Riding a bicycle is a great way to explore California’s coastlines and generally get around. Unfortunately, riding a bike can also expose you to a risk of serious injury, especially when you are riding alongside cars, trucks and SUVs.
Many bicycle accidents, and the resulting injuries to riders, might not have happened if the driver involved had acted more carefully. Here are three common causes of bike accidents:
Failure to yield to bicyclists
Trying to sneak past oncoming traffic or just failing to notice that it is not yet safe to make a turn is always dangerous. When a driver fails to yield to a bicyclist, the results can be a disaster for the rider.
Distracted driving by motorists
A driver who is distracting themselves with their cellphone, a snack, makeup or anything else that diverts their attention from the task of driving safety can easily fail to notice a rider and crash into them. Just a few seconds of inattention from a motorist can lead to a lifetime of disability for a cyclist. Unfortunately, though California has one of the strongest anti-distracted driving laws in the U.S., collisions caused by distracted driving remain a problem.
Poor road conditions
Potholes, cracks in the road and uneven surfaces can cause a rider to lose control and crash. Even relatively well-maintained roads can be unsafe for riders if there are no clearly marked bike lanes.
Bike riders are often told they must watch out for cars and trucks to protect themselves. But no matter how careful a rider is, if a negligent motorist is bearing down on them, there may not be anything the rider can do to avoid serious injuries. With little to protect them from the force of a multi-ton vehicle, riders can suffer a brain injury, spinal damage, broken bones and more.
Bearing the costs of these injuries, such as medical bills and lost wages, should be the responsibility of the negligent party that caused them. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, consider speaking to a personal injury attorney about the process of pursuing compensation.