Terry Chorzempa of Toledo suffered serious personal injury last night when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle, according to the Toledo Blade. The driver of the car fled the scene of the accident.  

More than 36,000 bicycle riders suffer personal injuries during bicycle accidents involving cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Our Toledo, Ohio bicycle accident attorneys deal with accidents involving cars and bike riders. We want to remind readers that it is important to remember tips that can help you to avoid personal injury from a bicycle accident.

Always wear a helmet. Bike helmet use can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent when worn correctly, according to the NHTSA, and should be worn snug and level. 

Avoid riding your bike at night. It is hard for drivers to see a cyclist after dark, and many drivers may not expect to see a bike rider past daylight hours.

Cycling should be done on the right-hand edge of the road; always ride with traffic, not against it. If available, designated bike paths are always safer than using a street shared with motor vehicles.

Be sure to watch out for cars crossing the street, pulling out of driveways or parking lots, or turning near you. Make yourself visible to cars on the road. Drivers don’t have the same visibility that riders do. Staying out of a driver’s blind spot can help ensure that they see you on the road.