With concerns about traffic accidents and the increasing emphasis on eco-friendly transportation, it is natural to consider whether cycling is a safer and more efficient mode of transportation, especially in cities. Bicycles certainly offer a more budget-friendly and healthy mode of transportation, but they also provide less protection to cyclists than crash-tested motor vehicles. Cyclists are significantly more vulnerable to traumatic injuries in even minor collisions with motor vehicles.
If you are a cyclist who suffered injuries due to a driver’s negligence, consult a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Consider the following statistics, and schedule a free legal consultation with a law firm near you if you believe you have an injury claim.
U.S. Statistics on Bike Crashes vs. Car Crashes
When comparing the safety of bicycles and cars, it is important to analyze statistics providing valuable insights into the risks involved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports the frequency and severity of crashes involving both bicycles and cars.
According to the latest data, car crashes far outnumber bike crashes in the United States. There were over six million reported car crashes in a recent year, resulting in around 36,000 fatalities. On the other hand, there were approximately 857 fatal bicycle crashes in the same year. While any loss of life is tragic, it is evident that the chances of being in a car crash are significantly higher than in a bicycle crash. This is partly because there are simply more cars on the road than bicycles.
However, the severity of injuries in bicycle crashes tends to be much higher. Due to the lack of protective metal casing and safety features, cyclists are far more vulnerable in accidents. The statistics reveal that approximately 45,000 cyclists suffered injuries in the same year, many requiring extensive treatment.
While the number of car crashes significantly outweighs bike crashes, the severity of injuries and frequency of fatalities in bicycle accidents is higher. Drivers should be careful around cyclists, but their negligence regularly leads to severe and life-changing injuries.
If you have suffered injuries in a crash, you must consult a bicycle accident attorney who can assess liability for your injuries and begin the legal process of seeking fair compensation.
Serious Injuries Commonly Associated with Cycling Accidents
The cycling community attracts individuals from all walks of life. However, with the increased number of cyclists on the roads, the risk of accidents and serious injuries also rises. Some of the most common injuries associated with Seattle bicycle accidents include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Head injuries are a significant concern in bicycle accidents, with TBIs often resulting from collisions with vehicles or falls. These injuries can have long-lasting effects and require extensive medical treatment. While many states require cyclists to wear helmets, not all do. Either way, eligible claimants might still recover damages from negligent drivers for traumatic brain injuries even if they weren’t wearing a helmet.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Accidents involving bicycles and motor vehicles can cause severe damage to the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries dramatically affect an individual’s life and family, often resulting in significant medical bills and lost earnings. Loved ones should contact a bicycle accident attorney with experience handling spinal cord injury cases following life-altering crashes that disable victims.
- Fractures and Broken Bones: Cyclists involved in car accidents often suffer fractures and broken bones. Common fractures include broken wrists, arms, collarbones, ribs, and legs.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Cyclists can also experience soft tissue injuries such as ligament tears, muscle strains, and contusions, which can result in pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Stomach and chest injuries may also occur if the cyclist is hit from behind and thrust into the bike’s handlebars.
Bicycle accident attorneys understand the devastating impact these injuries can have on your emotional, physical, and mental well-being. The right legal team will be dedicated to helping you seek the compensation and justice you deserve after a devastating bicycle injury.
Comparing the Severity of Cyclist Injuries with Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Vehicles are crash-tested and designed to collapse to absorb the impact of collisions. This reduces the force traveling through passengers’ bodies and, as such, the severity of their injuries. Cyclists have no such protection. The full force of motor vehicle collision will travel through their bodies, causing more severe damage. As a result, the fatality rate is much higher for cyclists than for motorists in crashes. This highlights the stark contrast between the safety of motor vehicles and bicycles.
Cyclists’ injuries also tend to be more severe in double-impact cases. Double-impact cases occur when riders are thrust from their bikes by the initial impact but propelled into another vehicle or the ground, where the second impact occurs. In serious cases, the first vehicle pushes the rider into the path of an oncoming vehicle without warning, preventing the second driver from avoiding a fatal crash.
Determining liability in such cases is complicated and requires the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Understanding Cyclists’ Legal Rights and Protections
Cyclists have specific legal rights and protections to keep them safe when riding. Many drivers do not consider a cyclist’s right to share the road, sometimes leading to a fatal failure to yield and intersection accidents. Some key legal rights and protections for cyclists include:
- Right to Share the Road: Cyclists have the right to share the road with motor vehicles and, with some exceptions, operate under the same general privileges as drivers. Drivers must exercise reasonable care and maintain a safe distance when passing cyclists.
- Vulnerable User Laws: Some states have specific laws applying to accidents involving vulnerable road users like cyclists. These laws impose increased penalties for drivers who cause serious injury or death to such road users with fewer protections.
- Negligence Laws: In accidents involving cyclists and motor vehicles, negligence laws apply. If the driver’s negligence caused the accident and resulting injuries, the injured cyclist may be entitled to compensation from the driver’s auto insurance coverage. While this law does not prevent accidents, it gives injured cyclists important rights in the event of a collision.
Bicycle accident lawyers are well-versed in local laws regarding bicycle accidents and are committed to protecting the rights of cyclists who have suffered injuries due to driver negligence.
Most Common Causes of Serious Bike Accident Injuries
Some of the most common causes of serious bike accident injuries include:
- Distracted Driving: Drivers distracted by their phones or navigation systems may fail to notice or prioritize the safety of cyclists sharing the road. Distracted driving is one of the main causes of motor vehicle accidents in the United States.
- Failure to Yield: When drivers fail to yield to cyclists who have the right of way, accidents can occur, resulting in severe injuries. Many drivers often assume that because cyclists are traveling slower, they do not have the obligation to yield. They may also intentionally refuse to yield to avoid reducing their speed to accommodate safe riders.
- Dooring: Dooring happens when drivers open their car doors without checking for approaching cyclists, leading to collisions and potentially catastrophic injuries.
- Intersection Collisions: Intersections can be dangerous for cyclists if drivers fail to yield or perform unsafe turns, leading to accidents and injuries. Many drivers don’t understand that they must treat riders as ‘drivers’ under the law.
- Speeding: Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to sudden changes on the road, increasing the risk of collisions with cyclists. The severity of a cyclist’s injuries often depends on the speed at which the vehicle was traveling before impact. Slower-moving vehicles transfer less force to the bicycle, while faster-moving vehicles may result in fatal strikes. For this reason, speed limits are lower in pedestrian and residential areas where cycling is more prevalent.
By understanding these common causes of bike accidents, both cyclists and motorists can attempt to prevent accidents. When drivers violate the law and injure cyclists, a bicycle accident attorney can analyze the facts of the case to determine whether there is a negligence per se claim. Negligence per se occurs when a liable driver violates state, local, or federal law, and that violation contributed to the accident.
Determining Liability and Insurance Coverage After a Bicycle Crash in Tacoma
Determining liability and available insurance coverage is essential for pursuing compensation following motor vehicle accidents. Though liability may be divided among multiple parties, some key factors involved in this determination include:
- Police Report: The police report filed after the accident can help establish the events leading up to the crash and determine liability.
- Witnesses: Eyewitness testimonies can provide valuable insight into the cause of the accident.
- Video Evidence: Many businesses have security cameras that may have caught the accident. Contacting an attorney quickly can ensure the preservation of this important video evidence.
A private insurance company’s liability determination is not legally binding. Insurers are looking to reduce their liability after serious bicycle accidents, so they may cast disproportional blame on non-liable parties, including victims. Do not forgo your legal rights because an insurer refuses to accept liability. Contact a bicycle accident lawyer immediately to discuss your claim.
The legal aspects of a bicycle crash can be challenging, especially while recovering from injuries. An experienced bike accident lawyer will guide clients through the insurance process, protect their rights, and seek the compensation they deserve from the proper insurance companies.
Damages Available to Qualifying Claimants Following Devastating Road Bike Collisions
Qualifying claimants are entitled to various damages when seeking compensation for injuries sustained in cycling accidents. These damages cover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. Available damages often include the following:
- Economic Damages: These damages compensate claimants for tangible financial losses incurred because of the accident, such as medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost earnings. They may also include the value of your lost earning capacity, retirement contributions, and even workplace benefits. Importantly, economic damages cover past losses and future anticipated losses resulting from the accident. It’s common to settle claims while clients are still undergoing treatment, so your claim must account for your future needs.
- Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages address intangible losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. For example, a cyclist paralyzed by a negligent driver might suffer the lost enjoyment of cycling, hiking, or dancing in addition to constant nerve pain. Eligible claimants can recover compensation for these incalculable losses with the help of an experienced legal practitioner.
- Punitive Damages: In cases involving extreme negligence or intentional wrongdoing, punitive damages may be available to punish the at-fault party. Intentionally tailgating or harassing a slower-moving cyclist, thereby causing serious injuries, might result in punitive damages, though these are not commonly awarded in personal injury cases or obtainable from insurers.
Cyclists need a lawyer ready to pursue the full range of damages they may be entitled to.
Contact Bicycle Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation Today
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, do not wait to seek legal guidance to protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contacting a bicycle accident attorney is the first step toward fully recovering from your injuries.
When you contact a personal injury attorney, they will provide a free consultation to evaluate your case’s merits. During this consultation, they will listen to your story, gather relevant information, and offer an initial assessment of your potential claim. This consultation is an opportunity for you to ask questions, seek advice, and gain a better understanding of your legal options.
By retaining a bicycle accident attorney, you are not only gaining a legal advocate but also someone who understands the unique challenges and legal questions that bicycle accident cases present. They will handle all communication with insurance companies, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf. Should your case go to trial, they will provide the experienced representation you need to present your case effectively.
Don’t delay in seeking legal assistance after a bicycle accident. Contact a reputable bicycle accident attorney today for a free case evaluation. Remember, most reputable attorneys offer a free consultation to assess your case, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reaching out to them as soon as possible.
