Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Though the bicycle was invented in the early 19th century, its use has endured to today due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. It’s an affordable, low-maintenance transportation option that offers physical exercise and mental well-being. Bicycles are ideal for urban mobility and versatile for commuting, recreation, and sport. Cycling fosters community and cultural connections, and continuous technological advancements enhance its appeal.
Despite the enduring use of the bicycle, the advent of the automobile has increased safety risks for cyclists due to higher traffic volumes, faster vehicle speeds, and often inadequate cycling infrastructure, leading to more collisions. Additionally, distracted driving and limited driver awareness of cyclists further exacerbate the dangers faced by cyclists on the road.
How Distracted Driving Increase Risks of Bicycle Collisions
Distracted driving refers to any activity that diverts attention from driving and impairs a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. This includes activities that take the driver’s eyes off the road (visual distraction), hands off the wheel (manual distraction), or mind off driving (cognitive distraction).
These distractions increase the risk of bicycle accidents as they reduce the driver’s awareness and reaction time. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable as they lack the protection of a vehicle and depend heavily on driver attention for their safety.
Common examples of distracted driving include:
- Texting or Using a Smartphone: Drivers texting or using their phones are less likely to notice cyclists sharing the road, increasing the risk of collisions.
- Eating or Drinking: Taking hands off the wheel to eat or drink can lead to unpredictable vehicle movements, posing a danger to nearby cyclists.
- Talking to Passengers: Engaging in conversations can distract a driver’s attention from the road, reducing their awareness of cyclists in their vicinity.
- Adjusting Vehicle Controls: Reaching for climate controls, radio settings, or navigation systems diverts a driver’s eyes and hands from driving, potentially causing them to drift into a cyclist’s path.
Common Failure to Yield Scenarios That Can Cause Accidents
Failure to yield scenarios can lead to bicycle accidents due to negligence or misunderstanding of right-of-way laws in California. Motorists must yield to bicyclists and pedestrians, especially when turning right at intersections or encountering them in crosswalks.
According to California Vehicle Code (CVC) regulations, cyclists have equal rights on the road but must obey traffic signals and signs. Motorists failing to yield can cause collisions when they don’t give priority to cyclists legally using bike lanes or crossing intersections. Such infractions jeopardize cyclist safety, emphasizing the importance of clear adherence to traffic laws to prevent accidents and injuries.
Examples of accidents caused by failure to yield are:
- Right-Turn Collisions: A motorist turning right at an intersection fails to yield to a cyclist proceeding straight through a bike lane, resulting in a side-impact collision.
- Crosswalk Incidents: A driver fails to yield to a cyclist or pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, leading to a collision as the cyclist or pedestrian crosses the street.
- Left-Turn Crashes: A left-turn driver fails to yield to an oncoming cyclist or pedestrian, causing a collision as the cyclist or pedestrian moves through the intersection.
- Merge Accidents: A driver fails to yield to a cyclist while merging into a bike lane or when entering a roadway from a driveway or parking lot, resulting in a collision.
- Intersection Conflicts: Multiple vehicles and cyclists enter an intersection with conflicting right-of-way interpretations, leading to collisions due to failure to yield to the appropriate traffic flow.
Understanding Dooring Incidents as a Bicyclist
Dooring incidents occur when a driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into the path of an oncoming cyclist, often causing the cyclist to collide with the door or swerve into traffic to avoid it. Drivers and passengers are legally responsible to check for cyclists and wait until it is safe to open doors. In many jurisdictions, failure to do so can result in fines or penalties. Such incidents pose significant risks to cyclists, leading to injuries or fatalities.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident
Immediate steps to take at the scene of a bicycle accident include:
- Call 911: Contact emergency services to report the accident and request medical assistance if needed.
- Check for Injuries: Assess yourself and others involved for injuries, prioritizing medical care for anyone in need.
- Gather Evidence: Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Collect witness contact information for statements.
- Report to Police and Insurance: Notify the police to file an accident report. Inform your insurance company promptly to begin the claims process.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even for minor injuries, seek medical evaluation to document injuries and receive appropriate treatment.
- Document Injuries and Treatments: Keep records of medical reports, bills, and treatments received for insurance claims and legal purposes.
- Consult an Attorney: Consider consulting a personal injury lawyer specializing in bicycle accidents to understand your rights, especially if significant injuries or liability issues are involved.
Call Our Long Beach Bicycle Accident Attorney for Tenacious Legal Help
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If you’ve been involved in a bike accident, our bicycle accident lawyer in Long Beach can assist. Call The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV at (562) 901-0840 for a free 1-hour initial consultation today.