San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Is it Dangerous for Cyclists to Wear Headphones?

After experts say headphones might have contributed to a woman’s death, there is a renewed conversation about whether it is dangerous for cyclists to wear earphones while riding. The woman lived in East Yorkshire, in the UK, far from California, but her tragic death has cycling publications everywhere discussing the dangers of distracted riding. The woman was riding in a roundabout in the city when she noticed a truck heading towards her. It’s unclear what happened from there, but authorities think she was shocked by the truck and might have jumped. This might have caused her to fall off her bike. Authorities who examined the case determined that the driver was not to blame for the bicycle accident. They noted that her iPhone headphones and lack of a helmet could have been major contributors. It’s possible that the headphones distracted her from her surroundings, and that a helmet could have…
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How Protected Bike Lanes Could Save Thousands of Lives

New infrastructure ideas like protected bike lanes have been gaining ground all over the world. Right here in California, many recently voted to add a large amount of new infrastructure for cyclists in multiple major cities. How do factors like protected lanes really affect overall bicycle safety numbers though? Let’s look and see. What are Protected Bike Lanes? A protected bike lane is just what it sounds like. It’s a designated lane for cyclists, with protection to keep motorists from entering. Arguably, these are much safer than normal bike lanes, because they do not rely on drivers’ good judgment to keep cyclists safe. Protected lanes first became popular in Europe, but they are now picking up traction in the United States as some cities are taking cycling more seriously as a transportation alternative. Do These Protections Really Save Lives? Building bike accommodations seems to make a huge difference. A study…
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Will This Paper Cycling Helmet Keep You Safe?

A paper cycling helmet has been making headlines for its simplicity and ingenuity. The device is called the Ecohelmet. It can fold out from a neat stack of paper into a half sphere that encircles the wearer’s head. Just looking at it, you might not expect it to provide the necessary protection, but crash tests continually show that the paper helmet can save your life. A thin film of chemical coding protects the paper from absorbing water or other elements. In a bicycle accident, the paper cushions the impact just like traditional helmets. However, unlike traditional helmets, the Ecohelmet is recyclable and small enough to fold into a handbag. It was invented by Isis Shiffer, CEO and founder of Spitfire Industry. She has recently received the prestigious James Dyson Design Award for her innovation. What’s the Point of a Paper Cycling Helmet? The goal for the invention was to provide…
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