NY Bicycle Safety

The popularity of bicycling appears to currently be on the rise due to its many benefits. In today’s difficult economic times, bicycling is a great alternative form of transportation due to the high and ever changing costs of fuel for vehicles. When you are traveling only short distances, riding a bicycle can potentially save a lot of money in comparison to using a car.

Another good reason to ride a bicycle is for the exercise. Bicycling is a very healthy activity that can both burn calories as well as build muscle. Another byproduct of exercising is the release of certain endorphins, chemicals in the brain which have been shown to improve your mood and even combat depression.

A final reason to bicycle is that it can be a very fun activity. Endorphins aside, it can build friendships if you choose to bicycle in groups and it also provides a healthy and constructive hobby.

However, there are risks that go along with bicycling. Just as when you are first learning how to ride a bike as a kid, there is always the risk of having some kind of an accident. When riding in heavy traffic areas, these accidents can be very severe. When bicycle accidents involve motor vehicles, they may become deadly.

In 2007, in the state of New York, there were 5,535 accidents reported involving motor vehicles and bicyclists. To further illustrate the risks, all of those accidents resulted in some form of injury, while some sadly resulted in a fatality. Of those 5,535 accidents, there were 5,451 reported injuries and 51 reported fatalities. Other accidents may have gone unreported.

This information is not intended to dissuade those from riding a bicycle; the positive aspects are still very beneficial. However, safety should be on the forefront of everyone’s mind, including the motor vehicle drivers who share the road ways with bicyclists.

There are many causes of bicycle accidents. In most cases involving motor vehicles, the motor vehicle driver can be held at fault. Negligence on the part of the driver, even for a moment, may cause him or her to not be able to correct for sudden changes in the environment. Common driving distractions, such as texting and other cell phone and handheld device use, takes the drivers full attention away from the road. In this time, he or she may accidently move into the path of a bicyclist, causing a disastrous accident.

Also, when drivers ignore basic rules of driving, such as proper use of right of way, ignoring speed limits, or ignoring stop signs, they place themselves and all other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists in danger. These traffic safety rules exist to make sure that everyone on the road is safe.

However, not all bicycle accidents involve motor vehicles. A distracted pedestrian may wonder into a bicycle lane, giving the bicyclist little time or opportunity to correct for the situation. If the bicyclist is not able to stop in time, he or she may collide with the pedestrian or he or she may be forced into a less safe path, such as into traffic.

Accidents may also be caused by bicyclists. Anyone who does not properly obey traffic laws places all others at risk. Collisions may occur in bike lanes due to distracted cyclists or a variety of other reasons. While these accidents are often less severe than those involving motor vehicles, they can still be threatening.

Improper maintenance of a bicycle may also be the cause of an accident. If at any time the working parts of the bicycle break or malfunction, an accident may occur. For this reason, it is important to maintain properly inflated tires and good quality chains.

Bicycle accidents are particularly dangerous because the bicycles themselves offer very little in terms of protection and rider safety, especially at high speeds. Wearing safety equipment will help lessen the possible damages.

As with motor vehicle accidents, there are many types of injures that one might sustain in the event of an accident. Common types of injuries can include:

• Bone fractures
• Sprains
• Abrasions
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Injuries requiring amputation
• Death

Wearing protective gear may significantly decrease the chances of and the severity of these injuries. While sprains and abrasions may be minor injuries, many would require some degree of medical treatment. Even bone fractures may result in costly hospital bills.

Head and spinal cord injuries (including TBI) may result not only in very high hospital bills, but a complete change in life style. These injuries may lead to drastic changes in personality, limited mobility, chronic pain, etc.

Any time a bicyclist is killed due to the negligence of another, be it a motor vehicle driver, pedestrian, or other cyclist, it is considered a wrongful death. These incidents affect more than just those directly involved in the accident. The families of the injured party often take up a significant burden to help the injured cope or manage the affairs of the deceased.

When injury or death is caused by someone else’s negligence, legal action may be sought out.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact the Manhattan bicycle accident attorneys of David Resnick & Associates today!

For a free case evaluation, call us at (212) 279-2000 or fill out our convenient online contact form.

These Hubs are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.