With the price of gas going up and down like a rollercoaster and the emphasis on “going green” all over the news, bicycles are becoming a more popular mode of transportation these days. But did you know that 770 cyclists on average are killed each year as a result of bicycle accidents on our country’s roadways? Regardless of your protective gear, bicyclists are more prone to injury due to the lack of metal surrounding them.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Despite the fact that many states have implemented bicycle lanes to get cyclists off the streets there is no guarantee that other road users will acknowledge or yield to a cyclist. Approximately one third of all bicycle accidents involve large vehicles such as trucks and buses, even though these vehicles only account for approximately 12% of all vehicles on our roads.
Some causes of bicycle accidents are:
- Drivers turning directly in front of a cyclist
- Drivers operating their vehicles whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drivers failing to observe the road around them effectively
- Drivers emerging from a concealed exit point such as a driveway
- Mechanical faults or failure of parts on the automobile or bicycle
Out of Action
The result of any collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle is sure to be particularly dramatic for the cyclist, and traumatic brain injury is frequently the catastrophic outcome. Each year, it is estimated that over 540,000 bicyclists visit hospital emergency departments due to a variety of injuries, from broken bones and skin scrapes to life-threatening brain injuries and spinal cord injury.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bike accident, please contact the experienced bike accident attorneys at Carr & Carr, Attorneys at Law, today.
Related posts:
