Common Bike Accidents
With careful, defensive driving by both bike riders and automobile drivers, most bicycle-auto accidents are avoidable. If you’ve been in an accident, contact a lawyer immediately to help you determine why the accident happened and who was to blame. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center lists the following accidents as most common on the roads today.
The Left Cross: Motorists taking a left turn through an intersection frequently hit cyclists using their right-of-way riding straight in their lane. While the drivers always need to keep an eye out for small, quick bikes, cyclists should avoid creeping into the intersection while waiting for the light to change.
The Right Hook: Drivers can easily pass cyclists hugging the side of the road. Then the driver turns right and cuts off the sidelined cyclists. Cyclists should take full use of the lane, encouraging vehicle drivers to treat them as an equal on the road.
The Door Jamb: Both riders and drivers need to pay close attention to avoid this common problem. Drivers should avoid suddenly and quickly opening the door to their parked cars. Cyclists need to stay aware of recently parked cars and constantly look for any reason to make a quick, full stop.
The Pull Out: Again, drivers and cyclists need to be equally aware. Drivers pulling out a parking lot or into a lane of traffic need to do so with enough force to quickly keep pace with the flow of other cars. Unfortunately, trees, bushes, and parked cars obscure a clear view of everything in the lane of traffic — including other cars and bikes.
If you’ve been involved in an accident, whether you were the rider or the driver, document everything about the incident. Photos, drawings, and eye-witness statements will help you and your lawyer determine the true cause of the accident.
