Common Causes of Bike Accidents

SAN DIEGO, California. Bike accidents can be particularly deadly for victims and their families. Bikers don't have the protective chassis of a vehicle, meaning that bike crashes are more likely to result in serious injury or death for the rider. Serious injuries can include head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. Even when the injuries are not life-altering like major traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury, victims can still face a long road to recovery.

According to Cycling Weekly, concussions are common injuries bikers face. While these head injuries are considered mild traumatic brain injuries, if left untreated, they can lead to long-term health issues. If you hit your head while biking and experience a serious headache, suffer dizziness, suffer memory loss, have difficulty with balance, experience changes in your sight, or find yourself feeling more irritable than usual, you may want to seek medical attention. Head injuries can have a serious impact on your health. So, what's the takeaway? If you've been in a bike crash, always seek medical attention. If you have suffered a serious injury in a car or bike crash, you may want to speak to the qualified personal injury lawyers in San Diego, California at The Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth.

The best way to prevent concussions while bike riding or other serious injuries is to avoid accidents in the first place. What are some causes of bike accidents involving other vehicles? Continue reading to learn more.

• Distracted driving. The consequences of distracted driving are far greater for bikers. If a driver takes his or her eyes off the road, and hits a biker, the biker doesn't have the same protections another vehicle passenger might have. A minor accident, or "fender bender" involving a bike, can have serious consequences.
• Speeding. Drivers who speed will need more space and more time to stop. When you combine speeding with city driving, the risk of deadly or dangerous collisions is increased.
• Failing to give bikers space. Drivers should give bikers space when passing. When drivers fail to do this and misjudge how far they are from a rider, the rider can get clipped.
• Failing to look when turning or changing lanes. Bikers take up a lower profile on the road than drivers. Drivers have a responsibility to watch for all types of vehicles when changing lanes or when turning.
• Parking lot accidents and driveway accidents. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes let their guard down when driving in parking lots or when backing out of their driveway. The consequence can be the failure to look and an accident or collision with a bike.
• Failure of biker to wear bright clothing. While the Houston Chronicle writes that we need to start focusing on the ways that cities fail to create safe spaces for bike riders and the ways in which drivers fail to look out for bikers, there still remain many ways that bikers can keep themselves safe when on the road. Wearing bright clothing to be more visible is one. Wearing a helmet is another. Using lights when driving at night can mean the difference between life and death. While drivers have a responsibility to watch out for bikers, riders also have a responsibility to take steps to stay safe.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a bike accident in San Diego, California, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical bills. The Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth are personal injury lawyers in San Diego, California who may be able to assist you with your claim if another driver's actions resulted in your death.