Bicycling or jogging in Indianapolis this spring? Here are some safety tips

On behalf of Steven Crell of Steve Crell Law posted in Bicycle Accidents on Monday, June 8, 2015.

Now that spring has sprung, bicyclists and joggers in Indiana have begun to take full advantage of the warm and pleasant weather. With the increase in bike and foot traffic, it is important that cyclists, pedestrians and drivers all watch out for one another and avoid collisions.

Unfortunately, distracted driving is a common cause of bicycle and pedestrian accidents, and Indianapolis police recently reminded drivers to leave their phones alone while behind the wheel. As we discussed in a previous post, texting while driving requires the visual, manual and cognitive attention of the driver, but all of these faculties are needed simultaneously for drivers to drive safely and watch out for others on the road.

Likewise, bicyclists and runners are encouraged to take safety precautions. If you listen to music while riding, running or walking, then it’s a good idea to keep the volume low enough that you can hear what is going on around you.

Bicyclists and pedestrians can also protect themselves by wearing reflective clothing and helmets, following traffic and pedestrian signals, and not making the mistake of assuming that accidents only happen to other people.

Car and truck drivers in Indianapolis should also be aware of the city’s bicycle- and pedestrian-related ordinances. For more on those, you can see our post from March, “What are the bicycle safety laws in Indianapolis?”

Sometimes, even when cyclists and pedestrians do all of the right things to protect against collisions, the negligent actions of drivers result in serious accidents, and victims often don’t know where to turn for justice. If you have been hurt in a bicycle or pedestrian crash, then speak with a personal injury attorney with experience in these kinds of cases.