Bicycle accidents can have a number of causes. Many of the most common causes of bicycle accidents involve errors on the part of a bicycle rider or another motorist. These include the following:
- Speeding
- Failure to Yield
- Intoxication
Speeding in Bicycle Accidents
Excess speed is one error that, in most cases, can be avoided. However, it continues to cause accidents due to drivers losing control of their vehicles.
In some bicycle accidents, a driver’s inability to come to a full stop at a traffic signal may cause an accident that produces major consequences for a bicycle rider. Similarly, sometimes bicycle riders build up too much speed and momentum to safely stop their bicycles when necessary.
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Failure to Yield to Bicyclists
Drivers who fail to account for bicyclists when operating on public roads may also cause a bicycle accident. They may fail to leave adequate space between their vehicle and a cyclist with whom they share the road, or enter a sidewalk or crosswalk without checking for oncoming bicycles.
Many bicycle accidents involve aggressive behaviors, road rage, and misconduct. Some drivers of motor vehicles may get aggravated when they get stuck behind a bicycle rider. This can leave them to tailgate, pass when it is unsafe to do so, or cut bicyclists off when turning.
Bicycle Accidents Involving Intoxication
Alcohol intoxication and drug impairment also play a role in many bicycle accidents. Bicycle riders who choose to drink alcohol and ride their bikes endanger their safety in many critical ways. Drunk drivers behind the wheel of a motor vehicle do not fare any better when it comes to alcohol and drug consumption.
The effects that alcohol has on the central nervous system often cause drivers to make dangerous mistakes. A veil of confidence may cloud a driver’s judgment, leaving them to put the life of a bicycle rider in danger as they swerve in and out of traffic.
Alcohol can also decrease a driver’s spatial awareness, resulting in a rider failing to leave enough space for cyclists. Further, the drowsy effects of alcohol can cause a driver to fall asleep at the wheel, thus losing control of the vehicle.
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The Consequences of Bicycle Accidents
As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows, crashes involving bicycle riders have been on a steady rise in the United States since the year 2009. These numbers are concerning, as they serve to underscore the dangers riders face every day on the roads.
With several risk factors working against bicycle riders, they must exercise caution every time they share the road with other drivers, motorists, and pedestrians. Otherwise, the consequences can be devastating.
In many bicycle accidents, bicyclists bear the brunt of these consequences. As data collected and presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows, bicycle accidents in 2010 were responsible for productivity loss and lifetime medical costs of $10 billion.
Even still, many of the most common causes of bicycle accidents may leave a bicycle rider with a strong legal defense. If you were part of a bicycle accident caused by another party’s reckless behavior, carelessness, negligence, or misconduct, then you may be entitled to recover financial compensation. Bicycle accident attorneys in Atlanta who focus on these cases can put up a defense on your behalf.
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Contact Bader Scott Injury Lawyers Today
Many of the most common causes of bicycle accidents can leave victims with severe injuries, psychological trauma, and other forms of damage. Suffering harm in a bicycle accident can have you facing long-term complications and recovery. Meanwhile, handling legal and financial hurdles may only compound your problems.
Rather than taking all of this on alone, a lawyer who focuses on these cases can step in to defend you as you recover from the ramifications of a bicycle accident. If you choose our firm, a lawyer from the team at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers will build a case on your behalf after a bicycle accident.
We will investigate the cause of the accident and collect key forms of evidence to serve us as we establish a liable party. Our team will also fight to recover the compensation for which you qualify. Contact someone in our office today at (404) 888-8888 for more information.
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