Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Bicycle Injuries Are Costly (Part A)
Bicycle riding is a national pastime as well as a popular mode of transportation in many areas of the country. Adults ride their bicycles to work and children ride them to school. The unfortunate part of biking, either for recreation or transportation, is that Boston bicycle injury accidents can and do happen, usually to the bicyclist. Bicycle safety should be a number one priority.
According to an article on DirectoryM.com, “The vast majority of bicycle accidents are low-speed, single participant accidents, and these rarely produce more than just a scratch or scrape. However, some accidents can include multiple riders, high speed, cyclists and pedestrians, or even bicycle versus motor vehicle. These accidents have a great potential to be dangerous, and certain safety measures should be taken to reduce the risk of serious injuries while cycling.”
Bicycle Accidents and Motor Vehicles
When cars and bicyclists collide, the bicycle rider is the one who gets the short end of the stick and is the one who will sustain the injuries. Although statistics show 550,000 bicyclists visit the emergency room each year with injuries; this number is under-reported given many incidents are not serious enough to require emergency medical treatment.
The West Bridgewater Police Department’s website lists the following statistics:
- $81 million in direct costs per year
- $2.3 billion in in-direct costs per year
ConsumerReports.org estimates the cost of inpatient hospital care totaled nearly $200 million for bicycle accidents in 2003.
Their report also went to say, “Perhaps the most significant finding in the recent study was the fact that motor vehicles were involved in approximately 30 percent of bicycle-related hospitalizations. And not surprisingly, motor vehicle accidents increased with the age of the patient. Motor vehicle involvement was as low as 20 percent in incidents involving children under two and double that for adolescents 18 to 20.”
How a Boston Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case
When such an accident occurs, you should consult with a Massachusetts bike accident lawyer that specializes in child injury cases in Boston, Massachusetts. It is important that the lawyer you choose has successfully handled child accident cases and understands the intricacies of bicycle accidents or wrongful deaths.
Continue to Bicycle Injuries Are Costly (Part B) >>
