Summary:
- Drivers can cause bicycle accidents through reckless driving behavior, such as drunk driving, speeding, and drowsy driving
- Bicycle accidents commonly happen at intersections where drivers run red lights and strike cyclists crossing the street
- Bicyclists can cause bike accidents themselves when they do not pay full attention to safe riding techniques
- Bike parts can malfunction, cause a bicyclist to lose control of their bike, and cause a bike accident
Bicycle accidents can result from someone riding a bike crashing into a heavy object or motor vehicle. In most cases, these types of accidents result from the negligent behavior of a motor vehicle driver. They can engage in reckless behavior, such as distracted driving, speeding, and drunk driving, and crash into a bicyclist. Wondering what can cause a bicycle accident?
However, bicyclists themselves can also make mistakes that can cause bike accidents. Those riding bikes must pay attention to where they’re going so they do not expose themselves to physical trauma. Bike accidents can also result from defective bicycle parts, such as tires, pedals, suspensions, and brakes, that can cause a bicyclist to lose control of their bike.
Bicycle Accidents Normally Occur Because of Driver Negligence
Bicycle accidents ordinarily occur because of driver negligence. Drivers of larger motor vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and buses, can make mistakes through reckless driving. This is when they fail to follow road rules or drive safely. While engaging in negligent driving, they can come into contact with bicyclists.
Motor vehicle drivers can drift onto sidewalks and strike a bicyclist, exposing them to severe physical trauma. They can also fail to pay attention in parking lots and hit someone walking to or from their car. Bicycle accidents due to driver mistakes can also happen through dooring, which is when someone opens their door in the path of a bicyclist.
The following are some reckless driving behaviors that can cause bike accidents:
How Can a Bicycle Accident Occur at an Intersection?
Drivers commonly cause bicycle accidents at intersections. These are locations where multiple lanes of traffic meet, with traffic control signals giving specific lanes the right-of-way. Red lights at intersections force lanes to stop, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to cross.
However, some drivers do not pay attention to this. They can run through red lights and crash into bicyclists riding through the crosswalk. A high-speed collision with a bicyclist can cause significant physical trauma, possibly leading to severe injuries like spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and back and neck injuries.
Can Bicyclists Make Mistakes That Can Cause Bicycle Accidents?
Bicyclists themselves can also cause bike accidents through negligent behavior. They can make similar mistakes to drivers that can cause them to lose control of their bikes and crash into a heavy object or motor vehicle.
One common negligent behavior that can cause a bicycle accident is distracted cycling. Someone who rides their bike while focused on listening to music or podcasts, a conversation they have on their phone, or something that doesn’t have anything to do with riding a bike can crash. They can suffer severe physical trauma that causes serious injuries.
This negligent behavior can also expose others to physical trauma. A bicyclist that drifts onto the street can cause a driver to make an evasive maneuver, possibly crashing into another car. A negligent bicyclist could be held liable for damages in a civil claim.
The Role of E-Bikes and Technology in Bicycle Accidents
With the rise of e-bikes and technologically enhanced bicycles, the landscape of cycling has transformed significantly. While these advances bring speed and convenience to bike riders, they also introduce unique risks that contribute to bicycle accidents. Many bicycle accidents happen when the blend of technology and human error creates dangerous situations. Understanding these risks is crucial in preventing accidents and ensuring rider safety.
Higher Speeds and the Risk of Serious Injuries
E-bikes can easily reach higher speeds than conventional bicycles, and with that speed comes an increased chance of severe injuries during an accident. Causes of bicycle accidents on e-bikes often stem from unsafe lane changes, vehicle collisions, or car drivers underestimating the speed of an oncoming cyclist. When bike riders lose control due to excessive speed, the consequences can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and internal bleeding. These common bicycle accident injuries often require extensive medical attention, leading to substantial medical expenses and lost wages for bicycle accident victims.
Battery Malfunctions and Mechanical Failures
Battery malfunctions are another factor in e-bike-related crashes. Sudden electrical failures or overheating can cause a bike to malfunction mid-ride, leading to dangerous bicycle crashes. These types of bike accidents occur when riders are unable to control their bikes, often colliding with parked cars, oncoming traffic, or other cyclists. Such malfunctions not only present risks to injured bicyclists but also raise questions about product liability. A bicycle accident attorney can guide victims through personal injury claims against negligent manufacturers or distributors.
Technology-Induced Distractions
The integration of cycling technology like GPS devices, phone mounts, and cycling apps has also contributed to distractions on the road. Distracted riding remains one of the most common causes of bicycle accidents. Bike riders who focus more on their devices than the bike path ahead are at higher risk of hitting parked cars, violating traffic laws, or straying into unsafe lanes. Similarly, drivers who fail to notice cyclists in their surroundings due to distracted driving increase the likelihood of vehicle collisions and fatal bicycle accidents.
Preventing Fatal Bike Crashes with Safety Precautions
To prevent accidents and reduce the risk of severe trauma, injured cyclists should prioritize taking safety precautions. Wearing protective gear like helmets reduces the chances of head injuries and soft tissue injuries during bicycle crashes. Adhering to bicycle safety tips, such as practicing safe lane changes, staying within bike lanes, and avoiding unsafe lane conditions, can protect injured cyclists and help reduce fatal injuries. Following traffic laws, using reflective gear, and maintaining proper e-bike maintenance are also critical in avoiding the severe consequences of preventable accidents.
Legal Support for Accident Victims
When technology-related bicycle crashes occur, injured cyclists may face overwhelming medical expenses and physical recovery. Accident victims can benefit from speaking with a personal injury lawyer to explore their legal options. A bicycle accident attorney can assess insurance coverage, help injured cyclists pursue compensation for common injuries, and guide them in filing a personal injury claim. Many law firms offer a free consultation, allowing bicycle accident victims to discuss their cases and seek justice for their losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and personal injury protection coverage.
E-bikes and technology have revolutionized modern cycling, but they also require extra caution. By taking proactive steps to prioritize bicycle safety, cyclists can avoid many bicycle accidents and ride with greater confidence on today’s roads.
Bicycle Accidents Caused by Defective Bike Parts
Another common cause of bicycle accidents is defective bicycle parts. This can happen when a design flaw or manufacturing defect goes unnoticed by designers, manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of bicycles. They can send bicycles to market with dangerous defects that can cause parts to break or malfunction, leading to bicycle accidents.
Some bicycle parts that can malfunction and cause bicycle accidents include tires, pedals, forks and suspensions, and brakes. Defective bike parts can cause bicyclists to lose control of their bikes and crash into a heavy object or motor vehicle. Companies involved in manufacturing and selling bicycles can be liable in a product liability claim for damages caused by defective parts.
Contact The Russo Firm Today for Help With Your Bicycle Accident Claim
At The Russo Firm, our bicycle accident attorneys can help you pursue compensation for damages caused by a negligent party, such as medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life. We understand the pain and suffering caused by bicycle accident injuries and wish to help you recover financially.
Our bicycle accident attorneys can use their decades of experience to help you craft a legal counsel plan that takes into account the specifics of your case. We offer free consultations to show bike accident victims how we can help them recover fair compensatory damages. Contact us today at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accidents
Who Can Be Held Liable for Bicycle Accident Damages?
The liable party is the one whose negligence caused the bicycle accident. This is the party who purposefully or accidentally exposed you to blunt-force trauma through a bicycle accident that caused bike accident injuries. You can file a civil claim with this liable party to pursue compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
The following are some possible liable parties in a bicycle accident claim:
- Motor vehicle driver
- Another cyclist
- Bike part manufacturer, designer, distributor, or seller
- Motor vehicle driver employer
- Road maintenance crews
Can a Bicyclist Pursue Compensation for Damages if They Were Partially Liable?
Sometimes, a bicyclist can share liability for causing a bicycle accident. It’s possible they didn’t do all they could to avoid a bicycle accident and committed negligent behavior to contribute to causing the bicycle accident.
In this case, the partially responsible bicyclist could still file a civil claim to pursue compensation for damages. Most states in the US operate under comparative fault, which means each party involved in a claim or lawsuit will have their blame assessed. Each party who contributed to the accident can be assigned a percentage of blame.
If the bicyclist shares less than 50% of the liability for causing the accident, they could file a civil claim to pursue compensation for damages. Their eventual settlement or court award will be reduced by how much they contributed to the accident. For example, if a judge finds them 35% liable, their court award will be 35% less than what it would have been.
How Can a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help With a Civil Claim?
Following a bicycle accident, you could file a civil claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company to pursue compensation for damages. Hiring a lawyer with bicycle accident experience can help with the claim process, as they will have expertise they can use to help with the steps involved in pursuing compensatory damages.
They can help you assess the value of your bike accident claim, determine the liable party, gather evidence, explain state bike accident laws, and negotiate a settlement. Your best chance for recovering fair compensation for bicycle accident damages is with the help of an experienced bike accident attorney.
