Dangers Of Recumbent Bicycles – Less Height Means Less Visibility

North Carolina (NC) Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers
Attorneys Licensed in NC and South Carolina (SC) with Office in Elizabeth City, NC   

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and have experience handling traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. In fact, our firm in 2000 helped a brain-damaged client receive what was then the largest verdict for a brain injury case in Virginia history. 

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008 and and we have been named a North Carolina "Best Law Firm" for personal injury law since 2010 by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, Rick and Jim have been listed in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and our firm has the highest rating of AV from national lawyer ranking organization Martindale-Hubbell. That means we have a reputation for demonstrating preeminent legal skill.

We serve every area of North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, Nags Head and the western mountains, as well as all the cities and counties in between. In South Carolina, we cover the state from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to Orangeburg, Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Darlington, Aiken, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg. While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call promptly.

 

This week we covered the tragic story of a man who recovered from a traumatic brain injury to go on to ride his recumbent bike across the country for a cause that he believed in. He was struck and killed by a pickup truck in North Carolina – after traveling thousands of miles on his bike despite his disabilities.

Recumbent bikes were invented in the early 1900s and saw a resurgence in popularity in the 1970s. These bikes are easier on the back and spine of riders – and in some cases those with disabilities or other medical issues are able to ride recumbent bikes when traditional bikes are more difficult.

While recumbent bikes have some advantages (a recumbent bike holds the world record for bicycle speed, for example), they also come with some dangerous disadvantages. Because recumbent bikes are low to the ground, it is much more difficult for drivers to spot recumbent cyclists on the road. Many recumbent bike users add a brightly colored flag to their bike for safety, but this is not enough in some cases. Recumbent bikes are also wider than traditional bikes, making it harder for vehicles to pass recumbent bikes and harder for recumbent bikes to safely navigate narrow roads.

Another disadvantage to recumbent bikes is that they are generally more difficult to maneuver than traditional bikes. They have a wider turning radius than other bikes and are also more difficult to start and stop. This means that they are less likely to avoid a bike accident. Finally, not many riders are familiar with recumbent bikes and are therefore more likely to become involved in an accident due to their inexperience.



Elizabeth City, NC Personal Injury Attorneys
North Carolina (NC) Personal Injury Lawyers
Specializing in North Carolina Wrongful Death & Injury Law