Practice Areas
Bicycle Accident Lawyer
When Do You Need A Bicycle Accident Attorney?
While bicycling in Alabama may not be as popular in other states, more people are choosing to ride on two wheels. Taking the bike to work or spend a weekend hitting the mountain trails with the family in tow is great for our health.
In November of 2015, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy released a study that found a dramatic increase in cycling could save society $24 trillion and cut CO2 emissions from urban transportation by 11%.
There is one glaring factor that keeps many people from becoming dedicated cyclists: fear of getting hit by a car. It’s a fear that goes both ways. Surely no one wants to be responsible for hitting a cyclist either. In 2015 alone, five cyclists were killed in collisions with cars.
When comparing the frame of a bicycle to the size and weight of a car – you’re practically guaranteed that the cyclist will be injured in any kind of collision. When a cyclist is hit by a car, speaking with a personal injury attorney can be a critical step in protecting your interests.
What Are Common Bicycle Accidents?
Despite a bike’s positive impact on health and the environment, riding a bicycle can be dangerous. As little as three years ago, the Centers for Disease Control reported over 900 bicyclists were killed, with an estimated 494,000 visits to the emergency room for bicycle accident injuries in the U.S. alone. Adolescents, young adults and adults over the age of 45 have the highest bicycle fatality rates.
It doesn’t help that Alabama was recently listed as the least bicycle friendly state by the League of American Bicyclists. Few people regularly ride to work or for fun, as the likelihood of being injured or killed are higher than those states that are bike-friendly.
Auto drivers have a duty to exercise higher care in regards to cyclists, but driver negligence is a leading contributor in bicycle accident cases. Common bicycle accidents include:
- Side-Swipe Collision: Occurs when a car driver refuses to share the road with a cyclist, coming too close to the bicycle and striking them in passing.
- Left Turn Collision: Happens when the car’s driver and the cyclist approach the intersection from opposite directions. As the car makes a left turn, it collides with the cyclist.
- Right Turn Collision: Results from the car cutting off a cyclist as they turn right or turning into the bicycle when both are at a stop light and the light changes. This is a common cause of wrongful death in bicycle accidents.
- Failure To Stop: Occurs when cyclists forget to give the right-of-way to the car at a stop sign by not coming to a full and complete stop at an intersection. Motorists can also be guilty of this behavior, hitting a bicycle by failing to stop completely.
- Failure To Yield: A cyclist entering an intersection must always come to a complete stop and let the motorist have the right-of-way. Failure to yield could result in the cyclist being found at fault in an accident.
What Is Bicycle Accident Liability?
The successful outcome of a bicycle accident lawsuit rests on the ability to prove liability, namely the driver’s. The law holds both automobile drivers and cyclists responsible for their actions on the road. However, vehicle drivers are held to higher degree of reasonable care, assuming because of the physics involved in a car-bicycle collision.
What Is Driver Negligence?
A deciding factor in personal injury cases lies within the reckless behavior of others. A driver who is speeding, under the influence, running a stop sign or stoplight, or drifts into a bike lane would be considered negligent. Eye-witness testimony can greatly assist in determining driver negligence.
