Accidents Involving Bicyclists

I’m Brian Ricci, a bicycle accident injury attorney serving Greenville, NC and the surrounding areas. More people are turning to riding a bicycle as a way to get around Greenville and get some exercise along the way. They join the ranks who like to ride for miles around Pitt County, enjoying the scenery while working on their endurance and physical condition. Pitt County has a plan to create 225 miles of biking trails on what’s known as the Greenway, but until it’s completed, bicycle riders stick to the roadways to get their mileage in. The risk of accidents increases as a result, which means bike riders need to practice safety protocols to avoid an accident with a car and reduce the risk of brain injury by wearing a helmet.

Greenville Accident Statistics

Greenville is a pretty safe town to ride a bicycle. As of 2015, the most recent statistics available, there were no fatal accidents involving a bicycle. However, there were 23 accidents with a bicycle, and 21 of them involved injuries. Even though the risk of getting into a fatal bike accident in Greenville is very low, the risk of getting an injury during one is high. Riding throughout Pitt County comes with more risk as a total of 32 bike riders were killed. No matter where you are, always wear a helmet as a safety precaution and practice defensive biking techniques at all time.

Common Injuries Received from Bicycle Accidents

Accidents involving a bicycle by itself can range from mild bruising and skin abrasions to a concussion or fractured skull if no helmet is worn. Broken bones aren’t unusual, but less likely when the rider and bicycle part ways. It’s much more serious when a car is involved in the accident. A bicycle rider has little to no protection from the forces generated by a car and can suffer much more serious injury as a result. Some of them include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries: Sometimes an injury resolves, sometimes it doesn’t, and there are no guarantees
  • Facial lacerations: These can leave visible scars.
  • Broken bones: They’re a painful inconvenience that requires about three months in a cast for healing.
  • Soft tissue damage: Ligaments get stretched and torn, requiring downtime for recovery.
  • Spinal cord injuries: There’s an increased risk of being paralyzed in a car and bicycle accident.

Minimize the Potential for Injury

It’s always better to be safe than sorry when riding your bicycle on Pitt County’s roads and pathways. The Greenway is the best option for bicyclists, but for those who want to ride longer distances, they put themselves on the roadways against cars. Always wear a helmet and put on protective gear to absorb some of the impact in the event of an accident. But the most important safety direction of all is to follow the rules of the road.

Bicycle riders and cars need to share the road. And sometimes neither feels that they have to yield to the other. It’s a recipe for disaster when neither party wants to yield to the other as cars cause far more damage than a bicycle ever can. Adhere to the rules of the road, practice defensive riding techniques, and always be aware of the other vehicles on the road. No one wants to run anyone over if they can at all avoid it. It’s always better to be aggravated by poor driving than be aggressive and put oneself at risk while riding a bicycle.

Greenville, NC Bicycle Accident Attorneys

I’m Brian Ricci, a Bicycle Accident Lawyer serving Greenville, NC and the surrounding areas. If you have suffered a personal injury, please call me anytime at (252) 777-2222 or (888) 484-6881 for free, friendly advice.

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