Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Injured by a Careless Driver in a Massachusetts Bicycle Accident?
Many people turn to bike riding as a way to stay fit and save money on gas. Even though bicycling offers numerous benefits, it is an activity that carries a significant risk of injury or even death, often involving collisions with motor vehicles.
When a bicyclist shares the road with other vehicles, such as cars, trucks and vans, the odds of being injured or killed in a bicycle accident increases.
Fatal Bicycle Accidents Involving Motor Vehicles
Since 1932, more than 52,000 bicyclists have been killed in car accidents in the United States.
In 2007, 698 bicyclists died in traffic crashes across the country, which accounted for 2% of all traffic fatalities that year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis, the average age of bicyclists killed in 2007 was 40 and the average age of those injured was 30. However, children are often the victims of bicycle accidents. In 2007, 29% of those injured were under the age of 16 and 15% of those killed were between the ages of 5 and 15.
Risks of Bicycle Accidents
A person riding a bicycle has very little protection when struck by a motor vehicle weighing thousands of pounds.
Why does bicycle riding on roads with other vehicles have so many risks? Drivers often do not see bicyclists, either because they are distracted by non-driving activities or the bicyclists are in their blind spot. Unfortunately, most drivers are not in the habit of watching out for bicyclists, which can lead to serious accidents and injuries.
Safety Tips for Preventing Bicycle Accidents
A 2007 report by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis provided some safety tips for bicycle riders to help prevent bicycle accidents:
- Bicyclists should always wear helmets when riding bicycles. A helmet is one of the most effective ways to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
- Bicyclists are required to obey the same traffic rules as other drivers, including riding the same direction as traffic.
- Drivers should allow bicyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing them and should yield to bicyclists at intersections and as directed by traffic signs and signals.
- Bicyclists should wear fluorescent or brightly colored clothing to increase their visibility. At night, a front light and red reflector or flashing rear light should be used.
When to Seek Legal Advice for Injuries in a Bicycle Accident
If you have been traumatically injured in a bicycle accident involving a vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation if the driver was negligent. To find out more about your legal options, consult with a dedicated Boston accident attorney at the Kiley Law Group.
Call 1-888-208-1695 for a Free Legal Consultation.
