Fall is in the air, and in North Carolina that means many students are returning to school. A growing number of these students are choosing bicycles as a means of transportation, but it’s important for cyclists to keep several safety tips in mind to avoid being involved in a North Carolina bicycle accident.

Wearing a helmet has been proven to significantly reduce the chances of injury or death in the event of a crash. That’s why North Carolina has a law that requires all bicyclists under age 16 to wear a helmet when riding. While the law doesn’t require older riders to wear such safety equipment, they are highly advised to do so.

WRAL News recently released a report that offered several tips on how to pick the right helmet for bicycling and how to ensure a proper fit. There are also other procedures you can follow and equipment you can use to stay safe when riding.

At HensonFuerst, our team of attorneys suggests taking the following precautions:

• Equip Your Bike With Lights and Reflectors– State law requires bikes on the road to have a headlamp that can be seen from at least 300 feet away as well as a reflector that can be seen from at least 200 feet. Wearing light-colored or reflective clothing will also increase visibility.
• Obey All Traffic Signals- Cyclists are required to adhere to all traffic laws that apply to vehicles and pedestrians, including the commands of traffic lights and signs.
• Use Hand Signals- All bikers should be educated in the proper use of hand signals to inform motorists of stops and turns.

We hope these tips help keep you safe. If you are involved in an accident while riding your bike, it may be wise to speak with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer and our team is here to help. Give us a call at (866) 777-1170 to learn more about what we can do for you.