Bicycle Injury Attorneys

Injury Lawyers serving Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C.

In 2004, 441,000 cyclists were injured and 725 were killed in the United States. The prevalence of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. bicycle accident injuries and fatalities can be largely attributed to the narrow, busy streets in many of its cities and the long, winding roads of its rural areas where many drivers may pay less attention to their surroundings.

In many accidents involving vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, and trucks, the cyclist is often not at fault. Time and time again, the accident is the result of the driver not paying due attention to the road or traveling the roadways in an unsafe manner. Almost 40 percent of bicycle accidents occur at intersections, mainly because of drivers not giving cyclists enough room to maneuver, cutting them off at turns, and not heeding the cyclist’s hand signals.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2004 data, cyclist fatalities occurred mostly in urban areas (66 percent); at nonintersections (67 percent); between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. (30 percent); and during the months of June, July, and August (36 percent). Children between the ages of 5 and 15 made up 19 percent of these fatalities.

Cyclists under the age of 16 accounted for 21 percent of all cyclists killed and 32 percent of all bicycle-related injuries in the United States in 2004. This is due largely to the fact that children under the age of 16 are not legally allowed to drive and thus do not have access to their own automobiles for transportation. Additionally, younger cyclists lack the experience of older riders and may be more prone to panicking and making a grave mistake when faced with a dangerous situation. Children are more apt to rush through intersections or quickly pull out of driveways than adults, and are more reluctant to wear safety gear. Parents must teach their children necessary cycling safety tips and strongly encourage the use of protective gear, such as helmets, to help prevent serious Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. bicycle accidents.

Bicycle Safety Tips

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the following 10 steps be observed when bicycling:

1. Wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet can reduce the chance of serious injury by up to 85 percent.

2. Make sure your bicycle is adjusted properly so your handlebars are firmly attached to the frame and you are able to turn smoothly.

3. Always check your brakes before riding. If you are unable to stop quickly, adjust your brakes so the pads are one eighth of an inch from the rim.

4. Wear highly visible colors. Bright, neon, or fluorescent colors are recommended.

5. Try to avoid biking at night. If you must, be sure to have reflectors and the brightest lights possible on both the front and the rear of the bike. Assume you are not seen by other drivers and try to avoid biking in unfamiliar areas.

6. Stay alert. Be on guard for potholes, cracks, or irregularities in the road—anything that could make you fall or place you in danger.

7. Always travel on the right-hand side of the road. Be sure to ride in a predictable manner and do not make sudden turns. Travel as far to the right side of the road as possible while still allowing yourself room to maneuver.

8. Check for traffic. Always be aware of the vehicles on the road around you and what they are doing. A majority of bicycle accidents occur at intersections. Check left-right-left before proceeding through intersections, and watch for traffic turning left or right.

9. Learn the rules of the road and obey traffic laws. Bicyclists are considered motorists and you must act accordingly.

10. Make sure your wheels are securely fastened. Check them before any ride, after any fall, and after you transport your bicycle.

Unfortunately, some accidents are unavoidable regardless of how much caution you exercise. If your bicycle accident was caused by an irresponsible motorist or was the result of unsafe conditions on the road, come to ChasenBoscolo for help with your case. If you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you. Call us today or fill out one of our consultation forms. We will do what we can to help you when you’ve been seriously injured in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C.

Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has been injured, contact ChasenBoscolo today for a free case consultation. Complete a free consultation form online or call (800) 728-5898.

Our personal injury lawyers concentrate on auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation, social security disability, athletic injuries, pedestrian accidents, and pharmaceutical/drug recalls. We also handle cases involving spinal/disc injuries, broken bones, disfigurement, wrongful death, defective machinery / products, construction accidents, and slip and fall accidents among other personal injury cases.