Risks Faced by Kids who Ride Bikes in Phoenix

Recently, a lot of attention has been focused on safety issues related to sports played by young children. Whether it is football, soccer, wrestling, basketball, or baseball, injuries can happen in almost any sporting event, leading many parents to worry about their children when playing these games and other parents to forego sports altogether. In fact, the number of participants in several youth sports has plummeted in recent years in what is believed to be a response to safety issues.

But the fact remains that children between the ages of five and 14 are more likely to be hurt in a bicycle accident than they are in a sports accident which means that parents who are concerned about safety should not overlook bicycling, especially if their kids ride in Phoenix.

If you are a parent, there are several threats that may face your child if he or she is riding a bicycle and these threats can be serious. The most significant issue facing riders of any age continues to be the presence of automobiles and inattentive drivers. Though it is the right of cyclists to ride a bicycle, drivers of cars do not always recognize that right and may act in a manner that does not prioritize safety, potentially leading to a bicycle accident.

Other issues faced by riders include bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. If individuals in any of these categories cross paths with your child while your child rides, an accident is possible and it may result injuries.

If your goal is to keep your child as safe as possible, make sure you discuss safety with your kids before you allow them to ride, especially now that temperatures are becoming mild and as some students have additional time off school. Ensure that your child understands the rules of the road and where she should cross a street or a path, if needed. Also, make sure your child understands the importance of following traffic lights and traffic signals, including stop signs, and that the right-of-way must be respected.

Before you let your child ride a bicycle, purchase a helmet that is appropriate for the age and size of your child. Adjust the straps and make sure the helmet fits as intended by the manufacturer so that your child will be as safe as possible. Experts believe that wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 88 percent, but surprising, just under 50 percent of children wear helmets in America. As head injuries can be some of the worst injuries to come from a bicycle crash, you should make sure your child does not ride without a proper helmet in place.

If your child will be riding at night, make sure she wears bright colored clothing or clothing that will reflect light as much as possible. Also know that many cities have regulations and law regarding lights on bicycles when they are used at night, so look up any laws that might apply so you can comply with them and make your child as visible as possible.

Finally, know that however many steps you take to keep your children safe, you cannot control the actions of others and therefore your child may still be the victim of a bicycle accident involving minors. If this happens to your family, you may be entitled to legal relief against an at-fault driver so that your child can get the help she deserves. Call the legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation about your rights in Phoenix and whether you can recover for your child’s injuries. We have a lawyer available 24/7 to take your call toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191 and we will keep everything discussed in the consultation confidential.

At Abels & Annes, P.C., we fight for the best possible outcome in every case we handle. If we can fight for you, call us now.

Prior Blog Entry:

Uber Prices Dropping, Making Rideshares More Affordable, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published January 11, 2016.