Davis Law Group, P.S.

Bicycle Accidents Happen Every Day

It's a sad fact that every year in the United States there are about 900 bicycle accident deaths. Of reported bicycle deaths in 1999, 29% were under the age of 16. Emergency rooms saw 51,600 bicycle-related injuries in 2008. Intersections are particularly dangerous, accounting for 35% of bicycle accidents. These accidents not only affect people's lives, but take a toll on the economy in general. Injuries and deaths from bicycle accidents alone cost over $4 billion a year.

These statistics are frightening. Despite decades of work to make cycling safer, the reform of traffic laws, improvements in intersection and crossing design, the raising of public awareness, and the introduction of such innovations as bike lanes and bike boxes that have made Washington, according to the League of American Bicyclists, the most "Bicycle Friendly State," accidents happen much too often.

Though we travel on them everyday, few people realize how complicated and hazardous roads can be. There are all kinds of dangers that we have to look out for all the time. A moment's inattention or distraction can turn a pleasant cycle ride on a quiet street into a terrible tragedy that can end in a lifetime of pain or even the death of a loved one. This is particularly true in the case of children, who are often not aware of the dangers of playing near traffic.

The reasons for these incidents are many. One major cause is distracted driving. Motor vehicles are dangerous instruments that require constant alertness; even an experienced professional driver can find it impossible to react in time to every situation. A driver who divides his attention between driving and doing something else greatly increases the risk of a serious accident. These distractions can be something simple like eating a hamburger, tuning the radio, or adjusting the air conditioning. Modern technology adds even more distractions, such as operating a GPS unit while driving, using a cell phone without a hands-free device, or even texting. Alcohol is also a major factor. Drinking alcohol reduces reaction time, clouds judgment, and impairs concentration. Another cause is speeding. Driving too fast is always dangerous. A driver can only react so fast and a vehicle can only brake so quickly. Going over the speed limit makes it only harder to stop in time. In slippery conditions, it also increases the chances of skidding out of control. Speeding on crowded urban roads where people may step off the curb unexpectedly can literally be fatal. Like speeding, generally poor and reckless driving puts cyclists at risk. Safety depends in part on being able to predict the actions of others and reckless behavior such as running stop signs, tailgating, failing to signal turns, and improper lane changes make is difficult for cyclists or other drivers to react properly.

Weather can also be hazardous. Rain, snow, and fog can reduce visibility, and wet or icy road surfaces can be extremely slippery. In such conditions, even the best drivers may have difficulty and it is very easy to underestimate how challenging it is to keep a vehicle under control. Any of the above causes are made worse by driving at night when visibility drops dramatically and the danger of being dazzled by oncoming headlights is added. Even the most careful driver under the best conditions must be alert when the sun goes down-especially when suddenly encountering a cyclist without reflectors and wearing dark clothing.