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4 reasons biking accidents happen and how to avoid them

On Behalf of | Mar 24, 2016 | Bicycle Accidents |

If you’re an avid cyclist, one of the things you want to do is to avoid getting into an accident. You know you don’t have much protection against the weight of a vehicle, but how can you make sure you’re not hit? Here are four different causes of accidents and how to avoid them.

First up is overlapping wheels. This is when your front wheel overlaps the wheel of a fellow rider. that can make you bump into him and crash. Add to that a busy highway, and you could be looking at a serious collision.

Another way to avoid a collision is to look up. Looking down or away from traffic can lead to you not seeing dangers head. Looking up helps you see things like potholes in the road, parked cars, or even people who swing their doors open to get out without realizing you’re there.

Another danger to you is hazardous corners. You could slip on gravel or debris, or you could take it with too much speed. Worse yet, other vehicles may not see you and could take the corner too closely. Remember to be sensible; approach slowly if the area is dangerous.

Finally, watch out for road hazards. things like potholes, cracks, and debris can result in you wrecking if you hit them. Make sure to keep an eye out for dangerous items, and if you’re approaching something, slow down to avoid crashing in front of oncoming or passing traffic.

At the end of the day, it’s both you and the other drivers on the road who have to work to prevent accidents. However, if you’re hit because a driver gets too close or collides with you, you’re in a position to make a claim.

Source: Bicycling, “How to Avoid Bike Crashes,” Joe Lindsey, accessed March 24, 2016

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