New Haven Personal Injury Law Blog

Cyclists like black outfits, but they shouldn't

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Thursday, February 13, 2020.

Take a look at the newest cycling gear for the season, and you'll find that a lot of it is black. Even when you do have bright, colorful options for shirts, jackets, shorts and pants, you also have black options in many cases -- and those are the only ones that a lot of cyclists choose.

Here's the problem: Black blends into the road. It's far harder for drivers to see, especially when they're not really looking for cyclists to begin with. They'll notice bright colors that stand out in their peripheral vision. They often won't see dark colors like black and gray until they're right next to the bike.

Cyclists must follow traffic laws

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

When you ask drivers about the animosity that often exists between them and cyclists, one thing they may note is that cyclists break traffic laws "all the time." There is this perception among drivers -- often unfounded -- that cyclists do whatever they want and do not care about traffic laws, and drivers use this to excuse their bias against cyclists.

For instance, one of the most common things they'll complain about is cyclists running red lights. They feel like they have to stop and wait at a red in their car, even if no one is coming on the cross street, while cyclists will just look both ways and then ride through the red light as if it does not apply to them.

A fat bike could help you in the snow

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Tuesday, December 17, 2019.

It's winter, but you don't want to stop riding your bike. It's how you get exercise, how you get to work and how you do everything -- shopping, going to the bar, visiting your friends. You know you can bundle up just like you do for winter hiking and you'll be fine.

But will your bike? Your big concern is that you will lose control when the snow and ice coat the roads. You don't want to slide through a stop sign or spin out on a turn and skid into traffic.

Motorists see cyclists as pedestrians. They're not.

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Friday, November 15, 2019.

One reason for the conflicts between cyclists and motorists is a simple misunderstanding of what cyclists really are. Cyclists, of course, think of themselves as drivers. They get to share the road with other vehicles because they too are using a vehicle. Yes, it's smaller than a compact car and takes body power instead of gasoline, but it's still a vehicle.

Motorists, on the other hand, think of cyclists as pedestrians. They mentally group them in with people walking or running on the sidewalk. Since the cyclist is physically visible in a way that a driver is not, this fit feels natural. That's why you get drivers who say things like "bicycles do not belong on the road."

Mistakes by surgeons happen more often than you might think

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.

People generally have a deep respect for medical professionals. After all, physicians attend almost a decade of higher education to earn their title and the potential ability to legally practice medicine. Surgeons, more so than general practice physicians, tend to command respect by people who cannot imagine operating on another human.

While physicians and surgeons certainly deserve respect for their education and the service they provide, you can never forget that surgeons are fallible humans who can make dire mistakes. Surgical mistakes are frighteningly common, despite the fact that most of them are preventable with proper procedures in the operating room.

Bicyclists have rights under Connecticut laws

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

Bicycling on city streets is necessary for some people, however, it isn't always a safe prospect. Many drivers assume that they have full rights to the road without the cyclists having any. Those motorists might do things that place the people on bicycles in a dangerous position. The fact is that Connecticut law provides equal road use rights to bicyclists and motorists.

One thing that cyclists and drivers have to remember is that they all have to follow applicable laws. When anyone violates these, bicyclists may face a crash that leads to injuries or death.

What can we do to make cycling safer?

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Monday, August 19, 2019.

Making the roads safe for cyclists is everyone's job. It's important to carefully consider the number of serious injuries and fatalities springing from cycling accidents every year. Most of these events could easily be avoided. People do not have to suffer from life-changing injuries or lose a loved one. And yet it continues to happen.

Rather than accepting that accidents are inevitable, what can we do to reduce the odds of a crash? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Why do dogs attack cyclists and chase bikes?

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

Every day, you hit the roads on your bike. It's fun and it keeps you fit. You love it. After years of running, you switched to biking to keep your body healthy — and it's worked.

Unfortunately, you still face a lot of hazards. Drivers cut you off. People open car doors into the bike lane. The city doesn't fill in the potholes. You worry that you will get hurt while you're out for a ride.

Bike lanes aren't perfect. You still face serious risks.

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

Let's start with this: Bike lanes help. They do keep cyclists safe. Don't write them off. They help to keep bikes that much farther out of traffic, they alert drivers to the fact that they'll be driving near cyclists and they add some structure to a road system that can often feel chaotic otherwise.

That said, they're not perfect. You still face very real risks, which you need to be aware of.

Why do American drivers clash with cyclists?

On behalf of Mills Law Firm, LLC on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

If you've ever spent time cycling in Europe, you may have felt shocked by the differences in your interactions on the roads. Many riders report feeling like European drivers are kind and courteous when they ride around bikes, whereas American drivers tend to act frustrated and hostile. This attitude could explain why car vs. bike accidents remain so common in the United States, when riders in Europe feel much safer.

But this probably got you thinking: Why do Americans have this different viewpoint? If we could change that, could we make cycling safer on this side of the Atlantic?