Happy first day of spring! When springtime falls upon us, it brings with it many wonderful things; blossoming flowers, more sunshine, warmer weather, and the opportunity to spend time outdoors. However, did you know springtime also means an increase in accident rates? When the temperature rises, more people are likely to be outside walking, running, or doing other activities. As a result, this means more folks closer to the roads and quite possibly on them. To better protect yourself and your loved ones, we have put together some information about spring safety.
Bike riding and pedestrian safety
There are many activities that gain attention during the springtime weather. One of these is bike riding. This is an activity that can be done alone or as a family. Most likely, you have probably come across people riding their bikes on busy roads. Make sure if you are the one driving a vehicle to slow down around bike riders. If you need to move around them, double-check that the other lane is clear before going around. You can find more bicycle safety in related blogs here.
Another activity that sees a rise in participants when it warms up is walking/running. As you drive down your neighborhood streets, keep an eye out for those who may be taking a family stroll or jogging by themselves. Just as it is for bicyclists, make sure you slow down if you near a pedestrian.
That being said, if you are a bicyclist or pedestrian, you have responsibility, too. If you’re riding a bike, it is very important you signal. Signals can be made with just one hand in the direction you plan on turning. If you are unsure of what those signals are, that’s okay! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a handy document explaining all the bike signals you’ll need to know. Even if you are not a bike rider, it is important to know these few signals in case you are on the road as a cyclist at the same time.
Family safety
Spring safety is especially important for those with little ones running around. If your family lives near a busy street, it might be worthwhile to invest in some form of fencing for your yard. This will allow any children and pets you have to roam freely within the boundaries of your yard. Further, ensure that they are always being supervised. Even small children can figure out how a gate works and could possibly slip out and into the street. To prevent any tragedies, it is important to keep an eye on the kiddos!
Fun fact
Did you know that the number of car accidents rise during the first few weeks of spring, following daylight savings? The ‘springing forward’ of the clocks has an effect on the human body. As a result, losing an hour of sleep means more tired drivers on the road. Fatigue is a very common form of distracted driving. Therefore, more accidents. Remember if you’re on the road, don’t drive if you’re exhausted. Keep an extra eye out for any unexpected road hazards during the darker times of the day.
That being said, spring safety is a number one priority for us here at Gerling, and it should be for you, too. However, if the unfortunate happens and you do experience an accident or personal injury, you’ll need an attorney on your side.
Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families. With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients.
If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help. You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at https://www.gerlinglaw.com/
Gayle Gerling Pettinga
Born and raised in Evansville, Gayle is a respected, experienced lawyer and a valued community leader. She graduated near the top of her class at Indiana University’s prestigious Maurer School of Law. She’s practiced law with one of the largest firms in Indianapolis as well as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. And that means she knows how big law firms and big companies think and how they operate – and she will put that knowledge to work for you.
Gayle has received numerous awards and honors including Martindale-Hubbell — Peer Review Rated: AV®, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorneys in Indiana for Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service, and YWCA Evansville 100 Years, 100 Women Honoree, 2011.
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