Cycle Into Safety: Common Bicycle Accidents and How to Avoid Them

June 15, 2011

Riding a bicycle is a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors with minimal impact on the environment. Taking a ride can be the perfect way to relax after a stressful day at work. But, it also can be dangerous, especially for bicyclists riding on busy streets.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 51,000 bicyclists were injured and 630 bicyclists were killed nationwide in crashes with motor vehicles in 2009. Seventy percent of those bicyclist fatalities occurred in urban areas. In Florida, 107 bicyclists were fatally injured in crashes with motor vehicles in 2009.

As always, wearing a properly-fitted helmet is important to reduce injury if a bicycle accident occurs, but the best way to prevent injury is to avoid accidents in the first place. The following are common types of bicycle accidents and what bicyclists can do to increase awareness of potentially dangerous situations.

Dooring

Dooring occurs when the door of a parked car suddenly opens and blocks the path of a bicyclist who otherwise would be passing by. This type of accident gives a cyclist almost no time to react, and often results in extremely serious injury. To avoid this type of accident, bicyclists can ride further to the left so they will not run into any door that unexpectedly opens. This will require even more care when riding, as it places the cyclist even closer to moving traffic.

Hits From Crossing Traffic

Vehicles approaching on the right from side streets or driveways sometimes do not see bicyclists before pulling out into the road, which is also a common cause of many motorcycle accidents. Cars making left turns in front of bicyclists or approaching from the left also can miss seeing bicyclists.

Riders can help avoid these kinds of crashes by using a bike headlight, wearing bright clothing with reflective surfaces, or slowing down so stopping is possible if necessary to prevent a crash. They may also wish to use a horn or shout to alert drivers to their presence as they reach intersections and driveways where drivers may pull out in front of them without looking.

Crosswalk Crashes

Drivers usually focus on the road in front of them and do not pay much attention to sidewalks. Therefore, when bicyclists riding on sidewalks need to cross using crosswalks, they may take drivers by surprise and get hit by turning cars or cars. Riding on sidewalks also puts pedestrians at risk and is illegal in some areas. Often, pedestrians do not know how to react when a cyclist approaches which can result in an accident. Accordingly, bicyclists will want to learn the rules for their particular area, and know about traffic in the region. If the area has a lot of pedestrians or businesses, bicyclists may want to avoid riding on sidewalks unless they are designated as biking trails or paths.

Wrong-Way Head-Ons

Some bicyclists think that riding against the flow of traffic is safer because drivers can see them more easily. It may also allow for a clear view of the approaching vehicles, but riding the wrong way can cause dangerous head-on crashes. When pulling out of driveways and side streets, drivers do not expect traffic to come at them from the right; some drivers do not even look right before entering the road. If a bicyclist is approaching from that direction, the driver could turn straight into him or her.

In addition, the speed and force of a bicycle and car crashing into each other is much greater when they are traveling toward each other than when they are traveling in the same direction and the bicycle is hit from behind.

Sudden Right Turn Accidents

Another common bicycle accident occurs when a vehicle makes a sudden right turn in front of or into a bicyclist. This can happen when cars try to pass bicyclists before turning right or when drivers simply are unaware a bicyclist is near their vehicle. Drivers often have no idea how fast a bicyclist is actually going, and do not have the ability to accurately judge the time they need to make the turn. To avoid these crashes, bicyclists should avoid blind spots and should wait directly behind vehicles when stopped at red lights or stop-signs.

Bicycle Accident Lawsuits

These strategies can help bicyclists maneuver safely when sharing the road with other vehicles. Despite bicyclists' best efforts, though, crashes unfortunately happen. If a driver causes an accident in which a bicyclist is injured, the injured bicyclist may be able to make a claim against the driver in a personal injury lawsuit. If the driver was negligent in causing the crash, the bicyclist may be awarded monetary damages for his or her medical expenses, pain and suffering and other economic losses.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bicycle accident, contact a personal injury attorney with experience in bicycle crash cases. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options.

Article provided by Steven Wingo, Attorney at Law
Visit us at www.stevenwingo.com