With summer in full swing, many bicyclists are enjoying the weather with nightly family bike rides and other bicycle excursions. For motorists, bicycles can be extremely difficult to see because they are small and can easily disappear into a driver’s blind spot. While some drivers consider cyclists annoying traffic obstructions, most drivers are careful and cautious.

Those who share Georgia roadways have no interest in being involved in a bicycle collision regardless of whether the person is driving a car or riding a bike. There is a wide array of bicycle accident prevention techniques that can help a motorist avoid a bike collision.

One of the most effective ways to avoid causing a serious bicycle accident in Georgia is to employ common sense driving practices including:

• Obey the speed limit: Because bicycles are small and less visible, the time a driver has to react when seeing a bicyclist may be far less than with cars, trucks or SUVs. Bicycles also have less ability to maneuver to avoid a collision because of their slow rate of speed in relation to a passenger vehicle. This means that if a bicycle and passenger vehicle is on course for a collision the driver of the passenger vehicle will have the greater ability to employ evasive maneuvers to avoid a car accident.
• Avoid Distracted Driving: Many bicycle accidents occur because the driver does not see the bicyclist. Given the vulnerability of a bicycle rider, drivers who are not paying complete attention to their driving can easily crash with a bicycle before realizing that a collision with the bicycle is imminent.
• Never Drive Impaired: It may seem ludicrous to even mention avoiding DUI violations as a way to reduce bicycle accidents. Although almost anyone would acknowledge the danger and inappropriateness of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, DUI is a common cause of collisions where motorists plow into bicyclists.
• Properly Maintain Your Vehicle: Equipment failure including tire blowouts and brake failure contribute to a fair number of motor vehicle accidents, including bicycle accidents. If you routinely inspect and maintain your vehicle, collisions resulting from low pressure, worn tire tread, dried out rubber and brake failure from lack of brake fluid can be avoided. The relative difference in the ability of a bicycle to respond when compared to a car makes car equipment failure a far greater hazard to bike riders.

While these general common sense practices can help avoid all types of accidents, there are also strategies that are specifically designed to reduce the risk of bicycle crashes:

• Leave a reasonable gap between your car and the bicyclist.
• Avoid following too closely behind a bicycle.
• Turn and look for bicyclists adjacent or behind your vehicle before opening your car door.
• Be prepared for unpredictable behavior from a child cyclist.
• Never cut a bike rider off when turning.
• Do not pass a cyclist without leaving ample space.

Summer means kids are out of school, which in turn means an increased risk of bicycle accidents. If you or someone close to you is injured in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. The experienced Atlanta bicycle accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates are committed to helping those injured by unsafe drivers recover the financial compensation they deserve for their injuries or loss.

Our Georgia bicycle accident injury attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.