How to Avoid the Most Common Car on Bicycle Crashes
While cyclist error causes a significant percentage of bicycle crashes, it is the bicycle on car crashes that result in the most severe injuries. Basic safety equipment like helmets can usually stand up to standard falls and low-speed crashes, but moving vehicles introduce an often-deadly factor into the equation.
According to the Nebraska Department of Roads, two cyclists died in accidents during 2014. The injury count is significantly higher, and during the same period, 249 cyclists sustained serious injuries. It is clear that cyclists must remain aware of the dangers of the road, particularly when they ride with or alongside vehicular traffic.
If you sustained injuries in a cycling accident that was not your fault, contact Rensch & Rensch Law today. We have more than 45 years of combined legal experience, and our attorneys have litigated more than 100 jury trials.
A specialist Omaha personal-injury lawyer can look over the details of your crash and determine if you may have a valid claim to recover costs associated with medical expenses and lost wages. Call us today at 1-402-498-4400 to schedule an appointment.
Here are two common car on bicycle accident situations, as well as tips for how to avoid them:
- Car Pulling out on the Right
According to Bicycle Safe, one of the most common ways that bicycles crash into cars is when a vehicle pulls out of a side road, driveway or parking lot without warning. There are two possible scenarios that could cause the cyclist severe injury: riding directly into the side of the car or the car crashing into him or her while riding past.
One of the best ways to avoid a collision like this is to slow down and treat all possible intersections with caution. Fit a headlight onto the front of your bicycle for night riding, and gesticulate using hands during the daytime to make sure that the driver has noticed you. Another option is to keep further left in the lane so that you can take evasive action should you encounter this situation.
- Car Doors Opening
According to BikeLeague.org, car doors opening onto sidewalks and bicycle lanes pose a significant hazard for cyclists. Many drivers fail to notice people riding bikes around them and simply open their doors directly into the path of an oncoming cyclist. The results can be catastrophic.
Always anticipate that car doors may open when riding alongside parked vehicles, and keep further left in the lane in order to be in a better position to avoid them. Defensive cycling is also important, and it is better to cycle slower alongside parked cars than to take the risk of crashing into a stationary object.
If you sustained injuries in a cycling accident, contact an Omaha personal-injury attorney for advice. At Rensch & Rensch Law, we may be able to recover costs associated with your accident, and if we don’t win, you pay no attorneys’ fees. Call us today at 1-402-498-4400 to schedule an appointment.
