Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Maryland, Washington, D.C., & Virginia

1.5 percent of people killed and two percent of people injured in traffic accidents are bicyclists. It is estimated that one in 20 bicyclists are injured each year. Most serious and fatal bicycle-related injuries are traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Bicycle accident causes
About one-third of bicycle accidents involve collision with a motor vehicle. Although not the majority of bicycle accidents, automobile collisions with a bicycle are responsible for most severe bicycle-related injuries and deaths. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 92% of bicyclist deaths on U.S. roads in 2005 were caused by collisions with motor vehicles.

Automobiles can be involved in bicycle accidents without ever striking the cyclist -- if it runs a bicycle off the road, there can be minor to severe injuries, and in some cases, death.

Bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles usually happen for one of three reasons:

• Drivers do not watch for or see bicyclists
• Drivers do not respect bicyclists' right to share the road
• Inexperienced or uneducated bicyclists

It is important to keep in mind that having the right of way does not mean you will not be struck by a vehicle. Being "right" can also mean being killed or permanently injured. Drivers have a legal responsibility to look out for bicyclists and respect their right of way as if they were other motor vehicles, but when they fail to do so a bicyclist is far more likely to be catastrophically injured or killed than another driver or passenger. Reasons why your right of way may not protect you from being struck by a vehicle in real life include:

• Distracted drivers
• Intoxicated drivers
• Defective vehicles (such as brake failure)
• Poor visibility due to weather conditions, visual obstructions, or blind spots
• Road conditions (hydroplaning due to standing water, etc.)
• Faulty traffic lights
• Improperly marked roads and bike lanes
• Drivers who don't know the laws in your city, county, or state
• Road rage

Bicyclists can also be injured by defective bicycles, due to design flaws or manufacturing errors. Roadway defects in bike paths, bike lanes, and other roadways can cause a crash. In some cases, other bicyclists or even pedestrians may be responsible.

Bicycle accident injuries
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of death in bicycle accidents. About 50,000 children in the U.S. sustain bicycle-related TBI each year, with over 400 dying from their injuries. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute says that two-thirds of bicycle-related deaths are from TBI and that one in eight cyclists who report their injuries report TBI. The actual number of bicycle-related TBI may be much higher because brain injuries are not always readily apparent, and injuries from cycling accidents often seem too minor for emergency room treatment.

Other common bicycle accident injuries include:

• Crush injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Neck injury
• Back injury
• Knee injury
• Paralysis
• Amputation
• Facial injuries
• Severe road rash and scarring

If you or a loved one has been injured in bicycle accident in Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC, please email or call our committed bicycle accident attorneys today. We are focused on obtaining justice for you - the victim.

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