Kansas City Bicyclist Injured in Hit-and-Run

A UMKC student was a victim in a hit-and-run earlier this in month of November. Near Rockhill Road and Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. in Kansas City, Micah Jacobsen, 29, was hit by a brown sedan as he was in the process of crossing the street on his bicycle. He injured his lower back after rolling over the hood of the car and falling to the ground.

The woman driving the car stopped to see if he was okay, told him that the light was green and then sped off without waiting for police to be called to make a report or exchanging insurance. Jacobsen was taken to the hospital and given pain medication before being released later that night. He wasn't unable to do much of anything for several days and even had to cancel a gig that his band had the next day.

Driving in Kansas City is dangerous, but riding a bike is far more dangerous.  To avoid something similar happening to you, take the proper precautions.

Safety tips:

1. Wear a well fitting helmet.
2. More gear that you might consider are gloves, mouth guards, and full body armor.
3. Wear reflective gear, such as a vest or safety triangle, night and day. It makes you much more visible, even during the day. When you hear a motorist coming, straighten up and sit taller so that your reflective gear is more noticeable.
4. Put rear and front flashing lights and reflectors on your bike. They will make you more noticeable to drivers.
5. Use a bike flag. They make you more visible.
6. Put a mirror on your bike. If you see a car coming up behind you and feel like they don't see you, get off your bike and up onto the sidewalk.
7. Use a horn.
8. When possible, choose to ride on wide streets so that a car and bike can easily move side by side without touching
9. When possible, choose to rid on slow streets. The slower a car is going, the more time a driver has to spot you.
10. Use back streets on weekends. The risk of being hit by a car while riding on a Friday or Saturday night is much greater than other nights because there tend to be more drunk drivers out those nights.
11. Don't hug the curb. Give yourself a little room to get over if someone doesn't seem to see you and give you a wide enough birth.
12. Don't listen to music or talk on the phone while you're riding. You won't be able to hear cars coming and it can make you less attentive to what is going on around you.
13. Ride as if you are invisible. Assuming that cars can't see you and acting accordingly can prevent an accident. Stay as much out of the way as possible and know what the cars are doing. If you aren't sure, stop and get up onto the curb until you are sure it is safe again.
14. Always signal a turn, but try to turn at a place where there aren't cars behind you so that, if they don't see you, they can't hit you.
15. Another option in safety gear that has recently come to light is a compression collar, which protects your brain from a concussion. You can also use bent headphones to achieve the same effect.

If you or a loved one has received a brain or spinal cord injury by being hit by a car, the Kansas City Accident Attorneys may be able to help you. Call 816-471-5111 or go online to the "Just Ask" section of the website.