A new report published in the Journal of the American Medial Association has discovered that as the population of bikers increases, and ages, more bicyclists are being admitted to hospitals with injuries. In fact, according to the study, bicycle injuries resulting in hospital admissions more than doubled between 1998 and 2013. Bicyclists over the age of 45 saw the largest spike in hospital admissions.
According to the author of the study, to reduce their risk of injury bicyclists should follow all basic safety precautions. These precautions include wearing a helmet and reflective gear, equipping bicycles with lights, and always being aware of your surroundings.
The author of a separate study that examined bicycling deaths (which found an increased mortality rate for older bicyclists) also notes that better urban planning could also reduce bicycle accidents. Reducing speed on roads used by bicycles, adding protected bike lanes, and using unique paint were among the ideas. Los Angeles is doing just that, with plans to add about 300 miles of protected bike lanes in the future.
While basic safety and urban planning are good ways to reduce bicycle injuries, the best way is for bicyclists and drivers to follow the rules of the road. Bicyclists need to follow all of the same traffic rules as cars, including stopping at stop signs and stoplights and riding on the correct side of the road. Cars need to treat bicycles like mini cars; bicycles are just as entitled to the roadways.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker today at (800) 333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
