Owen Patterson & Owen Valencia CA

Toll Free 800.676.5295

Local 661.799.3899

No Recovery, No Fee

Menu 
  • Home
  • About
    • The Firm
    • Attorneys
    • Charities
    • Recalls
  • Practice Areas
    • Accidents
      • Auto Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents
      • Off-Road Vehicle Accidents
      • Boat & PWC Accidents
      • Construction Accidents
      • Children’s Sports Accidents
      • Playground/Rec Equipment Accidents
      • Train Accidents
      • Amusement Park Accidents
      • Aviation Accidents
    • Personal Injury / wrongful Death
      • Wrongful Death
      • Spinal Cord Injuries
      • Brain Injuries
      • Burn Injuries
      • Slip & Fall
      • Dog Bites
    • Abuse/Neglect
      • Elder Abuse & Neglect
      • Sexual Abuse
    • Employment Law
      • Sexual Harassment
      • Wrongful Termination
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Medical Malpractice
      • Birth Injuries
    • Cases
    • Defective Drugs
      • Dangerous Pharmaceuticals
  • Cases
  • Media / Videos
    • Media
    • Video Library
  • Attorney Referrals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact

3 Safety Tips to Follow when Riding Your Bicycle

September 29, 2014 by Greg Owen

One of the great parts about living in Southern California is the ability to take advantage of the warm weather we have year round.  For many, that means riding their bicycle for exercise and for pleasure.  However, when you do ride your bike, safety needs to be at the top of your list.  Unfortunately, bicycle accidents are very common and can be deadly.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 726 bicyclists were killed and 49,000 were seriously injured in 2012 in the US. 

bicycle accidents, bicycle safetey, bike accident lawyer los angeles

While you can’t control what drivers will do, it’s important to do everything you can to keep yourself safe while you are riding your bike.  Following these tips will help you avoid getting into an accident.

Avoid the Sidewalk

It’s important to ride your bike on the street and not on the sidewalk.  Although riding on the sidewalk may seem safer because you are further away the traffic, it can actually be much more dangerous than riding on the road.  If you are riding on a sidewalk and a car sticks the nose of the car out of a driveway over the sidewalk, they will obstruct your path on the sidewalk.  Additionally, if someone is pulling into a driveway that you are crossing on a bike, they might not see you since you are not on the road.  Lastly, riding on the sidewalk can potentially injure pedestrians who are walking there.

Use a Headlight and Wear Bright Clothing

Whenever you are riding a bike, you want to be as visible as possible.  Wearing bright, reflective clothing can help with this.  Instead of wearing dark colors, which can blend in with the background, wearing a bright colored shirt with reflective material on it will help you stand out from anything behind you.  Additionally, using a headlight, even when riding during the day, can help you be seen easier by drivers.  Fortunately, there are many different lights that can be mounted to the front and rear of a bicycle to help make it more visible to drivers.

Ride on the Right Side of the Street

When you do ride on the street, be sure to ride on the right side of the street going in the same direction as traffic.  Riding against the flow of traffic greatly increases your risk of accident.  Since you are driving towards oncoming traffic, it gives a driver less time to react should he or she drift into the bike lane.  Additionally, this also increases the risk of being hit when going across a driveway or street crossing.  If a car is waiting to turn left into a driveway, and you are riding on the wrong side of the street, you are approaching the driver from behind.  There isn’t any way the driver will be able to see you and increases the chances of the driver pulling in front of you or hitting you as you cross the driveway.

 

As you enjoy your time riding your bicycle, be sure you are following all traffic laws.  Additionally, be sure to bike defensively.  Don’t ever assume that a car sees you.  Doing your part to stay as safe as possible will help you avoid getting into an accident.

We have helped hundreds of people who have been in bicycle accidents recover the money they deserve for the injuries they sustained.  If you would like to learn more, please contact us at 800-676-5295.

Related Posts

  • Bike Safety Tips for Adults

    As spring spreads across the nation, bikers are popping up as regularly as the lilacs,…

  • May is Bike Safety Month

    People ride bicycles for a variety of reasons. Not only do bicycles serve as reliable…

  • Safety Tips For Pedestrians To Avoid Accidents

    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), whenever you are not in your…

Posted in: Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents Tagged: Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents, Bicycle Injuries, Bike Safety

23822 W. VALENCIA BLVD #303 | VALENCIA, CA 91355 | (661) 799-3899

15760 VENTURA BOULEVARD | ENCINO, CA 91436 | (800) 676-5295

355 SOUTH GRAND AVE #2450 | LOS ANGELES, CA 90071 | (800) 676-5295

3771 CAHUENGA BOULEVARD | STUDIO CITY, CA 91604 | (800) 676-5295

1999 AVENUE OF THE STARS, SUITE 1100 CENTURY CITY, CA 90067

Categories

  • Amusement Park Ride Accidents
  • Article
  • Auto Accidents
  • Aviation Accidents
  • Awards
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
  • Boat and Personal Water Craft Accidents
  • Brain Injuries
  • Burn Injuries
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  • Case Studies
  • Child Protection
  • Children's Sports Accidents
  • Dangerous Pharmaceuticals
  • Defective Products
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Dog Bites
  • Elder Abuse & Neglect
  • Legal System
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Natural Disasters
  • Negligence
  • News
  • News & Resources
  • Off-Road Vehicle Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Playground and Backyard Recreational Equipment Accidents
  • Press Releases
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Train Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Uncategorized
  • Weather
  • Wrongful Death

Archives

  • March 2021
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • February 2019
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • May 2012
  • September 2011

Recent Posts

  • USC AGREES TO $842.4M SETTLEMENT TO VICTIMS OF DR. GEORGE TYNDALL
  • What To Do If You’re In A Car Accident
  • Covid-19: What About Civil Liability?
  • Attorney Beau Goodrick Returns Home, Joins Owen, Patterson & Owen
  • Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash: How To Successfully Prove A Wrongful Death Claim

Tags

Accident Accident Prevention Auto Accident Attorney Los Angeles Auto Accident Prevention Tips Auto Accidents Auto Injury automobile accident prevention automobile accidents Automobile safety technology Auto Recalls Auto Safety Tips Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents Bicycle Injuries Bike Safety Boat and Personal Water Craft Accidents Brain Injuries Car Accident car accident prevention Car Accidents Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Car Safety Child Protection Child Safety Dangerous Pharmaceuticals Defective Products Distracted Driving Dog Bites Driver Safety Tips driving safety Elder Abuse & Neglect Motorcycle Accident Attorney Motorcycle Accidents Motorcycle Fatalities Motorcycle Safety Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Motorcycle Safety Tips Negligence Off-Road Vehicle Accidents Personal Injury personal injury attorney los angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Porter Ranch Gas Leak Porter Ranch Gas Leak Attorneys Safety Tips Truck Accidents
Learn more about these organizations
2015 Litigator Award    
  • Home
  • The Firm
  • Practice Areas
  • Cases
  • Media
  • Attorney Referrals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact

The law firm of Owen Patterson & Owen serves people throughout the United States. Locally, the firm serves people in Valencia and throughout Southern California, including Santa Clarita, Newhall, Gorman, Simi Valley, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Moorpark, Agoura, Calabasas, Northridge, Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Encino, San Fernando, Bakersfield, Palmdale, Thousand Oaks, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, Victorville, Barstow, Baker, California City, Canyon Country, Apple Valley, Palm Springs, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, El Monte, Pomona, Santa Barbara and all cities within Los Angeles County, Kern County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, as well as the areas known as Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, High Desert, Southern California, Grapevine and the Inland Empire.

Owen, Patterson & Owen, LLP is a limited liability partnership comprised of Susan A. Owen, APLC, Richard A. Patterson, APLC and Gregory James Owen, PLC. As used in this Website Owen, Patterson & Owen, LLP is referred to as Owen, Patterson & Owen.

©2021 by Owen, Patterson & Owen, 23822 Valencia Blvd #303, Valencia, CA 91355 All rights reserved.Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Site Map Developed by Los Angeles Digital Marketing & WSI