More Than A Helmet: What The CDC Recommends You Wear To Avoid A Bike Accident

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does a lot of research on a variety of things that range from infectious diseases to, yes, bicycle accidents and the agency often releases recommendations for protecting your health and safety in many circumstances. When it comes to bicycle accidents the agency has put out guidance on how to protect yourself from being involved in a serious and even deadly crash while on two wheels.

The first and most important thing you can do as a rider is to wear a helmet. While a helmet may not prevent you from getting into a New Haven bicycle accident, it may reduce the severity if you happen to get into an accident. Wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is not required by law for anyone over the age of 16 in the state of Connecticut, but it is strongly recommended for all riders by the CDC.

The CDC has also looked at other clothing that a cyclist might wear to help protect her/him from getting into an accident and there are some elements that you should consider when choosing what to wear while riding your bike.  The CDC recommends the following clothing to keep you safe;

1.) Fluorescent clothing:  Wearing brightly colored clothing can help a cyclist be more visible during the day.  Wearing a shirt that is bright and stands out will allow those driving motorized vehicles to share the road with cyclists without the fear of getting into an accident.

2.) Retro reflective clothing: There are a variety of ways to incorporate retro reflective clothing into your wardrobe while you ride your bike.  The first way is using a retro reflective tape that is stuck to your bike or your everyday clothing.  There are also brand name clothes that are made with retro reflective elements built into them which will keep you visible at all times of the day and night.  The CDC recommends that retro reflective clothing be worn, especially at night, so on-coming traffic can see the rider ahead.

You may not always give a passing thought to what clothes you will be wearing when you head out of the house.  You may not be considering clothing as a way of protecting yourself from injury, but wearing the right clothes can be the difference between getting to your destination safely or getting into a New Haven bicycle accident and injuring yourself in the process.  If  you’re riding your bike at night, the CDC guidance should be followed at all times so you don’t get hurt.

Whatever time of day you are riding your bike, if you get injured, you may wish to speak to an experienced attorney.   Contact our office and one of our attorneys will work with you to understand the specifics of your situation and protect your long-term interests.