Napoli Bern Ripka, LLP Blog

Auto Accidents: Bicyclists Take Caution

With gas prices still on the rise, it is no surprise that people are starting to take notice. The SUV’s are now locked up in the garage with specific instructions not to use the gas-guzzling monstrosity. People are now switching to other forms of transportation such as the bus, train, and the bicycle. People are more now than ever getting their bikes out of storage and taking them to the open road. Since the price of gas is most likely to reach $5.00 per gallon by the end of the summer, it is very likely that people are going to be hitting the road on their bicycles. More bicycles on the road translate into more accidents that are apt to cause devastating effects.              

Now its time to be honest, when is the last time you rode a bike? Okay, let me refine it a little bit, when is the last time you rode a bike on a street filled with cars, trucks, SUV’s etc? If you are one of the few who has, do you remember all of the hand signals, rules, and regulations? I think not. Since more people are hitting the rode on their bicycles without the proper knowledge of common signals and rode rules, there is going to be an increase in bicycle-auto related accidents. When you are driving in your car do you ever get nervous when a bike rider comes beside you? This happens all the time in which either one or both parties do not know the rules of the road when sharing it with one another.

The fact of the matter is that there are two different sets of rules for auto drivers and bike riders. Whether fair or unfair this is that way our system is set up so we must pay attention or there will be consequences to pay. In cases where bike riders are joining the NYC streets it can cause for very dangerous situations. Taxi drivers, commuters, busses, and pedestrians as well as bicyclists and autos are all sharing the road, and all with different rules and regulations. With more bicyclists on the road the chance for an auto related accident is greater because there is going to be more inexperienced bike riders on the road. This inexperience can cause auto accidents in which it is necessary to contact and auto accident lawyer to help sort out issues and problems that might arise.