Bicycle Accidents: Common Causes and Injuries

Bicycle accidents can happen for many reasons, including driver inattention, unsafe road conditions, failure to yield, and dooring incidents. Understanding how these accidents occur and the injuries that may result can help cyclists recognize potential hazards and understand what steps may be appropriate following a collision.

Understanding Bicycle Accidents 

Determining what caused a bicycle accident is an important part of evaluating potential liability. Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may involve the following individuals. 

• The driver 
• The property owner 
• A public entity 
• The bicycle or component manufacturer 
• Another responsible party 

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can place bicyclists at significant risk. A driver who is texting, using a navigation system, eating, adjusting controls, or otherwise distracted may fail to notice a cyclist traveling nearby. Even drivers who are distracted for a brief moment can be involved in a vehicle collision, especially at intersections, in bicycle lanes, or on streets where drivers and cyclists share limited space.

Failure to Yield

Many bicycle accidents occur when motorists fail to yield the right-of-way when required. These incidents may occur when a vehicle turns across a cyclist's path, enters an intersection, exits a driveway, or proceeds through a traffic control device.

Drivers and cyclists are both responsible for following applicable traffic laws. Determining who had the right-of-way may require reviewing witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, traffic signals, and other available evidence.

Unsafe Turns

Right- and left-turn collisions are another common concern for cyclists. For example, a motorist making a right turn may cross a bicycle lane without noticing a cyclist traveling alongside the vehicle. Left-turn collisions may occur when a driver turns across the path of an approaching cyclist. These crashes can be especially dangerous because a cyclist may have little time to react.

Speeding and Unsafe Driving

Excessive or unsafe speed may contribute to the overall severity of a bicycle collision. A speeding driver may have less time to identify a cyclist, react to changing traffic conditions, and stop safely. Other potentially dangerous driving behaviors may include aggressive driving, unsafe lane changes, following too closely, and failing to maintain appropriate control of a vehicle.

Hazardous Road Conditions

Not every bicycle accident involves a motor vehicle. Potholes, uneven pavement, debris, poorly maintained bicycle lanes, inadequate lighting, construction conditions, or other roadway hazards may contribute to a cyclist losing control.

Types of Injuries that may Occur

Head and Brain Injuries

Head injuries are among the more serious potential consequences of bicycle accidents. A cyclist may suffer a concussion, traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, or other head trauma after striking a vehicle, pavement, or another object.

Broken Bones

Some fractures may require immobilization, physical therapy, or surgery depending on their location and severity.

Soft-Tissue Injuries

Cyclists may also experience sprains, strains, bruising, muscle injuries, or ligament damage. Although some soft-tissue injuries improve with conservative treatment, others may require ongoing medical care.

Spinal and Back Injuries

A collision can place significant force on the neck and spine. Depending on the circumstances, a cyclist may experience neck or back pain, disc injuries, nerve-related symptoms, or other spinal trauma. More serious spinal injuries can significantly affect a person's ability to move properly or perform daily tasks. 

Facial and Dental Injuries

Cyclists thrown from their bicycles may strike their faces against the roadway, vehicle, or another object. This can result in facial fractures, cuts, scarring, dental injuries, or damage to the jaw.

Necessary Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident

The period immediately following an accident can be important for both health and documentation. When possible, an injured cyclist should seek appropriate medical attention and report a vehicle-related collision to law enforcement. Photographs of the accident scene, bicycle, vehicles, visible injuries, traffic controls, and roadway conditions may help document what occurred. Contact information for drivers and witnesses can also be useful. The following may become important after a bicycle accident. 

• The damaged bicycle 
• The helmet 
• Clothing 
• Medical records 
• Photographs 
• Repair estimates 
• Other documentation 

Seeking Legal Support

Legal guidance and support may help individuals who have suffered injuries from a bicycle accident understand their case. These types of personal injury cases may leave individuals feeling unsure of the necessary steps to take to recover. A legal professional may be able to review the facts of your case, speak to insurance companies, and help preserve important pieces of evidence. 

The Legal Team at KAASS LAW

The qualified personal injury attorneys at KAASS LAW are ready to help victims understand their rights and responsibilities throughout the claims process. Oftentimes, bicycle accidents may raise serious concerns, leaving victims in a state of shock and uncertainty about their future. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you are not alone. Call KAASS LAW today for a confidential consultation and to learn more about your case moving forward.