Orinda, CA May 19, 2011
As part of National Bike Safety Month, GJEL Accident Attorneys, a catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm in the San Francisco Bay area, is reminding cyclists of the importance of practicing bike safety while on the road.
“Bicycling has become more than just a sport or family fun; commuters have taken to cycling paths to get to and from work. As the price of fuel increases, more people will engage in this mode of transportation, and it will become more important to adopt proper safety measures, as well,” said Andy Gillin, managing partner, Gillin Jacobson Ellis & Larsen. “In our firm, we care about the safety of everyone sharing the nation’s roadways, and during Bicycle Safety Month our education programs place that emphasis on cyclists.”
GJEL Accident Attorneys has created a resource center on its website for cyclists that includes a guide to state bicycle laws and a map of popular bicycle trails in the Bay Area.
GJEL is also conducting a survey on its website about helmet usage and also blogging about national efforts to increase cycling safety.
The number of cyclists in the Bay Area has been increasing, according to the City of San Francisco 2010 Bicycle Count Report, published by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). From 2009 to 2010, the number of observed cyclists increased 3.2 percent. The same study showed that, cyclists wearing helmets increased from 69 percent to 71 percent in 2010. Both the number of cyclists and number of cyclists using helmets have increased steadily since 2006, when the SFMTA first counted.
The most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report also showed a 9.2 percent decrease in bicycle fatalities related to crashes from 2008 to 2009.
About GJEL Accident Attorneys
Gillin Jacobson Ellis & Larsen (GJEL Accident Attorneys) is a San Francisco Bay Area personal injury law firm established in 1972. The firm represents plaintiffs injured in California auto accidents and wrongful death incidents, and was recently named one of the best law firms in America by Best Lawyers/US News & World Report.
Andy Gillin received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury law for numerous organizations. Andy is a highly recognized wrongful death lawyer in California.