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Where do drivers need to take particular care around cyclists?

On Behalf of | May 18, 2022 | Auto Accident Injuries |

If a driver hits a cyclist, the chances are high that the cyclist will die or suffer severe injury. It is simple physics – a car is much heavier, larger, harder and faster than someone on a bike.

So, drivers must do all they can to avoid hitting people on bicycles. Here are some ways they can do that:

Take extra care when opening doors

The threat of a parking ticket or the lights changing may cause people to hurry when getting out of the car. They may not check properly to see if it is safe to do so. If a cyclist is passing, they could easily open the door in their path and knock them off.

Take extra care at intersections

Any point where vehicles need to cross each other holds more danger than one where everyone is traveling in the same direction. Most crashes happen at intersections, particularly when people need to turn left across the oncoming traffic.

Cyclists cannot make the turn as fast, so they spend more time in the danger zone. The convergence of other vehicles can also make it harder to see anyone on two wheels.

Take care in heavy traffic

Drivers sitting in traffic spend a lot of time with the same car in their rearview mirror and the same vehicle in front of them. Hence they may switch off and fail to notice that a cyclist has squeezed through the traffic and appeared alongside them.

If a driver knocks you from your bicycle, finding out how to claim compensation will be crucial to cover the large medical bills you will likely have.

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