Bicycle Accident Statstics

There are 73 to 85 million bicycle riders in the US, including 44.7 million over age of   6 who rode more than six times in 2008. Over 90% of cyclists killed on US roads die in crashes with motor vehicles. The “typical” bicyclist killed on our roads is a sober male over 16 not wearing a helmet riding on a major road between intersections in an urban area on a summer evening when hit by a car. Bicycle accidents injure thousands of Californians every year. Head injuries account for more than 60% of bicycle-related deaths, more than two-thirds of bicycle-related hospital admissions and about one-third of hospital emergency room visits for bicycling injuries. While some cyclists are irresponsible in the way they handle their bikes, most accidents can be traced to drivers assuming that cyclists do not have the same rights of the road as they do. Accidents are caused by a variety of factors.

• Motorists turning or merging into the path of a bicyclist. Almost half of these crashes involve cars making a left hand turn in front of the bicyclist.

• Motorists misjudging the space required to safely pass a bicyclist.

• Motorists’ failure to yield right-of-way at a junction. Most of these violations involved a driver violating a sign or signal and entering the crosswalk or intersection and striking the cyclist.

• Motorists’ failure to see the cyclist ahead on the road. These accidents occur mainly to adult riders.

If you’ve been injured in an accident or a loved one has been killed, it’s important to protect your rights to recover compensation by consulting with an expert in bicycle accident law. Call and speak to a San Diego bike accident attorney at our office today for your free consultation today.