The number of serious bicycle accidents has increased throughout the United States in recent years, and bicycle accident fatalities have increased in the United States by more than 75 percent since 2010.
First, more people are using bicycles as a means of transportation. Though cyclists have every right to safely share the road, drivers often become impatient with more and more slower vehicles in their paths.
Further, drivers have become much riskier in recent years, placing their own wants and needs over the safety of others. Much of the rise coincides with drivers’ greater use of mobile devices when behind the wheel. Drivers are texting and driving with a disregard for the safety of others, including vulnerable road users like cyclists.
No matter what happened to cause your collision and injuries, you always need a bicycle accident lawyer to represent you in the legal process to seek financial compensation for your injuries. You have little hope of obtaining a full settlement check for your injuries if you try to deal with the insurance company on your own. Without a bicycle accident lawyer, the insurance company will take advantage of you, and it can affect your future.
Schedule your free consultation with a bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible. The following are some common reasons bike crashes happen.
Failure to Understand Traffic Laws
Many drivers simply do not know how to properly and safely share the road with bicyclists. They may not be aware of traffic laws intended to keep cyclists safe on the roadways. For example, they may not understand that bicyclists are entitled to a lane in traffic just like any other motorist. They may also not realize they must allow a cyclist a certain amount of space when trying to pass them and stay out of bike lanes.
Accordingly, a driver may cause a bicycle accident by getting too close to the cyclist when trying to make a pass. Even glancing at the bike when passing may be enough to force the cyclist from their bike and send them to the pavement.
Distracted Driving
Motorists need to pay attention to ensure they see cyclists near them in traffic. However, many modern cars are higher on the road than bicycles, and drivers may not always spot cyclists. It is hard enough to see bicyclists under normal circumstances, and it is even harder to notice them when the driver is not paying enough attention.
These days, more drivers than ever are distracted behind the wheel. They may be looking down at their phones or have other reasons why their eyes and focus are not fully on the road. Drivers must stop quickly when they suddenly see a bicycle in front of them, but they may be late to do so when they are distracted. Even a split-second can seriously affect whether a driver can stop in time to avoid an accident.
Unsafe Lane Changes
With a bicyclist already established in their lane, the driver must give them adequate space. However, a driver may make an unsafe lane change that can put a cyclist at risk. The driver needs to carefully check their blindspots and surroundings when they make a lane change. Drivers need to clearly signal their intentions when turning or changing lanes, alerting bicyclists that a motorist may be trying to come into their lane.
Road Hazards and Unsafe Road Design
Bicyclists should always have clear and safe roadways, as they are very much at risk when there are unsafe road conditions. However, local authorities may not have properly designed or maintained certain roads. The placement of bike lanes may be suboptimal for safety, or they might not be clearly marked for drivers. The roadway may have been designed to encourage drivers to take risks when they are around a bicyclist.
In addition, local authorities may have failed to clear debris from the road. The bicyclist may have run over a pothole or a piece of debris that causes them to fall from the bike. It is possible to sue the government for negligence based on how they have designed or maintained the roadway, although special rules apply to these cases.
Speeding
Drivers need to travel at a reasonable speed to properly spot all the challenges around them on the roadway. However, excessive speed will reduce a driver’s reflexes and their ability to see what is around them. Speeding also means that a driver is traveling at a much higher speed than a bicyclist. The driver may not stop in time or properly maneuver to avoid a crash with a cyclist. They might not respond in time when they suddenly see a bicyclist.
As an injured bicyclist, you should be entitled to financial compensation when you can prove another party was negligent in causing your accident. Negligence is a legal term of art that has a specific meaning in injury cases. Here, you must show that the driver (or someone else) did something unreasonable under the circumstances. You must come forward with evidence showing what the driver or another party did so you can compare it to what a reasonable person should have done under the same circumstances. If you can meet your burden of proof, you can then discuss the financial compensation you deserve.
You should always hire a bicycle accident lawyer to represent you when seeking compensation for your injuries. Your bicycle accident attorney will perform many valuable roles in your case. They are an investigator who will gather proof of what happened to cause your injuries. They are a counselor who will explain and make you aware of your legal rights.
Your bicycle accident lawyer is also a fighter who will work for you to obtain all the compensation you are due when you have suffered an injury by someone else’s negligence. They will cut through the red tape that the insurance company tries to impose on your claim, not taking no for an answer when the insurance company either refuses to pay your claim or tries to underpay you.