Every day people are hurt or even killed while riding a bicycle in the United States. The United States Department of Transportation reported that in 2018, there were 857 bicyclists killed in motor crashes. This is a 6% increase from 2017. Even one fatal accident is too much.
The majority of accidents happen in urban areas, mostly near an intersection. On roads where the speed limits are faster, the severity of the injuries are more serious yet most deaths occur on rural roads. A fatal bicycle hit by a car accident can involve numerous serious injuries that may involve several surgeries and possibly rehab.
The most dangerous times for cyclists is during rush hour, from 8:00 to 9:00 am when people are rushing to work or when they are on their way home between the hours of 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. They are not paying much attention to the roads. Their minds are on what will be going on at work or at home. It is this time when a bicycle hit by a car accident is more likely to happen. In Huntington Beach, bicycle accidents are more likely to happen on a road with a faster speed limit than one with a slower speed limit. Beach Blvd. and Golden West have each had several fatal bike accidents.
No one expects that a member of their family will be involved in a serious or fatal bicycle accident. But it can happen and it can happen in an instant.
Jeffrey Dawson is a bicycle accident attorney who knows what needs to be done in order to deal with the insurance company of the person who was at fault. Contact for a free consultation and to discuss your bicycle accident case.