The weather is beginning to cool down and the leaves are changing color. This combination can make for a spectacular bike ride along North Carolina’s roadways. Cyclists be warned though—a leisurely ride in our state can quickly become a deadly affair.

One new study shows North Carolina bicycle accident rates have led to the state being ranked as the eighth deadliest place to ride a bicycle in our nation.

According to an article from The Independent Weekly, the state averaged 25 fatalities related to collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles per year. A majority of North Carolina’s bicycle accidents occurred in the Piedmont region of the state, with Wake County recording the highest number of accidents. Considering the major contributing factor to these accidents was a motorist’s failure to recognize or yield the right of way to a cyclist, the conditions and time of day a majority of the crashes occurred is surprising.

A total of 83 percent of North Carolina’s fatal bicycle accidents happened when the weather was clear and almost 74 percent took place during daylight hours.

So what can cyclists do to stay safe and avoid accidents or injuries? The North Carolina personal injury lawyers with HensonFuerst suggest always wearing a helmet. Doing so can reduce your chance of death in the event of a collision by as much as 60 percent.