What Causes Bicycle Accidents?

It’s not uncommon for pedestrians and bicyclists to be struck by cars. Drivers should be extra cautious when turning right on a red light, pulling out of driveways, or crossing alleys. Many bicycle accidents involve musculoskeletal trauma and soft tissue injuries. These injuries can help you acquire a much higher settlement amount than you otherwise would with the assistance of a bicycle accident lawyer familiar with the personal injury system and negotiation skills with insurance companies. Injuries to bicyclists may include broken arms and legs, rib fractures, and tooth damage. Legal assistance will relieve you of dealing with the accident, so you may devote all your attention to recovering from injuries.

Failure to Yield

There are several contributing factors to the failure to yield bicycle accidents. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there are approximately 60,000 car accidents involving cyclists in Michigan in 2020. These accidents are often the result of negligent drivers who fail to yield or are otherwise less vigilant. If you were injured or your loved one lost their life due to a bicycle accident, you can seek compensation from negligent drivers. Failure to yield violates the law that requires drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. It is particularly dangerous when drivers do not see bicyclists and do not yield when the intersection merges. In addition, drivers are likely to cut off a bicyclist who is riding in the same direction as the vehicle. The compensation you receive will depend on your injuries and damages. If you need help pursuing a case, contact a bicycle accident attorney in your area.

Distracted Drivers

When drivers are distracted, they cannot focus on the road in front of them. This distraction can be either visual or manual. A visual distraction can be a smartphone or other electronic device in the driver’s hand. A cognitive distraction is a mental activity that causes the driver’s attention to be diverted from the road. Cognitive distractions include talking on the phone, daydreaming, or being under the influence of drugs.

New York state has laws prohibiting using portable electronic devices while driving, including handheld mobile phones. These devices should only be used for emergencies or calls, not for texting, reading, or playing games. These distractions make it nearly impossible to react quickly enough to avoid a collision. Consequently, many people are injured or killed because distracted drivers are not paying attention to the road.

Failure to Stop

Bicycle accidents occur when motorists fail to yield to bicycles and cause them to suffer severe injuries. Sadly, many of these crashes result from distracted drivers who fail to stop at stop signs or traffic signals or who fail to yield to cyclists. These drivers often do not give cyclists a sufficient distance to stop or follow a cyclist too closely and fail to brake in time. It causes devastating injuries to bicyclists and motorists and is why so many people are forced to seek compensation for their injuries and lost time.

While most bicycle accidents result from motorists driving distractedly, others result from failure to notice a bicyclist. Distracted drivers fail to notice a bicyclist, and they may not even notice the cyclist at all. Even if the negligent driver is at fault, the insurance company may contest their liability, so hiring an experienced bicycle accident attorney is critical to help you pursue your compensation.

Failure To Yield At Red Lights

In New York, drivers must yield to emergency vehicles and cyclists when entering or exiting a parking lot. If cyclists fail to yield to the other vehicle, they may be liable for the accident and damages.

In the past several decades, the number of fatal failure-to-yield crashes has increased significantly, and in recent years, the numbers have doubled. Yet, bicycle accidents account for only 2% of traffic fatalities. Because bicycle riders cannot outmaneuver automobiles, they must ride in special lanes or on designated trails separate from car traffic. A bicycle accident lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Failure To Yield At Stop Signs

In many cases, a failed yield can cause a bike accident. Drivers who fail to yield to bicycles and pedestrians often speed through intersections and miss stop signs. Sometimes, a driver is distracted or intoxicated, and they don’t see the biker, leading to a collision. A qualified bicycle accident attorney can collect evidence to show that the failure to yield caused the bicycle accident. In addition to gathering evidence, injured drivers and cyclists should seek medical care. Police officers can also assess the scene and investigate other contributing factors that led to the failure to yield the accident.