Studies Show Difficulty in Sharing Road
On September 2, 2015, NPR reported a dramatic increase in bike-related injuries and deaths as more people take to the roads in the US. NPR cites a Journal of American Medical Association article showing that bike-related hospital admissions more than doubled in the last 15 years.
The primary group being injured… those over 45. As the Baby Boomers are getting older, many of them are finding the ease and convenience of using bike riding for local transportation. This older generation has found biking an easy way to incorporate exercise into daily chores around town.
Unfortunately, older bikers are more likely to get hurt when involved in an accident. When a 60 year-old falls off a bike, there is an increased chance of a broken bone as compared to a 20 year-old in the same accident. Plus, with an older person, a severe injury is more likely to lead to expensive complications.
However, the answer is not to avoid bike riding. Bicyclists and cars need to learn to share the road. Both bikers and vehicle drivers need to learn how to respect each other while using the same lanes for transportation. If you’ve been involved in an accident between a car and a bike, call a lawyer immediately. Bike-car accidents mean expensive medical treatments — and a court lawsuit may the only way to reach an unbiased conclusion as to who should bear the costs.
