When is a Bicycle Accident Lawyer a must?

Riding a bicycle can be a very pleasant activity. Either for exercising or to go to work, bikes are a very common means of transportation. Enjoying a ride, feeling the sun and the air in your face and being present in the moment is sometimes interrupted by a more unpleasant and many times dangerous action: a crash.

Maybe that car turned too fast, or the driver was texting and didn’t see the biker, or perhaps they were speeding. There are so many causes and variables related to a car and bike crash that the best thing to do is to have a lawyer available for this type of situation. Each year the number of bikers increases as more people want to try and use a bike to go from home to work. But, as the number of users increases, the number of accidents increases as well.

Common causes of bike accidents

Young car drivers seem to be the ones most involved in car-bike accidents. These are some of the most common reasons studied so far:

1. Not respecting the space of the bicyclists: Cyclists have to use their lane, and if there isn’t any, they have to go to the right. But sometimes, drivers do not respect their space. Many don’t consider bicycles as a vehicle, and this is a fundamental part of the problem.

2. Texting while driving: This is a major mistake. Some people think that just because nothing has happened yet, they are somehow prepared to text and drive. The truth is that while texting, the attention of the driver is divided and the road goes to second place. It is impossible to look at the screen and read a message and also pay attention to the road.

   Basically, our brain is not designed to look at two things at the same time and with the same attention.

3. Careless driving: In this case, the driver is careless in general terms. He or she is not following the rules and drives without paying attention to the rest of the elements around him or her.

4. Running stop signs: The car driver thinks nothing will happen if they run this stop sign. But the driver thought the car was going to stop. And the catastrophe arrives. You can learn more here regarding the causes and consequences of bicycle accidents.

Why should you call a bicycle accident lawyer?

Each state has a set of standards and legal protection for cyclists. This makes a car and bike crash a very serious matter. If the biker is injured or if he or she dies, a lawyer is a person that should immediately deal with the case. Cyclists share many rights with other types of motorists. Medical bills and other expenses related to the injury caused by the car accident have to be covered by the one that was responsible for the accident.

Common accident injuries

Cyclists are the ones that face higher risks when riding their bikes in traffic. The protection a bike offers is minimal, and this is why car drivers must pay close attention to their surroundings.

1. Road rash: This happens when the skin hits the car or the road surface while still moving. It may be necessary to remove dirt and other debris from the skin.

2. Fractures: Arms and legs are the ones mostly affected. If the biker is properly using a helmet, his or her head might have some extra protection.

3. Facial injuries: Broken teeth and eye trauma can be present after an accident with a car.

4. Chest injuries: Ribs are prone to being fractured if the crash happens at enough speed. Car doors opened abruptly can cause some of these injuries.

After a bike accident, you must have a lawyer who informs you about the case and gives the authorities his client’s version of the case. Medical attention has to be paid for by the at-fault motorist, and this is something an experienced bicycle accident lawyer can obtain damages for.

Maybe you don’t ride a bike, but you know somebody who does. If you care about this person and want to know more about the legal rights of cyclists and how to proceed if involved in an accident, contact a professional attorney.