Any kind of bicycle accident can result in serious injuries or death. Although only about one-third of bicycle accidents involve a crash with a motor vehicle the majority of bicycle accident deaths occur when an automobile is involved. Bicycle accidents are often hit and run accidents, and sometimes the drivers involved are not even aware that they have caused a bicyclist to crash. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Austin, you need the help of and experienced bicycle accident attorney.
Bicycle Accident Causes
It is not uncommon for drivers who were involved in bicycle accidents to say they never saw the bicyclist. Serious bicycle accidents can occur when drivers run bicyclists off the road or cut a bicycle off causing the bicyclist to strike the vehicle, not just when cars hit bikes. The majority of serious bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles happen at intersections.
Common causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Drivers who not watch for or see bicyclists
- Drivers who do not know the local laws regarding bicyclists’ right of way
- Drivers who do not respect bicyclists’ right to share the road
- Inexperienced or uneducated bicyclists
- Drivers who intentionally hit or run bicyclists off the road
- Intoxication
- Distracted drivers
- Defective vehicles
- Dangerous weather conditions
- Poor visibility
- Improperly marked roads and bike lanes
- Other roadway defects such as malfunctioning traffic lights
Bicycle Accident Injuries
Those who survive bicycle accidents can sustain life-changing injuries. Common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputation
- Crush injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Knee injury
- Broken bones and fractures
- Facial injuries
- Severe road rash and scarring
If you or a loved one been injured or killed in a bicycle accident, please call our Austin personal injury attorneys or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with our personal injury lawyers is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, in most cases we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.