Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle Accidents

Bicycles serve a variety of purposes. For young children, they may be primarily an entertainment that gets them out of the house and around the neighborhood. For adult riders, bicycles offer an enjoyable means of maintaining a physically active lifestyle. They also represent an environmentally friendly and cost-effective mode of transportation for those who live in sufficiently urbanized areas. And for others still, cycling is a competitive sport that demands long rides and long hours in the saddle along roads with occasionally indifferent or abusive motorists. Despite the varied reasons that people ride, they all face the shared dangers of bicycle accidents.

The injuries that one might suffer as a result of a bicycle accident can be as minor as contusions or abrasions. But they have the potential to lead to more significant harm including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even death. In most cases, the only things that can protect a cyclist in the event of a crash are his or her helmet, brakes, and arms. This grim reality makes it that much more important that drivers, bicycle mechanics, and bicycle manufacturers exercise an appropriate degree of caution and care in their disparate responsibilities to bicycle riders.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Part of the problem certainly arises from the frequency with which bicycles and automobiles are expected to share the same road. Bicycles are treated under the law as if they were basically equivalent to motor vehicles, with some exceptions. While this is convenient, it fails to recognize the fact that cyclists simply cannot accelerate or turn as well or quickly as drivers, as well as the considerable difference in size and protection. Some cities have made a commitment to designating bike lanes on heavily trafficked streets and avenues, but there are a number of dangers that still persist.

Depending upon the cause of your bicycle accident, you may be entitled to pursue a legal action against the individual or entity whose negligence led to or worsened the effects of your crash. An experienced Phoenix bicycle accident attorney can help you to identify the underlying factors of your accident, which commonly may include:

Brake Malfunctions

Faulty Chains

Aggressive Driving

Car Doors Opening in the Path of Travel

Defective Helmets

Failure of Drivers to Yield

Highway Defects 

Serious Injuries, Serious Representation 

If you or someone you love has been involved in a bicycle accident caused by another party’s negligence, then you may wish to contact the Phoenix bicycle accident lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C.