Chico is not only the most populated city in Butte County, with 84,396 people living within the city limits, but it is also the home to the most bike accidents in the region.
In 2006, there were 57 bike accidents in Butte County, with Chico accounting for 27 of them. While it may seem shocking that Chico accounts for 47% of the county's bike accidents, its population makes up 42% of Butte County's total.
In order to avoid bike accidents in Chico and the rest of Butte County, citizens are urged to take a number of precautions while cycling:
* Follow the law at all times; this includes riding on the right side of the road, stopping at stop signs, and following the traffic lights.
* Communicate with drivers of motor vehicles. Cyclists should always signal turns with their arm and use a bell, horn, or whistle to alert others of their presence.
* Use proper lighting. Cyclists should always use a headlight at night as well as a flashing red rear light. Besides that, it's beneficial to wear reflective clothing at night to be more visible.
* Slow down. While people vary in cycling ability, everybody needs to be careful with how fast they bike. Some bike accidents are caused because drivers didn't realize a bike could go so fast. While the bike accident may not be the cyclists fault, he or she is still left to deal with the pain.
* Pay Attention. It's important to look ahead and predict what is going to happen. An alert cyclist will see hazards and obstacles before it is too late.
* Choose a Safe Route. Instead of riding the usual route of motor vehicles, cyclists need to choose a route that isn't so crowded. Simply avoiding busy streets cyclists can prevent a large number of bike accidents in Butte County.
Besides Chico, there were other areas within Butte County that reported bike accidents in 2006. Gridley had four bike accidents; Oroville had nine; Paradise had five; and unincorporated communities including Bangor, Cohasset, Concow, Durham, Magalia, Oroville East, Palermo, Richvale, South Oroville, Stirling City, and Thermalito accumulated for twelve.
In 2006 there wasn't a single bike accident in Biggs, a town with a population of nearly 2000, nor was there a single fatality in all of Butte County. If you or somebody you know is ever in a bike accident in Butte County, you should contact a personal injury lawyer that specializes in bike accidents to help you receive the maximum compensation for your damages.
Author Resource:-
John Bisnar is a partner at Personal Injury Law Firm Bisnar Chase. The Bisnar Chase law firm has dedicated their practice to victims of serious injury due to negligence and malpractice.
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