If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident after dark due to the negligence of others, contact an expert bicycle accident lawyer at Utah Personal Injury Attorneys. We offer free legal consultations when you call today. We also work on a contingency basis, which means there are no legal fees until your claim is resolved and you get the compensation you deserve.

 Below are some ways to learn to protect yourself best while riding a bicycle after dark in Utah.

Stay Visible

Please stick to the same route you take, as it’s important not to venture through unfamiliar roads at night. Please have a good understanding of your path’s terrain, as it can help you maneuver safely throughout your ride.

It’s imperative to always think about your safety while you are riding around at night. If you’re riding in well-lit areas, it increases your chances of being spotted, but this is not always the case. However, keeping an eye on what’s going on around you helps you stay on your toes and make any maneuvers possible to keep you safe. 

Avoid driving around in areas that are known for speeding, drunk driving, and high crime. 

Abide By The Law 

Expert bicycle riders suggest that you stick within the bicycle lanes whenever possible, riding in the direction of traffic. Avoid highways and refrain from drugs and alcohol when you are riding. 

All traffic laws are designed to protect you as well as others. Should you neglect to follow the law while riding your bike at night, it may lead to accidents, tickets, and more. 

Reflective Gear 

It has been proven that just adding reflective strips to your pedals is helpful to aid other vehicles in spotting you. As you are peddling your bicycle, these reflectors spin in such a manner that they can easily catch a motorist’s attention. Also, please invest in adding front and backlights. A reflective vest can add to your visibility; however, it is optional. 

Be Prepared At All Times

Imagine your chain becomes dislodged during your night ride. So, it is crucial to make sure that your bicycle has always received proper maintenance before you depart. In order to avoid having to fix something in the dark, try adding extra parts to your bicycle as a “fail-safe” plan. If you do this, throw in a few extra tools, backup parts, spare tires, lights, and maybe a new chain.

Buddy System

There truly is safety in numbers — so try to take your night rides with a group of friends. You all can help each other if there’s a mechanical issue. Also, riding a bicycle in a group increases the odds of other vehicle drivers seeing you. 

Contact Utah Personal Injury Attorneys Today

At Utah Personal Injury Attorneys, we know that a bicycle accident can happen even if you’re entirely prepared for a nighttime ride. So, if you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to negligence while driving your bicycle, we can help you get the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on recovery.

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A motorcycle offers a unique way to explore the road. One that has been celebrated in almost all American storytelling. However, this thrilling ride can come with its dangers. Motorcyclists are vulnerable to various accidents. To highlight the importance of safe motorcycle riding, we have compiled a list of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents.

Low Visibility

Motorcycles are smaller than cars in build; they usually don’t get the same consideration on the road. Driving on the highway especially means having to navigate a space that’s mainly designed for full-size vehicles. Most cars are not looking out for motorcycles in the same way they would for other traffic. You can counteract this by being mindful and proactive when navigating around cars. When in doubt, assume other drivers can’t see you and drive defensively.

Dangerous Turn

Left-hand turns are notorious for causing accidents, with almost 40% of accidents involving a left turn. Whether the vehicle turns into an oncoming motorcycle or swipes into one that’s trying to pass, the results can be fatal. For the majority of cases, the left-turning vehicle is at fault for the accident.

Reckless Driving

Motorcycles are not the only vehicles in danger of other negligent, distracted, drunk, or impaired drivers. However, they are uniquely vulnerable to them. Motorcycles are already less visible than other vehicles to other motorists. In being so, they already increase their risk to distracted of impaired drivers.

Reckless operation of motorcycles can also pose a danger to motorists. We know it can be hard to suppress the adrenaline of blasting off on a high-end motorcycle. However, this is no reason to go crazy on the road, as you’re giving other vehicles even less time to react to a potential collision.

Driving Conditions

In Utah, we are all familiar with less than optimal driving conditions, to say the least. It can cause a significantly higher margin for something to go wrong during your casual ride. Be mindful of the condition of the road and your vehicle at all times, it would be a shame for you to sustain severe or even fatal injuries due to some ice. Also, maintaining your motorcycle to its proper efficiency can rule out mechanical issues from arising. The last thing you want is to be severely injured because your brake system failed at the wrong time. 

Getting injured in a motorcycle accident can lead to a long road to recovery. Since most motorcycle accidents are often severe, recovery can leave a nasty pile of hospital bills. That’s why we’re here to provide experienced motorcycle accident attorneys to help you get the compensation you truly deserve. Contact us online or call our office during regular office hours to see how our expert attorneys can help your case.

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The symptoms associated with whiplash, according to the professionals at John Hopkins University, can include neck pain and stiffness that may radiate to your shoulders or arms; tingling in your arms or fingers; low back pain; dizziness; blurry vision; ringing in your ears; and issues with concentration or memory. Whiplash is an injury to your neck caused by the forced motion of your head going back and forth at an accelerated and decelerated rate. While is whiplash may be caused by a sports injury or a fall, most notably whiplash is attributable to rear-end accidents. Whiplash is often undiagnosed and misunderstood or downplayed.

Whiplash is diagnosed by several methods, most commonly an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan. If you are diagnosed with whiplash your health care provider may order you to undergo physical therapy, wear a cervical collar, apply ice, take muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory medication.

Typically, symptoms of whiplash tend or resolve or decrease within several weeks or months after your accident. In some cases, however, pain and symptoms may persist well after that. It is crucial to obtain medical treatment from a health care provider who is well versed with symptoms and issues relating to car accidents, including whiplash.

Call our office today to discuss your questions or concerns relating to your car accident, including whiplash. While we would never advise or direct medical care we certainly understand and have vast experience with the legal aspects that surround whiplash injuries.

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Taking your eyes off the road to reach for your phone and read a text while driving is all the time it takes to find yourself in a car crash. According to the National Safety Council, as many as 42,060 people are estimated to have died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020. 

Texting and driving is one of the most common and dangerous distracted driving habits, though there are many other ways you could be putting yourself and others at risk. Here are some tips that you can use to reduce driving distractions and keep yourself and the ones you love safe. 

No Electronics

Please stow away all of your electronics. Yes, including your cell phone. Most cars are now equipped with hand-free phone pairing that allows drivers to answer emergency calls while they drive. Try placing your electronic devices in the middle console or glove box. You could also utilize the “do not disturb” feature in your phone, which stops incoming texts from notifying your phone. Our experienced car accident attorneys recommend only using phones for emergency purposes, such as calling for the police or ambulance. 

Adjust Before Driving

Before hitting the road, make all the adjustments needed to your mirrors, seat position, sound system, etc. Driving is not the time to be multitasking. Also, if you need to use a navigation system to chart your travels, enter the directions to your GPS device before you start driving.

Efficient Snacking

Eating while driving is not a habit you should make, as you can take your hands off the wheel or spill your food and get distracted. If you absolutely need to eat on the road to save time, bring items that are not messy and are easy to hold with one hand, like a granola bar.

Buckled Up!

Make sure that any passenger, including children, is wearing a seatbelt at all times. You should confine your pets in some way if they are also along for the ride. The last thing you want is to worry about reaching toward a passenger while you’re losing control of your vehicle. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving accident, Hernandez Law is here to help you get the compensation you deserve and the most effortless recovery possible. Call our offices during regular business hours to get a free consultation today!

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Safe Walking Location

Pedestrians should only find themselves walking in designated safe walking sections along the road, such as sidewalks, crosswalks, bridges, and any other safe walkways. If at any point you find that there is not a crosswalk, cross the road in a well-lit area and make sure you have a lot of room to ensure you are 100% safe to cross. This is not the time to get impatient; most high-speed collisions are fatal. Various roads prohibit pedestrian use, such as highways. Keep in mind where you’re walking.

Visibility

Vehicles are passing you at high speed, and they don’t have enough time to react if they can’t see you. It’s extremely effective that you make yourself as visible as possible if you’re walking during nighttime hours. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 30 percent of pedestrian-auto accident fatalities occur between 8 pm and 11:59 pm. 

Pedestrians can make themselves more visible to motorists by:

• Making eye contact with an approaching motorist as often as possible
• Wearing light and bright-colored clothing at night
• Travel in well-lit areas to increase visibility

Remain Alert

Every pedestrian should pay attention to their surroundings, nearby roadways, and the behavior of approaching vehicles at all times. It’s safe to assume that every driver is distracted and unaware of pedestrians near the road. If you see a motorist that is driving recklessly, try avoiding the path to the approaching vehicle.

Resist Temptation

Pedestrians should resist the temptation to use items that could cause them to become distracted when walking next to a high-traffic road. Should a pedestrian become distracted, they could unknowingly walk into the road or fail to follow traffic laws.  

Common ways pedestrians can become distracted:

• Listening to music with headphones
• Texting/Talking on the phone
• Reading while walking

Avoid Consuming Alcohol

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly half of all pedestrian-auto accidents involve alcohol consumption. Just as drivers are not to drink and drive, pedestrians should avoid roadways when consumed alcohol. It is indeed better to stay safe than to take the risk when you are impaired. 

Best Pedestrian Personal Injury Attorney in Utah

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible; there is a chance that you have injuries that are unknown to you. Then contact an attorney to help you recover compensation for your damages. Call our attorneys here at Hernandez Law for a free consultation.

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Avoid committing one of these mistakes to ensure you receive the most compensation to support any injuries you may have sustained and any damages to your property. 

Failed to File an Accident Report with DMV

In the state of Utah, you have to report the accident to the DMV for any accident with the result of death, injury, vehicle towing, or property damage exceeding $1,500. This report is separate from a police report. Failing to file this report will make your case extremely hard to win and could put your driver’s license at risk for suspension.

Statement Provided to Insurance Adjuster Without Consulting an Attorney

The job of insurance adjusters is to minimize losses for their employed company. They are trained to pull information from you that can be used against you to reduce and even, in some cases, deny you compensation. It would be best to meet with a personal injury expert before you give a statement to any insurance company.

Did Not Seek Medical Treatment

Suppose you should decide not to seek any medical appointments or treatment for your injuries. In that case, the insurance adjuster will assume that your injury was no cause for concern and doesn’t need any financial support. Gaps between treatments could also be deducted from the compensation.

Quick Payout

Maybe you decided that you want to avoid the legal process and accept a quick payout from the insurance company. Insurance companies offer a low amount of money right at the gate to get you to settle early. However, once you accept this money, you will not be able to make any further claims. You could be missing out on a lot of money if you do not go through the legal process. Make sure you’re consulting an attorney at all times to make sure you get the best compensation so you can achieve a swift recovery and cover all damages and expenses.

Waited Too Long

Throughout the years, we’ve had many clients who have waited way too long before seeking help from an attorney. In most cases like these, their claims are too close to the statute of limitations (4 years from the car accident) for us to step in and help them get the compensation they deserve. Stop waiting, contact an expert car accident attorney at Hernandez Injury Law and get a free consultation today. We’re here to help make sure you get as much compensation as you can get.

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What is Whiplash?

As the name of the injury suggests, whiplash happens when your neck is forcefully whipped back and forth. The muscles, tendons, and spinal discs in the neck are susceptible to injury from this sudden jolt and violent motion. Something to keep in mind is that even at a low-speed collision, it could still cause you to whip your neck and trigger whiplash. Headrests and seatbelts can mitigate the severity of whiplash injuries; however, not by much.

Can Whiplash Cause Lasting Trauma?

Most whiplash cases develop within a couple of days after the accident; some of the less severe symptoms include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Worsening of pain with movement
• Loss of range of motion
• Headaches
• Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back, or arms
• Tingling or numbness in the arms
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

If the victim lets his whiplash go undiagnosed and untreated, it will only get worse. Other symptoms of whiplash will start to manifest after a few more days. Some severe whiplash symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Amnesia
• Migraines
• Extreme loss of mobility
• Vision or hearing loss

Treatment

A doctor will try to prescribe whiplash treatment therapies that will help minimize pain and restore your loss of mobility. Various different treatment methods could help you. Among them are:

• Bedrest
• Hot and cold compresses
• Painkillers
• Exercise
• Physical therapy
• Protective collars

In extremely severe whiplash cases, a doctor might recommend for surgery or injections to help alleviate the worst symptoms. These treatments cost a lot and most times exceed healthcare insurance coverage. However, we do not wish for you to pay for this necessary treatment on your own. We recommend you hire an experienced personal injury attorney to help you file a claim against the driver that caused the accident. Call our office here at Hernandez Personal Injury Law to get a free consultation today.

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