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Saved me after my bike accident
"My nephew and I were riding our bikes and this old man who wasn't paying attention clipped my bike. I fell into my nephews bike- luckily he wasn't hurt. But I broke my leg in two places. It was very painful and I had to take a lot of time off of work since I drive trucks. I found David Greenberg Law through an InsiderPages review and am glad I did. He was great- I got a very big settlement (more than I would have thought) and he also helped make sure my job was there for me when I recovered."
Bicycle Accident Overview
Due to the rising prices of gas and oil and a heightened awareness of our environmental impact, it is becoming increasingly popular in the United States and especially California to ride one's bicycle whenever possible. A commendable activity, cycling not only saves money and reduces greenhouse gases but is also an excellent low-impact form of cardiovascular and strengthening exercise. Unfortunately, bicyclists must share the road with cars, trucks and buses increasing their risk of a bicycle accident. Even those areas with designated bike lanes and bike paths can be deadly. With no barrier between a cyclist's body and the road, bicycling accidents are serious incidences which can lead to permanent disability, mental problems and often death. Precautions such as wearing safety gear and helmets, following road regulations and riding defensively are the only measures bicycle enthusiasts can take.
How Bicycle Accidents Occur
Statistics show that the denser the population, the higher the number of bicycle accidents that occur. Bicycle accidents occur most often in highly trafficked areas and are in a large majority of cases due to the negligence, inattentiveness or recklessness of the driver of a motor vehicle. At intersections drivers often turn directly in front of or into a cyclist because they failed to look before they moved; this same visual inattentiveness causes accidents involving cars pulling out into traffic or pulling out of driveways and parking lots. Many motor vehicles involved in bicycling accidents failed to yield at a stop sign or a red light and in general exhibited a lack of attention or caution when driving near a cyclist. Additionally, gross negligence such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or when extremely fatigued causes a high number of bicycle accidents.
Other causes include poorly marked roads, inadequate lighting, limited visibility due to poor weather conditions and inferior traction due to rain, ice or snow. Poor safety habits on the part of the cyclist, such as not wearing a helmet or failure to employ reflective tape or electric lights when riding in low light conditions greatly increases the risks of riding in traffic.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
- 95% of fatal bicycle accidents occur between a bicycle and a motor vehicle.
- Nearly 25% of all bicycle fatalities in the United States happen to children between the ages of 5 and 15.
- Bicycling accidents result in more emergency room visits than any other physical activity or sport.
- Head injury or brain trauma is the leading cause of death from a bicycle accident.
- Over 50,000 bicyclists have died in traffic accidents in the United States since 1932.
- Bicycle accidents account for nearly 15% of all non-occupant traffic fatalities in the United States annually.
- 31 is the average age of the victims of bicycle injuries; 41 is the average age of bicyclists killed in traffic accidents.
- Insurance settlements for injuries from bicycle accidents are nearly 40% lower than settlements for the very same kinds of injuries caused by car accidents.
Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries
Most non-serious bicycle accidents result in contusions, abrasions and cuts which leave minimal scarring at worst. More serious bicycle accidents can cause deep cuts, broken bones, compound fractures, broken or knocked-out teeth, head trauma, brain injuries, coma, friction burns, amputation and death. Many types of bicycle accidents and injuries can be prevented or minimized through the use of basic safety measures.
Cyclists must be vigilant about wearing safety helmets to reduce the chances of brain injury or fatal brain trauma in the event of an accident. Additional safety gear such as reflective tape and electric lights on the front and back of the bicycle, as well as wearing knee and elbow protection can greatly reduce the chances of accident and minimize injury. It is advisable to avoid busy roads and complicated intersections where a driver's attention is pulled in many directions and to take up a full lane when busy roads are unavoidable to insure maximum visibility.
Bicycle Accident & Injury Articles
