Nashville Cycling Accident Attorney

Less than 1% of all trips in the United States are taken by bicycle, but bicyclists experience a higher risk of crash-related injuries than occupants of vehicles. In 2013 alone, car accidents with bicyclists resulted in 494,000 emergency department visits for bicyclists andover 900 bicyclist deaths.

While accident statistics show that bicycling has gotten safe in the last decade, most bike collisions never get reported to the police.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

The average age of bicycle accident victims has slowly risen over the last 30 years. In 1988 the average age of a bike accident victim was 24. That rose to 32 in 1998, and currently sits at 43.

Almost 85% of all bike accidents involve male bicyclists. Most bike accidents occur in urban areas.

In almost 30% of all bicycle accidents the driver or bicyclist had a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 or higher (the limit for driving).

Cause of Bicycle Accidents

Bike accidents are most often caused by negligent drivers who fail to stay attentive to the surrounding road conditions. Many bike accidents are caused by poor street or sidewalk conditions that cause bikers to fall and be injured in the street by inattentive drivers.

Even though many cities are working to incorporate more bike-friendly paths and roads into their infrastructures, bikers still face many obstacles in their paths and rely on the responsibility of car drivers to keep the roads safe.

Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

  • Drivers failing to see cyclists
  • Reckless driving
  • Drivers turning in front of a moving bicyclist
  • Drivers getting too close while passing bicycles
  • Drivers open car doors around bike traffic
  • Cyclist falls near traffic

“Dorring” accidents are some of the most common bike accidents in urban areas, and the number of these accidents continues to rise. Car doors need two to four feet of space top open, and in urban areas drivers are often opening their doors on the street or bike lane where bikers are going past.

Injuries of bike accidents can be substantial and can cause life-long pain and suffering. Bike injuries usually cause severe conditions like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. All of these injuries result in lengthy hospital stays and expensive medical care.

Bicyclists might share some responsibility for an injury if the cyclist was not following Tennessee bike laws at the time of the accident. In Tennessee, bicyclists have the same status as car drivers and are required to follow traffic laws. To learn more about bike laws in Tennessee visit the Department of Transportation website here.

Tennessee Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has suffered a bicycle injury as the result of a negligent driver, you need to speak with an experience personal injury attorney. Luvell L. Glanton is dedicated to protecting your rights and helping you earn the compensation you deserve for a bike accident injury.

Call our offices today at (615) 244-4511 to begin your case.