Posts Tagged ‘bicycle safety’
Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyer David Hollingsworth interviewed for Law Times newspaper
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Ottawa Accident Lawyer David Hollingsworth, Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyers, Ottawa Law Firms Rash of pedestrian deaths a coincidence: lawyer by Susan Hughes |
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….David Hollingsworth, who runs a personal injury practice for plaintiffs at Goldberg Wiseman Stroud & Hollingsworth LLP in Ottawa, says one of the big issues in his city is a couple of really “nasty” collisions involving cyclists and buses. “We have designated bus lanes and designated cyclist lanes and locations in the city where you have to cut across the bus lane to the cyclist lane. There was a fatality, a young woman, doing just that. That is a hot topic here in Ottawa right now. There have been articles in the paper about what should be done, what they’re going to do to make our cyclists safer.” Another issue is the widespread flouting of the ban on driving while using a cellphone. But Kwinter says it’s a very difficult law to enforce. “You can pass all the laws you want but if you can’t enforce it so you can take somebody to court and get a conviction, what good is the law? I haven’t seen any cases where people have been charged but I would think that a police officer would have to be following someone. And if you’re following someone at night, it would be virtually impossible to see what they’re doing. How do you ever look into the car from behind a vehicle? In the daytime, you’d have to be either following the vehicle for a considerable period of time or be stopped beside the vehicle. And if anyone sees that they’re being followed by a cop car or that one is beside them, they’re not going to talk on their cellphone.” Hollingsworth agrees, noting he hasn’t seen or heard of any instances of enforcement. He thinks people are on the phone even more now since cars are better equipped. “There’s no question it’s a problem,” he says. “You have to dial the number, especially now with 10-digit numbers, and BlackBerrys have small buttons. You can see drivers tapping away at their phone. I guess any conversation, changing the CD is a distraction. But they’ve not got it up at their ear; they’ve got it down in their lap or leaning against the steering wheel.” The issue has also become an important matter in litigation. “I have a number of cases right now, one in particular which is a fatality, where the strong suggestion is that the driver who caused the accident was texting,” Hollingsworth says. “That’s now a common thing. Almost every time you’re in an examination for discovery, the question comes up for both parties: whether you were on your cellphone or were texting. The followup question almost always is, ‘Can I have your cellphone records?’ Obviously, that kind of distraction would lead to the contribution of fault.”…. To read the entire article visit the Law Times website.
For more information regarding Ontario and Ottawa bicycle accidents and cycling accidents, visit www.ottawainjury.ca
Ottawa Personal Injuy Lawyer David Hollingsworth can help you after your bicycle accident or cycling. David will meet with you for a free, no-obligation consultation and takes most Ottawa and Ontario personal injury cases on contingency, which means you won’t have to pay anything until David settled your case for you.
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Avoiding accidents and injuries in Ottawa: Bicycle safety information.
Posted by Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyer, Ottawa Accident Lawyer, David Hollingsworth in Accident Benefits Insurance Claims, Personal Injury Claims, safety on August 13th, 2009
Here in Ottawa, we are finally starting to see some sun this summer. Ive had my children out on their bicycles quite a bit this week and thought I’d pass along some bicycle safety tips. It doesn’t hurt to be reminded.. Enjoy the rest of this summer and be safe out there on the roads. Do whatever you can to avoid accidents. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make a difference. Have fun ! -David
Protect your head: Wear a helmet
To reduce injuries, all riders of all ages are encouraged to use helmets. Children up to the age of 16 are required by law to wear a helmet. Studies have shown that using a bicycle helmet can reduce head injuries by up to 85%. Even if you just ride on bike paths or for a short distance, be sure to put on your helmet before you go. You don’t have to be going fast or far to risk serious head injuries.
Buy a helmet that bears a label saying it meets the Canadian Standards Association standard CAN/CSA D113.2 M89; or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z90.40 1984; the Snell Memorial Foundation standard B 90,B 90S, N 94, or B 95; the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard F 1447 93 or F 1447 94.
In order for a helmet to work properly, it must fit properly. Here is how to properly fit a helmet:
- A helmet should fit snugly on the top of the head and not obstruct your field of vision. Do not buy a helmet that you want your child to grow into, it must fit properly every time they use it. Most helmets come with adjustable padding to achieve the best fit. The front of the helmet should be about two finger widths above the eyebrows.
- The “V” part of the chin straps should fit snugly with the “V” coming together right below the earlobe.
- You should be able to fit one finger between the chin strap and under the chin. Always wear the helmet with the chin strap firmly buckled. Make sure the chin strap fits securely and that the buckle stays fastened to provide impact protection. No combination of twisting or pulling should remove the helmet from the head or loosen the buckle on the strap.
- The best way to test your helmet is to shake your head forward and back. The helmet should stay in place. Try another helmet size or design if simple hand pressure shifts the helmet significantly on your head.
Do not use a helmet after it has been involved in an accident. Damage to the helmet may not be visible to an untrained eye. Even very small cracks in the helmet may greatly reduce a helmet’s effectiveness in preventing injury. Either destroy the helmet and get a new one or have it inspected by the manufacturer. The manufacturer will tell you if the helmet needs to be replaced.
Children must wear a bicycle helmet at all times while riding a bicycle. Try these tips to get your child to always wear a helmet:
- Let your child help pick out the helmet. Help your child practise putting on the helmet until he or she can buckle the straps easily.
- Always insist your child wear the helmet. Make it a rule: no helmet, no ride. Anyone can get hurt anywhere at any time.
- When you ride together, wear your own helmet. Your own good example can make a big difference in encouraging your child to wear one.
- Praise your child each time he/she wears it. Begin the helmet habit with the first tricycle or bicycle. Then it will become a habit as your child grows.
- Encourage other parents to buy helmets for their children. Making helmets common is the best way to decrease the feeling of being “different”.
Helmets today come in many colours and designs. Find one you like so you will wear it.
| Visit the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute |
Today’s bicycle helmets only weigh about a half a pound and some helmets cost as little as $20. Helmets have lots of openings for air to pass through and they are not any hotter than having your head exposed to the sun while riding. Finally, with a helmet you will be more visible, and car drivers will probably respect you more and give you more room on the road because of it.
If you or a loved oned has been injured in a bicycle accident or any other type of accident,you may need help and be entitled to accident benefits you are not receiving. David Hollingsworth is an Ottawa Lawyer who specializes in personal injury law in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Feel free to give him a call at 613 978-9549 or email info@ottawainjury.ca. You can also visit his website at www.ottawainjury.ca
