City Cycling - Accidents Happen

picture via Iomokev

Well I hate to bring a downer on everyone but I thought it might make sense to talk about what to do when things go badly wrong for a cyclist. I refer of course to 'falling off' and 'being hit by a car' – both of which are well within my areas of expertise! I'll be brief, but hopefully the stuff I talk about here will be useful enough in preventing accidents or – if the worst comes to the worst – minimising the impact... as it were.

In each of the sections I'll be looking mainly at impacts with other road users, but reference will be made to unforced errors, in the interests of completeness.

Causes of accidents

The three main causes of 'falling off' are road surface issues (such as pot-holes), pedestrian or animal interference, and fundamental bicycle faults. The other cause of the other kind of accident is vehicular interference, and is of a slightly different nature.

Common scenarios

The three kinds of 'falling off' outlined above are fairly self-explanatory and it's obvious how to take steps to avoid these, but I would like to highlight a few problem areas and likely situations where you may be at greater risk of being interfered with by a motorist and his or her vehicle.

Firstly, whenever it is dark you are at a higher risk. If there are no streetlights, high hedges or walls, sharp corners, side-roads or you don't have much or any illumination on your bicycle, there is a danger that a motorist will not be able to see you in time to avoid a collision. Being visible on your bike is the first step in counteracting this; wear a fluorescent jacket, use bright LED lights front and rear, and cycle in a bold, prominent location about 60cm to 1m away from the kerb where appropriate.

Secondly, at busy junctions or intersections there is a risk that motorists will fail to keep an adequate look-out for anything other than motor vehicles. The reason for this may come down to the subconscious knowledge that colliding with another car is more likely to result in damage to the motorist and his or her own car than a collision with a cyclist. Defensive cycling is a must, here. Be prepared to take evasive action or brake sharply. Never assume that because you have right of way, a motorist will afford you right of way.

Thirdly, in traffic jams where there is slow-moving or stationary traffic. There are often gaps between the vehicles broad enough to allow the passage of a bicycle if you use a little nifty manoeuvring. Whilst this is fun and can speed your journey times up, bear in mind that it breaches the Highway Code in the way it is generally done and is accordingly dangerous. As traffic moves off in the line, the drivers will rarely expect to have to check their mirrors for a fleeting glimpse of a crafty cyclist weaving through the vehicles.

In each of these scenarios, the likelihood is that a car will sideswipe you, or, if you're unfortunate, collide with a straight-on impact. In the event of the former, you will encounter a significant amount of the side of the offending vehicle, possibly including the breaking of one of the side windows, before ultimately ending up on the tarmac with your bike nearby or on top of you. In the event of the latter, you will – and should make every effort to – encounter the bonnet / hood of the car, and possibly the windscreen, before rolling back down onto the tarmac in front of a now-stationary car. The scenarios all assume (and typically so for minor city impacts) that the speed of the car is about twenty miles per hour, and less when it collides with you.

What to do if you have an accident

Imagine, then, if you will, that in any one of the given scenarios above you have collided with a motor vehicle. You have been caught unawares, often sideswiped, and you have taken a fall onto the cold, hard tarmac. Keep your wits about you.

Importantly in the short term, make sure you catch the number plate of the car if it appears not to be stopping. This could prove invaluable, and doesn't cost you anything. Also importantly, do not instantly make a move to rise; firstly, you could be injured beyond your assumptions – the adrenalin released in the accident could be masking a serious pain from broken bones etc. Secondly, it gives the false impression that you are perfectly fine, which may result in no witnesses stopping to assist and give you their details, and the driver of the car perhaps even not stopping.

Don't panic. Collisions like this do occur, and with sensible reactions you can reduce many of the hazards the collision has given rise to. Expect to be dazed; more often than not your head will hit the ground at some point. Even through a helmet (you do wear a helmet, I trust!) what seems like a relatively gentle knock can cause unexpected dizziness or disorientation etc.

Speak in measured tones, if you can, with the driver – who should by now have come to see if you are alright and to apologise if it was his or her fault. Take their details. If there is damage to the vehicles or to you, insist that the police (and ambulance if necessary) be called to make notes of the accident. This could be valuable in pursuing the driver for any damages to your bicycle or to yourself. Resolve the situation amicably if at all possible, and stay calm. Follow up all claims for damage, and in due course you will be back on the road with a little experience under your belt.

What to look out for in following days

Fear of getting back on the road. Do this as soon as possible, or you may find yourself less and less inclined to do so at all. Remember that the chances of you being involved in an accident are always relatively low; having one collision doesn't make a difference either way to the probability, so you will be just as safe tomorrow as you were the day before yesterday.

Concussion. Even if you haven't noticed any particular ill effects immediately after a collision of this sort, you may find that if you have hit your head at all then you might be slightly dizzy, or nauseous, or ditzy, or forgetful. If these symptoms persist for more than a couple of days, consult your doctor.

Don't forget to replace your helmet if you've hit it on the ground – as you almost invariably will have done. The micro-fissures in the helmet will cause weaknesses that could make the difference between one thing and another in the event of another impact.

Above all, the golden rule is to keep a look-out at all times. Be aware of your surroundings, ride confidently yet cautiously, and don't take risks – and hopefully, none of you will ever have to experience this sort of accident.

 

Happy Cycling :)