With the cost of gasoline increasing, more and more people are riding bicycles to work and to run errands. With this increase in bicycle traffic, accidents are also becoming more common, and the results of a bicycle being hit by an automobile can be devastating. Anyone who has been injured on their bicycle will wish to seek cycle accident compensation in order to help bear the physical and financial burdens of their injuries.

In many cities, week-day bicycle traffic is a new thing, and the motorists are not accustomed to watching out for bicycles. Some cities have been sharing the road for decades, but not all. In most cities people are used to recreational bicycles on the weekends, but they are not quite accustomed to bicycling commuters during the week.

With the increased use of cellular telephones, there has been an increase in accidents in general. Distracted driving causes many injuries and deaths to pedestrians and cyclists alike. Motorists talking on the phone, applying cosmetics, eating meals, etc., are a greater hazard sometimes than even intoxicated drivers.

Speaking of intoxication, many motorists these days take strong prescription medications; especially the elderly or the infirm. Bicyclers who live near elderly housing and hospitals are cautioned to be extremely defensive in their cycling habits. Strong medications can cause a motorists to use very poor judgment when navigating busy streets and making turns.

Motorists should be aware that driving under the influence of prescription drugs is still driving under the influence, and they can be arrested. Law enforcement cracks down hard on that, but they also are cracking down on phone usage and texting while driving. It is the opinion of law enforcement that cell phone usage is just as big a hazard as DUI.

Some cities are becoming more bicycle-friendly, and have installed bicycle lanes on many surface roads. This allows the bicycler to share the road without actually being in the way of automobiles. It does not, unfortunately, provide a barrier between the bicycles and the automobiles, so the bicycler is still vulnerable to motorists who make sudden moves or fail to pay attention to their surroundings.

One thing many bicyclers can do to help protect themselves is to put a mirror on their handlebars. This way they are able to watch for anyone coming from behind, and take proper measures to avoid being struck. It can not prevent all accidents of happening, but it at least allows one to see what is coming up behind them.

Reflectors and a headlight are also a smart addition to any bicycle that intends to share the road with traffic. It is also key that bicyclers wear protective gear and a helmet, lest they be deemed as negligent themselves when they are seeking cycle accident compensation. Regardless of the protective gear used, motorists should be aware that hitting a bicycler is a serious matter, and it can land them in prison if they are found to have been criminally negligent.