With national interest in biking at an all-time high, more Americans than ever are taking to the road. Unfortunately, the increase in biking means an increase in injury and bicycle accidents. Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die in traffic-related bicycle accidents each year, with another 50,000 sustaining injury in traffic-related bike crashes.

The three most common causes of bicycle accidents in traffic are motorists merging or turning into a bike’s path, a motorist overtaking a bicyclist, and a bicyclist turning or merging into a vehicle’s path. Failure to yield to a bicyclist’s right-of-way also causes bicycle accidents. Generally, confusion about right-of-way and ignorance of basic traffic laws causes bike crashes. Bicycle deaths are most likely to occur in summer, when more cyclists take to the road, and most bicycle deaths occur in riders who are not wearing helmets.

Unfortunately, bicycles are not made to protect a rider from bodily injury, and person-to-vehicle contact can result in severe injuries such as broken bones, even paralysis and death. Though everyone can try to drive with common sense, accidents do happen. Luckily for cyclists injured in a bicycle accident, every victim has rights. Negligent or responsible parties can be taken to task and held accountable for the results of their actions. A bicycle accident lawsuit can claim damages for costs as varied as medical expenses, missed wages, and even psychological counseling to deal with the fallout of a bike injury.

If you are injured in a bike accident, make sure to document the circumstances as thoroughly as possible. Keep a diary of your symptoms and get information from the driver who hurt you. Then contact a bicycle accident attorney. Your attorney can help negotiate between parties and get the compensation you deserve. He or she has resources within the community and a thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local traffic and other laws. Better still, your bicycle accident attorney can increase the compensation you’d get from dealing with an insurance agency alone.

Due to state statutes of limitations, your time to file could be limited. Call the Law Offices of Sam Eagle today for more information on how our competent, results-oriented legal services can help. Your phone consultation is free and confidential.