Bike Injury Attorney
Each year, over five thousand people in the United States die from bicycle and motorcycle accidents. The number of bike users is increasing exponentially due to the rising gas prices. With this growth, it is likely that we will begin to see even greater numbers of bikers fatally injured on the roads.
Bike accidents have many causes, but it is typical that motorists do not adequately see bikers on the roadway. To make matters worse, bikers are much less protected than their motorist counterparts because there is no car body to shelter them from the impact of the accidents.
In fact, one in five motorcycle accidents results in a head or neck injury. This, added to the great risk of fatality, makes riding on bicycles and motorcycles highly dangerous.
Bike accidents can be caused by:
- Aggressive driving
- Poor road conditions
- Motor vehicle negligence
- Disregard of right of way
- Poor knowledge of driving/riding laws
- Inexperienced driving/riding
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Unfortunately, many of these bike accidents are unavoidable for the biker/rider, but there are ways to reduce your risk of being seriously injured or killed in an accident.
It is important as a rider that you always wear your helmet. Although some riders might believe that helmets limit visibility, in many studies, wearing a helmet while riding has not been shown to affect visibility or hearing.
You should also be sure to always follow the traffic laws and right of way, even if you are a bicyclist because you are still expected to respect the rules of the road. Never mix drinking with riding because you risk losing your license if you are caught and you could get a DUI.
Just as it is necessary that you follow the laws while riding, so is it necessary for your fellow motor vehicle drivers to respect your rights to the road. Many negligent acts that drivers perform while on the road can cause life-altering accidents with bikers.
If you or a loved one was injured while riding, it is important that you speak to an experienced bike accident lawyer today.
