Riding a bicycle is a great way to get around Minneapolis. It’s good for the environment, good for your health and wellbeing, and with so many convenient and scenic bike trails in Minneapolis, it allows you to take in and enjoy the outdoors.
However, a major drawback is the lack of protection. Even when wearing a helmet, cyclists don’t have anywhere near the same amount of protection as someone in a car. Yet they are often sharing the same roads. So, when bicycle accidents happen, they tend to lead to more serious injuries. If you are ever in a bike crash, know the attorneys at Brazil Sweeney Law Group will fight to protect your rights and get you the full compensation you deserve if you are injured.
Common Causes of Bicycle Crashes
Bike accidents can happen for many different reasons. Knowing common causes can help you avoid them.
Road Conditions
When we think of bike accidents, we often think of collisions with other cars but that’s not always the case. Potholes, debris, loose gravel, fallen branches, narrow shoulders, manhole covers and other hazardous road conditions can cause a loss of control and account for a significant number of solo crashes. It’s important to always be mindful of your surroundings.
Speeding
Traveling at unsafe speeds is a common cause of bicycle accidents and one that can have serious consequences for cyclists. Higher speeds often lead to more serious injuries. It also gives everyone less time to react and avoid a collision. Maintain a safe traveling speed and safe distance from others.
Inattentive & Distracted Drivers
Unfortunately, many bike crashes are simply caused by drivers not paying attention. Whether they are inattentive and failed to check their blind spots or are distracted by their phone or radio, drivers not paying attention to the road is a leading cause of crashes for cyclists. Many of these accidents happen at intersections and driveways, often caused by left-turning drivers failing to yield or right-turning ones failing to check before moving onto the shoulder or a bike lane. Try to make eye contact with drivers and wear bright colors to increase your visibility.
Dooring
Another common and completely avoidable action that can cause severe injuries for cyclists is dooring. Dooring is when someone in a parked vehicle fails to check for traffic before opening their door and they open it into the path of a nearby cyclist causing them to either swerve out into traffic or bike into the door. Be on the look out for recently parked or occupied vehicles on the side of the road when urban biking.
Bicyclist Visibility
A significant number of bicycle accidents involve cyclists who are not easily seen by motorists. There can be a number of factors that contribute to this including weather conditions, lighting, clothing, or riding after dark without reflectors and headlights. Always use lights and reflectors when biking in low-light situations and bike predictably. Cyclists failing to follow traffic laws, biking on sidewalks or against traffic can put themselves in places they are not expected to be, which can decrease their visibility in a different, but just as dangerous way.
Let Brazil Sweeney Law Group Fight for You
The experienced bike accident attorneys at Brazil Sweeney Law Group in Minnesota understand the unique issues faced by cyclists and are here to advocate for you and your rights. If you’ve been in a bike crash, we can help you get the full compensation you deserve.
We’ll work with the police to get the facts right and determine cause and fault, guide you through medical treatment and bills, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and, when necessary, file a lawsuit and go to trial. Contact us today to speak with one of our experienced bicycle accident lawyers. Case evaluations are always free and there’s no fee unless we win.