Southern California Bicycle Law Blog

Reasons why a recumbent bike keeps you safe

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle accidents on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

If you have been mulling over the idea of riding a recumbent bike, one thing you may have been considering is just how safe you would be on the road. Does this type of relaxed ride offer any safety advantages over a traditional bike?

It may. They are certainly at least as safe as a traditional bike.

Study finds that 1 in 5 cyclists does not wear a helmet

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle accidents on Friday, September 27, 2019.

Helmets go a long way toward preventing fatalities and life-changing head injuries in a bike accident. They're the single most important piece of protective gear that any rider can wear.

Even so, studies have found that a lot of people are not wearing them. In one study that looked only at cyclists who got into accidents, it found that more than 20% -- or one out of every five -- did not have a bike helmet on at the time of the crash.

How long until that broken wrist heals?

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle injuries on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

You get clipped by a car while riding your bike. The driver claims later that they never saw you. You absolutely saw them, though, as they turned right through the bike lane and knocked you to the pavement at about 20 miles per hour.

While you did escape a major head injury or anything of that nature, you suffered a broken wrist. Medics took you to the hospital, where you got the necessary surgery the same day.

Will the powered scooter program affect cyclists?

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys on Saturday, August 31, 2019.

Over the last year, powered scooters have grown in popularity across the nation. The number of commuters opting for a scooter is increasing.

However, with that change comes several safety concerns, spurring new regulations. In particular, the new scooter programs may affect many cyclists.

Los Angeles' deadly streets are targets for bicycle improvements

By Max Draitser of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle advocacy on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

The 80 deadliest streets and intersections is not a new clip show or reality series. They are the target of the LA City Council in 2019. The Council is trying to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety after pedestrian deaths jumped by 82 percent between 2015-2017.

If you almost get hit, do not confront the driver

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle accidents on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

Every cyclist has been there at some point: A driver nearly hits you. Maybe they pull out of a driveway as you're going by on the street. Maybe you come around a corner, and they turn left in front of you. Maybe they just drift into the bike lane, distracted by their phone.

Regardless of how it happens, you feel like they're not being careful enough with your life. After all, you know all too well how vulnerable you are. Their irresponsible behavior could put you in the hospital -- or worse.

Cycling reduces road congestion and accident risks

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle advocacy on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

There are plenty of personal benefits to cycling, such as promoting a healthy lifestyle and cutting down on gas bills. But have you ever thought of just how much good cycling can do for the population at large?

One benefit is that it reduces the congestion on California's notoriously busy roads. Every cyclist takes another car off of the road, freeing up space and opening up lanes for other traffic. Even if the cyclists end up using the same roads -- and they often don't, sticking to smaller roads while cars head for the interstate -- they take up less space and allow traffic to move smoothly.

Are bike lanes getting crowded?

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle accidents on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

Generally speaking, you have three lanes on a city street: The travel lane for cars, the bike lane for cyclists and the sidewalk for pedestrians. These keep different modes of transportation in their separate spaces to keep everyone safe.

However, some experts have noted that it's not always this simple. What do you do with skateboards? Where do you put those new electric scooters that are popular in many cities? They think we need to reconsider how we divide traffic.

Does a MIPS bike helmet help?

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys posted in bicycle injuries on Friday, July 26, 2019.

If you have been shopping for a bike helmet recently, you have probably noticed a lot of MIPS helmets. This is one of the newest technological advancements. It stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System.

The idea is to mimic the way that your brain protects itself with a slip plane. When there is an impact, the interior of the helmet can slightly rotate and move. This will hopefully cut back on the rotational damage caused in the crash, as the helmet rotates instead. That's important because scientists think that one of the main reasons for concussions and brain injuries is this rotational component.

Cyclists: how to handle road rage

On behalf of Max Draitser - Southern California Bicycle Attorneys on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.

As a cyclist, you may face aggressive drivers. Both verbal and physical aggression can be scary and dangerous. Road rage is always fear-inducing, but when you are on a bike you do not have the protection of a passenger vehicle. Even when road rage is not a factor, drivers are at fault in the majority of collisions involving bicycles and cars.

When you find yourself at the mercy of a raging motorist, you may now know how to react. Here are some suggestions on how to handle a driver with road rage.