Summary
Auto accidents involving a pedestrian on a bicycle have increased from 698 in 2007 up to 716 in 2008. Since bicyclists are relatively unprotected; only wearing a helmet and protection for their knees and elbows, auto accidents involving a bicyclist cause very serious injuries to the victims. This article discusses the types of injuries that occur as a result of accidents involving a cyclist. If you or a loved one have been injured in this type of auto accident, you are entitled to compensation from damages. This article discusses ways to gain compensation.
Auto Accidents Involving Bicyclists
Bicycle safety on the roadways is extremely important because of the increased chance for severe injury. Cyclists are usually only protected with helmets and protection for their knees and elbows, therefore accidents involving a bicyclist cause serious injuries including broken bones, serious cerebral or spinal injuries, concussions and many other potentially life-threatening injuries. Due to poor bike path design and driver or cyclist negligence, cyclists face very dangerous situations when biking along roadways.
Dangerous Situations – Cars
- Cutting off a cyclist while turning – if a cyclist is approaching from the right or left and a car makes a turn in that direction, the cyclist may not be given enough time to stop and could collide with the vehicle
- Inadequate space between driver and cyclist – sometimes drivers do not leave enough space between the side of their car and the bike path and the side-view mirror or side of the car could strike the cyclist and throw them off their bike or off the road
- Ignoring and driving in bike paths – most drivers to not take bike paths into consideration and cross directly into them. If a cyclist appears behind the vehicle while the vehicle is driving over the bike path, the cyclist could collide with the vehicle and be seriously injured.
- Opening car doors after parking – most drivers do not check to make sure the bike path is clear before opening their doors. If a cyclist is traveling along the bike path and a driver suddenly opens the door, the cyclist could crash into the door and possibly flip over it, causing major injuries upon impact.
- Forcing a cyclist to stop suddenly – it is possible for a vehicle to stop directly in the path of a cyclist and not realize that the cyclist does not have time to stop. If this occurs, the cyclist could collide with the vehicle and suffer serious injuries.
Dangerous Situations – Cyclist
- Attempting to pass lines of stopped cars – attempting to beat the cars and pass them before they make appropriate turns
- Unsafe speed – riding at a very high rate of speed decreases a cyclist’s ability to stop in time if they approach a potential collision. Riding at high speeds can also increase the chances of being unable to control the bicycle should they approach a situation where they bump into a car or need to stop suddenly.
- Improper bicycle maintenance – bicycle maintenance plays a major role in car-bicycle accidents. Failing to maintain the bike’s breaks or tires and failing to properly maintain bike frame, chains or handlebars can all create volatile situations putting the cyclist in danger of being seriously injured.
Actions such as cutting off a cyclist while turning or completely disregarding bike paths can put a cyclist in extreme danger of falling off the bike or even being propelled over the bars of their bicycle. Negligence from cyclists is also a common occurrence and can just as easily put the cyclist in danger of being injured very seriously. Whether you are driving a car or riding a bike, you should always be sure to take extreme caution. If you have been injured in an accident, an Arizona lawyer can help you get compensation for injuries.
Although it is impossible to account for every situation involving a bicycle and a car, you should always take extreme caution to avoid any type of accident due to the increased risk for injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car-bicycle accident, you are entitled to compensation for damages. You can contact an Arizona attorney who can assist you in getting compensation for any injuries, damage or physical and emotional pain and suffering you have gone through.
Contact an Arizona Attorney
If you or a loved one live in the Maricopa County area and have suffered any injuries as a result of cyclist and auto accident collision, you are entitled to compensation for damages. You can contact an Arizona Attorney who can assist you in recovering damages. For more information you can search www.justaccidentlaw.com to find out how you can get compensation for injuries from an auto accident.
