bicycle collisions

There are more bicycles and motor vehicles on our roads today. Bicycles are less visible to drivers on the road than a car or truck. Drivers of motor vehicles are often distracted while talking on their cell phones, driving at excessive speeds, driving without enough sleep, and even driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As bicycle riders in the U.S., we are all at a greater risk of being injured or killed by a distracted or negligent driver.

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), 784 bicyclists died while riding their bikes in 2005. 92% of those deaths came as the result of a crash with a motor vehicle. Additionally, 45,000 bicycle riders were injured in a wreck with a motor vehicle in the same year - up 9.8% from 2004.

For a better understanding of these numbers, consider that 43,443 people were killed on U.S. highways in 2005. Bicycle riders made up 1.8% of the total fatalities.

There are 85 million bicycle riders in the United States, with the number of riders increasing each year, looking for a fun family activity or a way to stay in shape. While bike riding is a great activity, it can also be very dangerous. Over the last 10 years, there has been an unfortunate increase in the number of bicycling accidents and injuries.

A bicycle accident is more likely to occur in urban areas and cities than in rural areas. These crashes most often occur at non-intersection locations in the evening or at night. If a collision occurs between a bicycle and a motor vehicle, the bike rider is far more likely to die or be seriously injured than the driver or passenger in the motor vehicle. The injuries suffered by a bicyclist in a crash can be catastrophic:

  • A bicycle rider is killed every 12 hours in America.
  • Head injuries account for seventy-five percent of all serious injuries and deaths from bicycle accidents.
  • 1 in 8 bicycle injuries is a traumatic brain injury.
  • Two-thirds of bicycle deaths are from traumatic brain injury.

Why are there so many bicycle riders who are injured or killed? Negligent drivers are a major factor in bicycle accidents. Drivers are supposed to share the road with bicycle riders, but oftentimes this does not happen. In these crashes, the driver of the vehicle is solely at fault 60% of the time! The most common causes of a bicycle wreck are:

  • Motorist turning or merging into the path of a bicyclist.
  • Motorist overtaking a bicyclist.
  • Bicyclist turning or merging into the path of a motorist.
  • Motorist failed to yield right-of-way at a junction.

If you have been injured in a bicycle collision, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries and damages from those that have injured you. If you are family member of a bicyclist that has died due to the negligence of a motorist, you deserve to be compensated for your loss. Consider hiring a bicycle accident attorney who will understand your situation and has the knowledge and experience necessary to get you the compensation that you deserve.

Please review our state by state listing of bicycle accident lawyers and contact a bicycle collision attorney today.

For more information on bike accidents, please visit our Bicycle Collisions Frequently Asked Questions page.

< Back to types of motor vehicle accidents