As the weather begins to heat up this spring and summer, remember that Austin is a very popular place for people to commute by bicycle. 
People love to cycle along city roads and around Town Lake, but before doing this, you should take precautions to avoid being in an accident. Keep in mind, in order to avoid an accident in Austin, as a cyclist you should:
- Ride with traffic and not against it
- Obey all signals and signs, observing the right-of-way of others
- Avoid passing other vehicles in the same lane
- Stay visible at night by using lights and by wearing reflective clothing
- Maintain your bike at a safe speed
With this in mind, the City of Austin offers a frequently asked questions page concerning bicycling on its website, which you can view by clicking here. Unfortunately, although many cyclists are proactive when it comes to safety, sometimes there is little they can do to prevent accidents involving negligent drivers. Media outlets have reported that the Austin Police Department responds to an average of about 300 bicycle accidents each year. Many of these crashes are a result of negligent motorists.
If an irresponsible driver, who may have been distracted or disregarded traffic laws, has injured you in a bicycle accident, it may be wise to contact an attorney. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to damages. Bear in mind, you should not have to suffer because you enjoy biking as a hobby or because you use a bicycle as a form of transportation.
Bicyclist Struck on South Lamar
We bring up bicycle accidents because last month a car on South Lamar stuck a bicyclist, near West Riverside Drive in Austin.
According to KVUE-TV, the accident occurred at around 12:50 p.m. on March 18. The victim, whose injuries were not life threatening, had to be transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge for treatment. The accident remains under investigation. It is unclear who was at fault.
Speaking to an Attorney Following a Bicycle Accident
Most firms offer a free initial consultation, if you have concerns about costs, and work on a contingency basis. However, not very many have the experience that our firm has when it comes to representing injured Austin bicyclists.
We handle all accident cases with compassion, as we understand how popular bicycling is in our active community. Stay safe this spring and summer!
The Law Offices of Aaron Allison – Austin Personal Injury Attorney
