What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

While bicycle riding is great for exercising and helping the environment, this does come with some degree of risk. If you are an enthusiastic bicyclist, then discover the common causes of bicycle accidents so you know what to avoid and what to do if you are in an accident.



Inattentive Motorists

Unfortunately, as a bicyclist, you often have to share the road with cars. While many places have bike lanes or adequate space for both motorists and bicyclists, many motorists simply don’t pay enough attention to their surroundings.

For example, they might be distracted while in their car. Things like texting, eating, or talking on a phone can lead a motorist to not see a bike ahead of or beside them. As a result, the motorist might get too close to the biker and hit them.

Additionally, the motorist might simply be too close to a bicyclist. A bicyclist often only has limited space to ride, and a motorist might venture too close to the bicyclist without seeing them. This, in turn, can lead to a tragic accident.

Other ways inattentive motorists can hurt bicyclists include:

• Lane or directional changes without checking their surroundings
• Illegal driving through a stop sign or red light
• Open doors while parked at the side of the road

While you are not responsible for other people’s actions, always be aware of your surroundings. If possible, avoid contact with motorists who don’t seem to be paying attention. And if you do receive an injury from an inattentive driver, then you can often seek compensation.

Reckless Motorists

Some motorists go beyond being inattentive — they become reckless and dangerous to those around them. What are reckless actions that motorists can partake in?

Speeding

If a car goes fast, then it doesn’t have the best ability to avoid collisions with other vehicles, including bicycles. A speeding motorist simply doesn’t have the time or reflexes to safely avoid others. In addition, even if a speeding car attempts to swerve or get out of the way, it often will still collide with others.

Driving While Intoxicated

Motorists with high alcohol concentrations can be a danger. Impaired drivers might have delayed responses, lower inhibitions, and affected judgment skills. This, in turn, can lead them to make poor decisions that can impact and hurt bicyclists.

Driving With Road Rage

Drivers with road rage could potentially drive more aggressively on the road. For example, they could become impatient with bicyclists who appear to be in their way or are going slower than the flow of traffic.

Bad Road Conditions

Aside from drivers, other elements can cause a biking accident. One element is bad road conditions. What are common bad road conditions to be aware of?

• Potholes, loose gravel and rocks, and debris
• Standing water
• Black ice
• Road construction
• Deteriorating roads and sidewalks

Many of these are possible to avoid, but the best course of action is to check local news stations, websites, and apps for up-to-date road conditions. They often can tell of nearby construction or warn of potential dangers.

Bad Weather

A bicycle often offers no protection from the elements. If you are aware of bad weather, then limit your bicycling as much as possible. If you must bike, be aware of your surroundings and cautious while you are out. Additionally, consider better-equipped bikes, protective gear, and the correct direction to ride toward.

What can bad weather do to bicyclists? Snow and rain both bring less visibility and slippery roads that can cause a bicyclist to slip and slide, leading to a likely accident. High winds can potentially topple a bicyclist or push them toward other motorists.

Dog Attacks

While many dogs are safely within their homes or yards, some dogs can slip out, and you also have the chance of stray dogs. With some dogs, chasing a bicycle can be a fun activity to indulge in, but for other dogs, their objective might be to attack the bicyclist. This can cause dogs to attack the bicycle and lead the bicyclist to fall over.

If the dog has an owner, then they are often responsible for any injuries you sustain. You can potentially seek compensation from their insurance company or the owner directly.

Good ways to prevent dog bites while on a bike is to give the dog a lot of room. If you know of a potentially aggressive dog, avoid that area if possible.

Speak to Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers

When you are in a bicycle crash, the related costs can seem overwhelming. Don’t deal with them yourself. Instead, turn to a bicycle accident attorney at Jeeves Law Group to find out your rights. We can help you understand who you can seek compensation from, guide you through the legal process, and help you get the necessary compensation to fully recover. We look forward to helping you!