There are countless reasons to ride your bike on public roads. Maybe you do it for exercise, to reduce your carbon footprint, or simply because you enjoy the fresh air over being confined in an automobile.
No matter why you choose to cycle, it’s important to be mindful of potential risks. Bike accidents happen all too often, for reasons that are often driver related. For example, a driver who gets too close to the bike lane or fails to check for cyclists before taking a turn can place nearby bike riders in real danger.
Should you ever become injured or sustain property damage in a bike accident, particularly one involving a car or truck, it’s vital to seek a personal injury attorney who can help you get just compensation. But even more fundamentally, we urge Houston’s cyclists to be vigilant, recognizing the most common causes of bike accidents and remaining on guard against them.
What Causes Bike Accidents Involving Motor Vehicles?
Here’s something else to know: By recognizing the specific cause of a bike accident, the cyclist can have much better odds of holding the driver accountable. With that in mind, we invite you to consider some of the most common causes of bike accidents that involve motor vehicles.
- Distracted driving. Distraction is actually one of the leading causes of all motor vehicle accidents, including ones that involve cyclists. When a driver is too busy texting or fiddling with Spotify to notice their surroundings, cyclists can suffer.
- Inadequate buffers. Drivers should always leave at least three feet of space between their vehicle and the bike lane. Failure to do so can leave cyclists with insufficient space to avoid collisions.
- Speeding. When drivers are going way above the speed limit, it reduces their ability to make split-second decisions, or to slow down in time to avoid hitting a cyclist who’s in their path.
- Unsafe lane changes. Many bike accidents are caused by drivers who either weave through traffic or simply make a single-lane shift without first pausing to check for cyclists in the adjacent lane.
- Turning without looking. Even when drivers have a green light to make a turn, it’s critical to carefully scan for cyclists or pedestrians first. Failure to do so is a leading cause of cycling accidents.
- Running stop signs or red lights. Drivers who don’t stop when they’re supposed to cause many intersection accidents, a lot of which involve cyclists. This is an especially common problem in residential neighborhoods and in more suburban areas.
- Impaired driving. Finally, many drivers make questionable and even dangerous decisions when they are impaired by drugs, alcohol, or even just fatigue.
Speak with a Bicycle Accident Attorney in Houston
No matter the cause of your bicycle accident, it’s critical to seek qualified representation. McLaurin Law, PLLC has a proven track record representing bike accident clients in Houston by passionately fighting for their fair compensation. Schedule a bike accident consultation with one of our lawyers by calling us today.
