Collisions between bicycles and automobiles can prove devastating, even deadly say bicycle accident attorneys in Jacksonville. Bicycling is a healthy, environmentally-friendly way to get around, boosting your cardiovascular health and even saving you gas money if your workplace, grocery store or other regularly visited destinations are nearby. But sharing the road with larger, faster and heavier motorized vehicles can prove dangerous for avid cyclists, say bicycle accident attorneys.
Consider the statistics:
- In 2011, 677 pedal cyclists were killed and another 48,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide;
- Bicyclists’ deaths accounted for two percent of all automobile traffic fatalities;
- Kids age 14 and younger account for nine percent of bicyclist fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.
The time and location of your bike ride can place you at higher risk for an automobile-involved collision. Most accidents involving bicyclists and motor vehicles occur in urban areas (69 percent) and at non-intersections (59 percent). About 30 percent of bicyclist fatalities occurred between 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m., and some 20 percent happen between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11:59. No matter how careful you are, how adamantly you follow the rules of the road or how much protective gear you wear, a bicycle is no match for a vehicle being driven recklessly. In most collisions involving bicycles and automobiles, drivers say they simply failed to see the cyclist in time.
The results can be catastrophic for bicyclists – extensive road rash, broken limbs, neck or spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, disfigurement, paralysis or even death. If you or your dependents are injured in a motor vehicle accident while riding a bicycle, you could have injuries with long-lasting effects. Soft tissue injuries can persist for months or even years and cost tens of thousands of dollars to effectively treat. Get medical attention immediately, but avoid speaking with representatives of insurance companies – either your own insurance company or that of the motor vehicle driver’s – before you consult with an experienced bicycle accident attorney.
Jacksonville’s Harrell and Harrell has helped many victims of auto-involved bicycling accidents secure fair compensation for their injuries. Call 800-251-1111 to speak with a bicycle accident lawyer in one of our Jacksonville or Orlando offices.