Being on the road as a cyclist puts you at tremendous risk of suffering a severe injury in the event of a collision with a larger vehicle. As a result, you must practice extreme caution while riding on the road.
“There is too much confusion on the road, especially during rush hour, so drivers are often on the lookout for other cars. With the size of a bicycle being many times smaller than the smallest car, it is easy to miss, resulting in maneuvers that end up hitting a cyclist or getting in the way,” says Indiana bicycle lawyer Steve Fleschner.
No level of caution can guarantee that you will not be involved in an accident because you have no control over what everyone else does. However, you can hold them accountable for their actions if they cause an accident where you suffer injuries.
Prevalence Of Bicycle Accidents
Bicycles comprise one percent of all vehicles but account for two percent of all fatalities. Over 1,000 cyclists die every day on American roads. In Indiana, the figure has historically been about 20 deaths per year and hundreds of injuries.
As mentioned earlier, you can not control what everyone does on the road, but you can control your actions and reduce your chances of being in an accident. Also, identifying the common causes of bicycle accidents can help you watch for danger. Below are some common causes of bicycle accidents.
Poor Visibility
As a cyclist, you can address poor visibility by wearing brightly colored clothes, ensuring you have a front and back light, and by wearing reflective clothing when riding after dusk.
Situational awareness in these conditions is another practice you must observe when on the road. Your safety and physical well-being depend on your ability to go from point A to B without encountering adverse situations that you could have otherwise avoided.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in Indiana. It involves being on the road when the hands, the mind, or the eyes are on something other than the road. Sometimes, it is a combination of all these factors, which creates a precarious situation for other road users.
Common distractions include talking on the phone, texting, changing channels on the car radio, social media usage, being lost in conversations and thoughts, and being distracted by happenings outside the vehicle. Sometimes, you can identify distracted drivers by their behavior on the road. For example, if you see them on their phone, drifting in and out of the lane, driving too slow for the posted limit, braking erratically, and swerving without warning, it could suggest distracted driving.
Impaired Driving
Drunk driving contributes to nearly a third of all accidents, according to the NHTSA. This results from alcohol’s effect on decision-making and reduced reaction times, among others. Under Indiana DUI laws, a driver is guilty of driving under the influence if they are operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 and above.
This limit applies to drivers over 22 years of age with a regular license. For commercial license holders, the limit is 0.04 percent, and 0.02 percent for drivers under 21. Alcohol has a considerable impact on a driver’s judgment-making capabilities, which predisposes them to an accident.
Help To Secure Justice
Proving liability in a bicycle accident is critical to getting justice. That is where working with a bicycle accident lawyer becomes critical. A lawyer protects against exploitation by the opposing side, which can make a tremendous difference in your outcome.
An attorney will assist in evidence gathering, investigation, expert witness solicitation, negotiation, and everything else you need to improve your case’s outcomes.
Conclusion
Apart from making yourself more visible to others on the road, you must exercise caution at all times. Given the substantial difference in vehicle mass, velocity, and detrimental outcomes resulting from a collision with a car, particularly in poor visibility conditions or inebriated or distracted driver situations, cyclists must be aware of their surroundings and take measures to safeguard themselves.
If you find yourself in an unfortunate incident involving a car, you must contact a trusted bicycle lawyer for guidance in pursuing legal action against the at-fault party to ensure your recovery process is easier to manage.