Bicycling is an enjoyable activity that has a number of benefits: it is good for your health, it helps you save money on transportation, and it is better for the environment.
However, bicycling has a serious drawback: it is not always safe.
Bicyclists share the road with far heavier, faster modes of travel, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Because bicycles don’t offer the protection that motor vehicles do, a collision between the two can be deadly. In 2012, 726 bicyclists were killed in accidents with motor vehicles. Nearly another 50,000 were injured.
Unfortunately, motor vehicles aren’t the only danger that bicyclists face. Bicyclists can be injured and even killed in an accident caused by road conditions or obstacles.
Road conditions impact bicycles much more severely than motor vehicles because bicycles are smaller, lighter, and less stable—with only two wheels on the ground. While the driver of a car may not even notice driving over a large pothole, a bicyclist certainly will: that pothole could send the bicyclist flying off his or her bike.
Obstacles are also more problematic for bicycles than motor vehicles. Shredded tires, car parts, light poles, metal debris, and branches can all cause serious injury—whether from hitting the bicyclist or causing him or her to fall from the bike. Obstacles in a designated bike lane, in particular, can be extremely dangerous: if the bicyclist cannot stop, he or she may have to choose between colliding with the obstacle and swerving out of the bike lane and into traffic. Both of these options can result in severe injury.
It is the responsibility of car owners to maintain their cars in good condition. It is also the responsibility of local, state, and federal governments to keep roadways safe.
If you are seriously injured in a bicycle accident caused by debris from a motor vehicle or unsafe road conditions, we can help.
The experienced Huntsville bicycle accident lawyers at Martinson & Beason, P.C. are here to guide you through the personal injury claim process. We will protect your rights and advocate for the compensation you need to get relief after your accident.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.