Distracted cyclists and motorists are dangerous because their attention will be away from the road, which can lead to them losing control of their motor vehicle or bicycle. This can expose others on the road or bike lane to harm, as they can plow into them and cause severe trauma. Distractions while commuting via motor vehicle or bicycle can cause a bicycle accident, resulting in significant injuries, like spinal cord, facial, and traumatic brain injuries.
When operating a car, truck, motorcycle, or bicycle, keeping your eyes and attention on the road, bike lane, and surrounding area to prevent traumatic accidents is important. If you were riding a bike before being struck by a distracted driver, you could pursue compensation for damages with the help of a bicycle accident attorney through a distracted bicycle accident claim.
Bicyclists and Motorists Can Both Cause Distracted Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents caused by distractions can occur when both motorists and bicyclists are distracted. The most common type of distracted bicycle accident is when a car, truck, or bus motorist loses focus and strikes a bicyclist.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving took the lives of 3,142 people in 2020. Operating a larger vehicle while distracted can be particularly dangerous for bicyclists, as a slight distraction can cause a bicyclist with very little protection to get hit.
Other bicyclists can also become distracted and cause a bicycle accident. When traveling in the same bike lane as other cyclists, it’s important to remain focused and avoid collisions with other bicyclists. A slight distraction like checking your phone, looking at something other than the bike lane, or thinking about dinner can result in a distracted bike accident that can cause severe injuries.
Manual Distractions That Can Cause Bicycle Accidents
Three types of distractions can cause a bicycle accident: manual, visual, and cognitive. The first type of distraction while driving or cycling is manual distraction, which is anything that takes your hands off the wheel or handlebars.
Nowadays, there are so many devices that people need to operate daily. While these can make life easier through instant communication or providing travel directions, they can also distract someone from paying attention while driving or cycling. Manual distractions can make it harder to control a motor vehicle or bicycle, as they will need to have their hand on the wheel or handlebars ready to make a quick evasive maneuver.
The following are some of the manual distractions that can cause bicycle accidents:
- Texting or calling someone
- Using social media
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting the radio
- Taking a picture
- Putting on makeup
- Using a GPS application
Bicycle Accidents Can Result From Visual Distractions
Distracted bicycle accidents can also result from visual distractions. This is anything that takes a driver or bicyclist’s eyes off their path, such as attractions in the distance, animals, nature, restaurants, people walking on the sidewalk, etc. The danger of visual distractions is evident: the driver or cyclist will have no idea what is going on in front of them.
Losing focus on what’s in front of them can cause them to lose control of their vehicle. A driver may drift too far into a bike path and cause a bicycle accident that way. They can also miss a stop sign or red light and cause an intersection crash with a bicyclist who had the right-of-way.
Cognitive Distractions Can Cause Bicycle Accidents
The final type of distraction that can cause a bicycle accident is cognitive distraction, which is when someone’s mind is thinking about something other than safely driving or cycling. Some examples of cognitive distractions would be worrying about work, thinking about an awkward moment, considering what they will make for dinner, or thinking about what they are going to say when they see someone.
All of these cognitive distractions can distract someone from operating their motor vehicle or bike safely. They can miss traffic control signals and lose control of their vehicle. Cognitive distractions can result in distracted bicycle accidents that can cause severe injuries, such as broken bones, facial injuries, or back and neck injuries.
Proving a Distracted Bicyclist or Motorist Caused Your Bicycle Accident
If you were the victim of a distracted bicycle accident, you could file a bicycle accident claim to pursue compensation for damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life. Recovering compensation for bicycle accident damages requires proving the following:
- The liable party owed you a duty of care
- The liable party breached the duty of care
- You received significant damages during the bicycle accident
- The bicycle accident occurred because of the liable party’s breach of duty of care
You can prove the above by finding evidence that the driver was distracted, lost control of their vehicle, and caused a distracted bicycle accident that resulted in severe injuries. Some evidence that can prove the at-fault party’s liability includes medical records, police reports, photos from the bicycle accident scene, vehicle accident reconstructions, witness statements, expert witness testimonies, etc.
How Can a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help With Your Distracted Bicycle Accident Claim?
A bicycle accident lawyer can help with the process of your bicycle accident claim by applying their vast experience to your claim. Proving the at-fault party’s liability can be tough without experience, but a bicycle accident lawyer can do that for you.
A bicycle accident lawyer can leverage their experience and connections to help find tangible evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability and speak to medical experts who can confirm the value of your damages.
A bicycle accident attorney can help with your distracted bicycle accident claim by assessing your damages, determining the at-fault party, explaining the bicycle accident laws in your state, negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company, and representing you in court. You need a bicycle accident lawyer to help put you in the best position to recover fair compensation for your damages.
Contact The Russo Firm for Hep With Your Bicycle Accident Claim
Bicycle accident victims can deal with significant damages, such as lost wages, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering, that can alter their quality of life. The bicycle accident lawyers at The Russo Firm have a proven track record of helping bicycle accident victims across the United States recover fair compensation.
They will help to prove the distracted driver or motorcyclist caused your severe injuries and hold them accountable for their negligent distracted driving behavior.
At The Russo Firm, we offer free consultations to potential clients so our bicycle accident lawyers can prove to bicycle accident victims that our representation is the best way to recover fair compensation for their damages. Contact us at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.