Did you know that in 2015, there were 818 bicyclists killed in traffic-related collisions throughout the United States? There were also roughly 45,000 bicyclists injured. These types of accidents far too often, but unfortunately, not everyone understands who is considered liable.
When determining liability in bicycle accidents, there are a number of factors that must be considered. However, it typically comes down to the direct cause of the collision. Here are some of the parties that may be responsible in a bicycle collision.
The Driver
Motorists often don’t respect bicyclists and their place on the road. They can travel too close to bike lanes or fail to acknowledge their rights. As such, when things go wrong, the driver of a motor vehicle can cause serious harm to bicyclists.
Typically, bicycle crashes involving vehicles are the result of the driver swerving into the bike lane, turning without looking for a bicyclist, running stops signs or red lights, distraction, or even road rage. Bicyclists are at risk for serious injury because of the lack of protection.
The City
It may be harder to prove than an accident caused by driver negligence, but there are some situations in which a government entity may be responsible for a bicyclist’s injury. For instance, if there is a pothole in the road that is known by the city, but they fail to fix it and it causes the bicyclist to crash, this can be considered negligence.
Other instances of negligence can include missing road signs, missing traffic signs, or failure to provide adequate space for the bicyclists on the roads.
The Bicyclist
It’s unfortunate, but there are times when a bicyclist may be responsible for a crash. They must take measures to follow the rules of the road and keep a safe distance from traffic. They must also pay attention at intersections and follow laws to prevent harm.
If a driver or another individual is negligent in the cause of a bicycle accident, they may be susceptible for damages suffered by the victim. Our New York bicycle accident lawyers at Loscalzo & Loscalzo, P.C. work hard to help injured individuals seek the compensation they deserve.
Call our firm today to schedule a free case evaluation.