Cycling is a popular form of exercise as well as mode of everyday transportation for many people, that comes with its own unique hazards and safety concerns. Many accidents involve other vehicles, and it is the cyclist who receives the harsher damages, both to themselves and to their bicycles. Because each state has its own specific laws concerning accidents involving cyclists, Sacramento bicycle accident attorneys can provide essential help and insight for cyclists facing legal repercussions of an accident.
Precautions to Take as a Cyclist
As a cyclist riding on the road, you are at risk for more serious damage than someone who is driving a car. You do not have the same amount of protection around you and are most often going at a slower speed than others near you. Therefore, it is important to take all of the necessary precautions in order to avoid an accident while riding.
Some helpful preventative measures to take include:
- Wearing bright or reflective clothing. The inability of drivers to see cyclists is a common cause of accidents. Sometimes, even when it is still daylight outside, it can be difficult for drivers to see someone on a bicycle.
- Adding reflectors to your bicycle. In addition to making your clothing more noticeable, making your bicycle more noticeable can help increase your visibility. Reflectors can be added to both the front and back of a bicycle in order to be visible to oncoming traffic as well as traffic behind you.
- Making eye contact with drivers. Anytime you are turning or maneuvering in a different direction, it is important to make sure that surrounding drivers are aware of what you are doing before doing it.
- Using your hands and arms as signals. While a bicycle does not have turn signals or brake lights as a car does, you can use your arms to signal to other drivers what you are doing.
Common Injuries
Injuries that cyclists get from accidents vary widely, but there are some common ones that include:
- Head injuries. Not all states require cyclists to wear helmets while on the road. While it is not illegal to ride without a helmet, doing so puts you at great risk for traumatic head and brain injuries. This could be anything from a slight concussion to injuries permanently impacting your ability to move and function properly.
- Road rash. Depending on where you are biking, you could get seriously injured simply from falling. Taking a fall onto asphalt or concrete can result in road rash or an abrasion of the skin that can be minor or serious.
- Fractured and broken bones. The likelihood of breaking a bone while cycling depends on how fast you are going and how you fall. Sometimes, someone going at a slow pace can still break a bone if they fall on it in just the right way.
- Internal organ damage. Being hit by a moving vehicle can cause serious internal damage to your body. While it may not be visible or apparent at first, these injuries can be more serious than those that can be seen.
Where Do Most Bicycle Accidents Happen?
More bicycle accidents happen in urban areas than in rural areas. This could be due to any number of reasons, such as there being a larger amount of people riding bicycles in the city, more distractions present, a faster pace of movement, or others.
It is fairly common for accidents involving bicycles to happen at intersections. This is often due to miscommunication between drivers and cyclists. Sometimes, the cyclist forgets to signal that they are turning, and the driver does not know to stop or wait. Other times, the driver may forget to signal, resulting in the same issue.
Roadsides are another typical location for bicycle accidents. These accidents mostly happen when someone is turning, or someone attempts to pass someone else. However, these accidents can be avoided by paying acute attention to others who are sharing the road.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Most Common Cause of Bicycle Accidents?
A: The most common cause of bicycle accidents is vehicles on the road. Many bicycle accidents happen in urban areas where there are many cars and other cyclists moving in the same or opposite directions. In crowded areas, it can be difficult to be aware of what everyone else is doing, and the slightest mistake or failure to notice someone else can cause an accident.
Q: Who Is at Fault in Most Bicycle Accidents?
A: Both cyclists and drivers can be at fault for accidents involving bicycles. Both parties have rules which they are to follow while on the road. If either violates these sets of rules, they can be held responsible for accidents that they are involved in. California is a state that adheres to pure comparative negligence. This means that if someone in an accident is partially at fault, they are still able to be awarded some percentage of damages.
Q: What Is Common in Cyclist Accidents?
A: Some common factors in cyclist accidents include location, time of day, weather, and clothing. In some cases, multiple, if not all, of these factors can contribute to an accident. Someone riding in an urban context would have a higher likelihood of being in an accident than someone in a rural area. Likewise, someone cycling in snowy or icy conditions would have a higher chance of crashing than someone riding in sunny, calm weather.
Q: What Is the Most Likely Cause of an Accident?
A: The most likely cause of an accident is a lack of precaution taken by either the driver of a vehicle or a cyclist. Sometimes, one simply doesn’t see the other, maybe because they were not paying attention, because the cyclist did not have on bright or reflective clothing, or because the car did not have their headlights turned on when it was dark outside.
If you have been in a crash involving a cyclist, it is essential to reach out to a bicycle accident attorney in order to help you through the legal process. Contact Guenard & Bozarth, LLP, today to find more information regarding how we can provide support to you during this time.
