As anyone who leads an active lifestyle will tell you, partaking in exercise or some type of physical activity every day has a wide variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Some people are involved in team sports such as soccer or ultimate frisbee, while others choose to invest in individual activities. One of the best sports to participate in is cycling.
Those who choose to take up cycling as their physical activity will soon find out that it is an excellent workout and can have remarkable effects on your overall well-being. It is low impact, so it is better for your joints (especially your knees and hips) than other sports and it gives you the opportunity to explore your city from a whole new vantage point.
Physical Benefits of Riding a Bicycle
There are many great advantages of riding a bicycle as your physical activity of choice. Once you become comfortable on your bike and are able to ride it as an extension of yourself, you can truly start to embrace all of the benefits.
Here are some of the best physical benefits of riding a bicycle on a regular basis:
- Improved cardiovascular health and fitness
- Increased strength and flexibility in your muscles
- Better joint mobility
- Reduced stress levels
- Better posture and coordination
- Increased strength in your bones
- Lowered level of body fat (weight loss)
- Prevention/management of diseases
With all of these exceptional advantages of cycling on a regular basis, it is no wonder that there are so many bicycle riders sharing the roads with motorists these days!
Precautions to Take While Cycling to Avoid a Personal Injury Lawsuit
It is important to remember that when you are cycling on the roads in Palm Bay, FL, you must obey traffic laws in the same way that other motorists do. When you come up to a red light, you must stop and wait for the light to turn green. At stop signs, you must come to a complete stop before moving forward. Hand signals indicating upcoming turns must be used as well.
Cyclists must also be much more aware of their surroundings because they are much smaller compared to the vehicles on the road. Riding defensively is important to ensure that you are prepared in the event that a vehicle does not notice your presence and turns in front of you or does some other dangerous action.
What to Do if You Are Involved in a Bicycle Accident
It is unfortunate but true that car accidents happen and involve bicyclists. When a cyclist is part of the accident, that person tends to receive the worse parts of the damage. If you are involved in a car accident as a cyclist, here are some top tips on how to handle the situation:
Get Off of the Road
If you are able, remove yourself from the road to ensure that you are not further injured by oncoming traffic. Just like any other traffic accident, you should pull over to the side of the road and wait for help.
Call for Emergency Services
Police and EMT services should be called to provide protection and medical assistance. This is especially true if any parties involved sustained serious injury.
Exchange Information with the Other Party
You or a representative need to exchange information with the other party involved. This includes name, contact information, insurance information, and any other relevant knowledge. While doing so, never admit fault!
Take Photos and Talk to Witnesses
If you can, document the scene in as many ways as possible. This includes taking photos and videos on your smartphone, talking to an eyewitness and getting their contact information, and writing down your version of the events as you remember them as soon as possible.
File a Police Report to Be Used in Personal Injury Claims
Be sure to file a police report that details everything that happened from your perspective. Again, never admit fault. This report can and will be used in your personal injury case to prove the fault of the other party and work to get you fair compensation for your injuries.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
Unfortunately, the one drawback of riding a bike on your city’s streets is the potential for a crash with an automobile. Motorists have a bad habit of not checking for cycling in their path before they make a turn or suddenly change lanes. The result can be severe and devastating injuries to cyclists.
Those bicycle riders who have been involved in a motor vehicle accident while on their bike should contact an attorney to handle their personal injury claim. At Alpizar Law, LLC, we understand Florida personal injury law as it relates to bicycle accidents, and we are ready to stand up for the victims. We take personal injury cases very seriously, and each car accident lawyer on our team is dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve.
We may be able to get you compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, damages to your property, lost income in the future, ongoing medical bills (prescriptions, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prosthetics, etc.), pain and suffering, and much more. With our Palm Bay, FL, personal injury lawyer at your side, we will hold the other party and their insurance company responsible for your injuries.
Contact Our Palm Bay, FL, Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident and sustained severe injuries, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim in Palm Bay, FL. You have the right to fight for compensation for your injuries caused by the negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of another driver while you are simply out getting your daily dose of exercise.
Our car accident lawyer at Alpizar Law, LLC will fight to make sure that the insurance company pays for your injuries out of the driver’s personal injury protection, and you can rest assured that we won’t stop until the fairest outcome is reached.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our personal injury law firm.
