Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

The benefits of bicycling are hard to deny. This form of transportation is great for your health, your pocket, and the environment. But if you live in a major city, such as Boston, it can also be dangerous. With proper equipment, training, and safe-riding practices, you can dramatically reduce your risk of injury or death in a bicycle accident. The two scenarios below are responsible for a significant number of serious bicycle accidents every year. Contact a Boston Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today.

Dooring

If you’re not an avid cyclist, you probably have no idea what the term ‘dooring’ means. But cyclists, especially those who frequently ride in cities, know exactly what dooring is. In Boston, most cyclists are required to ride in specified bike lanes or on the right-hand side of traffic. This requirement often places bicyclists dangerously close to parked cars. Because motor vehicle passengers and drivers are required to look for bicyclists prior to opening a door, the door opener is typically liable in a dooring accident.

Dooring occurs when a cyclist crashes into an open car or truck door. However, it’s rarely an open-and-shut case (no pun intended). Depending on the circumstances, the door opener can argue multiple reasons why the dooring wasn’t his or her fault. For example, if there was no other traffic at the time of the accident, the door opener might claim that the bicyclist had ample time and space to avoid the open door. Although it may sound like a ‘freak accident’, dooring is actually quite common. In fact, about 10% of all motor vehicle-bicycle crashes are due to dooring. Also, dooring accidents can be very serious, head injuries and spinal injuries can occur from this type of accident. If you have just parked your car make sure you look out your mirrors to see who and what may be driving by.  Continue reading

As commuters become more health conscious, and environmentally and financially-minded, bicycling to and from work is growing in popularity. Of course, with more bikes on the roads, there are also more bicycle accidents. Depending on the circumstances of a bicycle accident, you may find yourself filing an insurance claim or even a personal injury lawsuit.  Contact a Boston Bicycle Accident Attorney Today.

If you are seriously injured in a bicycle accident involving a motor vehicle, you should consult with a Boston personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Time is of the essence with personal injury claims. If you have visible injuries, they should be photographed and documented before they fade away. Memories often fade just as easily. Document every detail you possibly can; photograph the location of the accident from multiple angles, and write down witness statements and contact info. It’s also important to exchange insurance information with other parties involved, even if you don’t suspect property damage or injuries. It may take several hours, or even days, for injuries to become apparent.

Auto Insurance Personal Injury Protection

In most places, bicyclists don’t need to purchase insurance the way motor vehicle drivers do. However, cyclists are not without coverage options. Insurance policies designed specifically for bicyclists exist, as do bicycle-accident provisions in some automobile and homeowner’s insurance policies. If, for example, you live in a no-fault state, you can obtain bicycle-accident coverage through auto insurance personal injury protection. You are also likely covered for injuries under your existing health insurance policy, but that coverage may come with an excessively high deductible. If, for example, your health insurance plan has a $10,000 deductible, you may not have any coverage for medical expenses until you’ve reached that threshold. For many people, this can spell financial disaster.

Bicycle Insurance Coverage Options

Two companies that have designed insurance coverage specifically for bicyclists are Spoke and Velosurance. Policyholders can choose from basic options, such as coverage for damage to the bike itself and rental reimbursement, as well as up to $10,000 of coverage for medical payments and $100,000 of coverage for liability. These policies can provide a significant benefit to avid cyclists, but what if you’re seriously injured? Insurance coverage isn’t always enough. If another party was at fault, you may be entitled to additional compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, lost wages, and other associated costs. Continue reading

With the arrival of spring, more bicyclists will be on the roads. Although bicycling is an extremely healthy, cost effective, environmentally sound mode of transportation, it is not without risks. Between 2000 and 2012, the number of people who commute to work by bicycle in the U.S. rose from 488,000 to 786,000. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicycle accidents involving a motor vehicle were responsible for 743 cyclist deaths and 48,000 fatalities in 2013 alone. In crashes involving motor vehicles, the cyclist is the most likely to be seriously injured or killed. Contact a Boston Bicycle Accident Attorney Today.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

• In 2012, cyclists accounted for about 2% of total traffic fatalities.
• About 48% of bicyclist fatalities take place between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight.
• Approximately 69% of bicyclist fatalities occur in urban areas.
• Nearly 1/4 of bicyclists killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08%.
• The vast majority of cyclists killed are male (88%).
• The top three states for bicyclist fatalities are: California (141), Florida (133), and Texas (48).
• The average age of those killed in bicycle / motor vehicle crashes is 44.
• The most common causes of bicyclist injuries are: being hit by a car, falling, roadway conditions, rider error, crashing, and an animal running out.
• Bicycle Safety Tips

By following the safety tips below, you can dramatically reduce your risk of serious injury or death in a bicycle accident.

• Always ride with traffic, on the right side of the road.
• Use bike lanes whenever possible.
• Obey traffic signals and signs.
• Always wear a helmet.
• Wear bright clothing.
• Don’t ride at night.
• If you must ride at night, make sure your bike is equipped with reflectors and a light, and wear reflectors on your clothing.
• Even if you have the right of way, yield to other vehicles if there’s any doubt about a car or truck driver’s next move.
• Avoid riding when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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There seem to be more bicyclists on Boston’s roads every year. Considering the health and environmental benefits of bicycling, this is great news for everyone. But there is a flip-side. Unfortunately, there is as much controversy surrounding bicyclists as there is praise for their healthy way of life.They often get little respect from car and truck drivers who feel that they intentionally take up extra space on the road, leaving drivers no choice but to drive slowly behind cyclists or swerve into oncoming traffic to maneuver around them. Contact a Boston Injury Lawyer Today.

Certainly there are rude bicyclists on the road, but the vast majority are extremely respectful of drivers, other cyclists, and road rules in general. In order to mitigate the risk to cyclists, several new bills aimed at protecting them will be the focus this week at the Statehouse’s first public hearing of the year. According to Richard Fries, executive director of MassBike, the bicycling advocacy group hopes to hear testimonies from “the families and friends of victims whose lives and limbs may have been spared if these laws had been in place,” at Wednesday’s hearing before the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.

Side-guards on Large Trucks May Save Lives

In 2014, Boston passed an ordinance that requires the installation of side guards on large vehicles such as tractor-trailers. According to bicycle safety activists, over half of all bicyclists involved in fatal collisions with large trucks are swept underneath after first hitting the truck’s side. The installation of side guards may help to reduce fatalities by blocking cyclists from being pulled beneath the wheels of a large truck.

Bicycling advocates want to see more steps taken to ensure the safety of cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians alike. They are pushing to see the introduction of a bill at Wednesday’s hearing that would require drivers to leave 3 feet of space between their vehicle and a bicyclist, even if doing so requires crossing the center-line. This bill would add bicyclists to the category of “vulnerable users,” which includes police and other emergency personnel, pedestrians, and construction workers.

Bill Proposes Fine for Parking in Bike Lanes

Another bill on the table would impose a $100 fine on drivers who stop or park in any designated bike lane. These lanes are typically marked with painted lines on the street. When drivers block these lanes, it can force bicyclists to veer into traffic to avoid hitting a parked car.

At Wednesday’s hearing, in addition to the above bills, cycling advocates hope to see a fourth bill come up that will require motorists to yield to pedestrians and cyclists who are in the crosswalk section of a bicycle path. The current law states that bicyclists should get off their bikes and walk through bicycle path crosswalks with other pedestrians. However, cycling advocates claim this is unrealistic. Continue reading

In the age of smartphones and hand-held devices, just about everyone knows the dangers of distracted driving. But what about distracted cycling? Several cities across the country have already banned cyclists from using hand-held devices, and multiple states have banned wearing earplugs or using headphones while riding. Contact a Boston Injury Attorney Today.

At first glance, the new laws seem to make sense. However, they are not without controversy. A distracted car or truck driver can crash into another vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian, and the likelihood of serious injuries is quite high. The small size and weight of a bicycle, on the other hand, is not likely to injure another person if a distracted cyclist crashes. Advocates for the new law say it’s about more than just crashes. For example, a distracted cyclist can ride into oncoming traffic, causing a driver to swerve and crash into another vehicle, tree, or telephone pole.

New Bill May Prohibit Wearing Headphones While Riding in MA

Massachusetts state Rep. Steven Howitt has proposed a bill that would prohibit cyclists from wearing headphones.  “A biker could be cutting across an intersection, and an ambulance is coming through and he’s not hearing it if he’s playing music very loud,” he said. Howitt’s bill is currently pending in the Joint Transportation Committee.

Those opposed to laws prohibiting wearing headphones and earplugs, and using hand-held devices, say that it all comes down to common sense. It’s irresponsible to text while riding, and it’s equally irresponsible to wear headphones if they block all outside noise. However, there is no evidence that either form of distraction has resulted in serious injuries or fatalities. This makes cycling advocates question whether it makes sense to impose such laws and slap fines on cyclists.

Seven States Already Ban Headphones While Riding

There are currently at least seven states with specific laws against wearing earplugs or headphones while cycling. These are: Continue reading

Law enforcement officials in Chattanooga, Tennessee believe they are on their way to developing a system to determine whether or not motor vehicle drivers are maintaining a safe distance from the bicyclists they share the road with. And while there are still a few key factors that need to be worked out in order to provide this security on a massive scale, police officers in Chattanooga think they are on the right track.

Safe passing laws are in effect in most states across the country, but bicycle safety activists feel that even though these laws are in place, they aren’t necessarily enforced to a degree that ensures safety or accurately reprimands the dangerous drivers who violate these laws. Police officers have indicated that it becomes difficult for them to precisely determine who is guilty of this encroachment. Officers who ride their bikes on the job have said that while yes, they are able to understand when a motor vehicle is riding too closely to them, that they aren’t swift enough to track down the culprit and pull them over when on their bicycles. Police will then have to provide an additional motor vehicle to accompany the bicyclist cop on their route in order to appropriately apprehend an individual that has committed this passing law violation. Since 2007, Chattanooga law enforcement officers have said that they had not even enforced this law until recently, when Chief of Police in Chattanooga, Fred Fletcher, decided that something concrete needed to be done.

Chief Fletcher had previously worked in Austin, Texas as a liaison to the bicycle community that thrives there. He said that based off of this experience, he was able to acquire knowledge and understanding of how to best protect cyclists who take to the streets every single day. The police officers of Austin, Texas are specifically trained to identify the appropriate amount of length that should be maintained at all times between motor vehicles and their bicycle counterparts. This designated length of 36 inches can be hard to observe at an exact figure, but Chief Fletcher says that officers can use their common sense to distinguish between what looks about 36 inches and what looks much closer than that. He has said that if an officer on a bike can reach out and touch the car in question—they’re driving too close. Continue reading