You never know when disaster will strike. How many times have you ridden your bicycle along a road, pedaling hard for exercise or going slow to enjoy the scenery? Oftentimes cars fly by only a few feet away. Have you wondered whether drivers are paying as much attention to the road and to you as they should?

This past week in Lima, New York a man was hit by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle. He sustained a head injury along with cuts. According to the police, the driver initially thought he had run into a deer and he paused to investigate. When he discovered that the supposed deer was a human on a bicycle, he fled.

The exact severity of the victim's injuries has not been made known. But, many of us have become acutely aware of the lasting damage that can be done when someone receives a blow to the head. Players in the NHL and NFL who have sustained concussions undergo a detailed evaluation and in some cases are prescribed a long course of recovery before they are allowed to play again. This increased consciousness raising suggests that you can never be too careful when it comes to head trauma.

A helmet is designed to protect your head. It is a proactive tool that you wear to prepare for an event that you hope does not happen. But if you are in an accident, it is necessary to seek out the tools that can help you recover. There are laws to compensate accident victims and to hold accountable those who are negligent. Don't leave your head protected but your rights exposed.

Source: Democrat and Chronicle, "Bicyclist hit in Lima; Steven Breemes faces DWI, other charges," Jan. 17, 2012.