special needs… Continue Reading
Judge Allows Granny To Pursue Lawsuit Against Free-Wheeling-Toddler On Bike
Posted in Bicycle Accidents, Community NewsA recent New York Supreme Court decision will allow a personal injury lawsuit initiated by the estate of elderly woman, who sustained injuries prior to her death, to proceed against a four-year-old allegedly responsible for causing the injuries. The case stems from an incident that took place in 2009 on a Manhattan sidewalk when two four-year-olds were riding their tricycles with their mothers and accidentally rode into an 87-year-old woman who was walking on the sidewalk. When the four-year-old struck the elderly woman, she fell to the ground and fractured her hip requiring surgery. Three months after sustaining her injuries, the woman died from unrelated causes. After the elderly woman’s estate filed a lawsuit against the four-year-old and their mother’s, a lawyer for one of the toddlers filed a motion to dismiss the case against the youngster based on the fact that she was incapable of negligence based on her… Continue Reading
As We Gear-Up For Bike Season, Its Important To Review Bicycle Safety Laws
Posted in Bicycle AccidentsI don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of the cold! Particularly after the endless winter we’ve had here in Chicago, I’m ready to pump-up my tires and put some miles on my bike. However, before we hop on our bikes, its a good idea to review some common sense bike safety– for yourself— and for your child. The below is a synopsis of bike laws in Illinois provided by the League of Illinois Bicyclists and the corresponding codification in the Illinois Vehicle Code that may help protect you during the upcoming bike season. Lane Positioning When riding on roadways and bicycle paths at less than a normal traffic speed, ride as close as practicable and safe to the right-hand curb edge of roadway except: When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or When preparing for a left turn, or When reasonably necessary to… Continue Reading