Charlotte, NC Personal Injury Lawyer

Spring is approaching quickly, soon kids will be spending their days outdoors. To assure their safety, properly fitting them with a bike and helmet is imperative. In 2010 there were 618 traffic fatalities that involved bicyclists and 52,000 injuries.

The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet.

Make it a rule — every time you or your child ride a bike, you must wear a bicycle helmet that meets or exceeds the safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Proper bicycle fit and maintenance are also important for safety.Helmet fit is important. The helmet should be comfortable and snug, but not too tight. It should sit centered on top of your head in a level position, and it should not rock forward and backward or side to side. The helmet straps must always be buckled snugly against your chin.

If your child is reluctant to wear a helmet, try letting him or her choose his own.

• Ensure proper bike fit by bringing the child along when shopping for a bike. Buy a bicycle that is the right size for the child, not one he will grow into. When sitting on the seat, the child’s feet should touch the ground.
• Make sure the reflectors are secure, the brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.
• Always model and teach proper bicyclist behavior. Learn the rules of the road, and obey all traffic laws.
• Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against. Stay as far to the right as possible.
• Use appropriate hand signals.
• Respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stop lights.
• Stop and look left, right and left again before entering a street or crossing an intersection. Look back and yield to traffic coming from behind before turning left.
• Adult supervision of child cyclists is essential until you are sure a child has good traffic skills and judgment.
• Cycling should be restricted to sidewalks and paths until a child is age 10.
• Children should be able to demonstrate riding competence and knowledge of the rules of the road before they cycle with traffic.
• Children should not ride a bicycle when it’s dark, in the fog or in other low-visibility conditions.
• If riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening is unavoidable, use a light on the bike and make sure it has reflectors as well.
• Wear clothes and accessories that incorporate retro-reflective materials to improve your visibility to motorists.

Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Bice Law

The personal injury firm of Bice Law will examine your case to determine the type and amount of damages that your injury warrants, including payments for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and any permanent disability.  We’ll determine whether an out-of-court settlement or trial is the best strategy to obtain maximum benefits for you or your family. If you have suffered injury or harm because of someone else’s actions, take the first step to protect your legal rights – contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call 877-BICE-877 today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a  personal injury attorney. We serve families across both North Carolina and South Carolina.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.