Imagine riding your bicycle down the street; you’re entitled to the same rights as any other driver, and there are laws that require drivers to respect the space around you. Despite this, a car comes too close and hits you. Now, you’re left with a personal injury that you have to talk to your attorney about before filing your claim, and the driver has to face a lawsuit or settlement negotiations.
Unfortunately, this situation is not that uncommon in the United States. In 2013 alone, there were 743 bicyclists killed in crashes around the country. As bicycling becomes more popular in populated areas, it’s important for drivers to become aware of their presence and to make sure they’re following the rules of the road.
In 2013, there were 48,000 bicyclists injured in crashes, a drop in the number of injuries overall when compared to years in the past, but still a substantial number. These individuals suffered injuries ranging from minor scrapes and cuts to spinal cord injuries or brain trauma. What’s worse is that records from hospitals indicate that bicycle crashes are happening more than it seems; there are more crashes resulting injuries than are recorded by police. It’s been estimated that only around 10 percent of all bicycle crashes are actually recorded by police.
Bicycle accidents aren’t always caused by other drivers, but they are around 29 percent of the time. Other times, cyclists are injured by poor roadways, which is another situation in which a cyclist may be able to make a claim; with poor roadways, the claim may need to be made against the city.
Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, “Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crash Statistics,” accessed June 03, 2016
