Albuquerque Personal Injury Law Blog

First and foremost, cyclists need to follow traffic laws. If that means they need to approach stop signs just like drivers do -- stopping completely before proceeding -- then that's the law they should follow.

However, you have probably seen cyclists roll through stop signs at times. They slow down, coast, look both ways, and then keep on riding. Why do they do this?

Cycling can be very fun and safe, but you must understand that you do face some risks whenever you ride around cars. In an accident, the cyclist faces vastly greater danger than the driver of the car, even at very low speeds. Any accident can be deadly or can lead to life-altering injuries.

With that in mind, here are some safety tips that can help you avoid accidents and their ramifications:

• Always ride with a bike helmet. Even if you're only going for a short ride, put the helmet on. It is your best defense if you do get hit.
• Understand when traffic levels are highest, such as at rush hour. If possible, avoid those times.
• Make it a point to ensure that drivers do see you. This may mean wearing bright clothes during the day. It can also mean wearing reflective clothes at night, mounting lights on your bike or wearing an LED vest.
• Stay aware. Pay attention to the road around you. Do not listen to music. Try to anticipate the mistakes drivers may make, such as turning in front of you because they don't see you, before they make them.
• Whenever you turn, use the proper hand signals. Let drivers know what you're doing. The hand signals have the added benefit of drawing attention to you if the drivers did not see you in the first place.

The decision to put a loved one in a nursing home is not easy, but it is sometimes necessary to provide them with the care they need. Unfortunately, some facilities in New Mexico fail to adhere to a reasonable standard of care and residents are injured, become ill or lose their lives. In some instances, there is outright abuse. People who suspect that a loved one was mistreated at a nursing home should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit.

The goal of a nursing home is to give a person the care they cannot get at home. That could involve assistance with medication, physical therapy, being watched while eating, treatment for illnesses and more. The most vulnerable people are those who are unable to communicate or have an illness that makes them seem unaware of what is happening.

In New Mexico and across the United States, it seems that everyone -- young, old and in between -- has a cellphone. Not only do they own one, but also use it incessantly, even behind the wheel. While being a distracted driver is generally linked to the prevalence of cellphone use, it is not the only way for people to be distracted behind the wheel. Because distracted driving is known to be so dangerous and can cause a car collision with injuries and fatalities, it is important to understand other distractions as well.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that safety systems in newer vehicles can be a distraction for drivers. These advancements are becoming more popular, making it a growing risk that an auto accident will happen due to this issue.