Residents in the Greater Sacramento area use bicycles for transportation and recreation purposes. Although bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, in many cases, motorists refuse to share the road. Bicyclists have very few protections against cars. In 2012, 726 Americans died in bicycle/motor vehicle accidents, just under two people daily in the United States. This figure shows an increase from the 682 bicyclist deaths reported in 2011 (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts).
Dangers of the Road for Cyclists
When motorists turn in front of bicycles, sideswipe bicyclists, or run bicycles off the road, severe injuries are often the result. Pedestrians have no protection against motor vehicles. When pedestrians are struck by motor vehicles, they can suffer broken bones, brain injury, spinal cord injuries or even death. Some of the most common types of accidents involving bicycles and automobiles are:
- Bicyclists failure to yield – when the cyclist comes to a stop at the intersection, which could be controlled or uncontrolled, and then proceeds into the intersection without yielding to oncoming traffic
- The “Left Cross” – when a car turns left as a cyclist is attempting to do the same, coming from the opposite direction and the two collide
- The “Right Hook” – when a vehicle strikes a cyclist in one of a variety of right turns
If you or a loved one has suffered injury in a pedestrian or bicycle accident, your lives may never quite be the same. It may require months or longer to recover from your injuries. In fact, you may not be able to make a complete recovery. If you are struggling to figure out how to pay for your medical bills and other expenses related to your accident, you should talk to a personal injury attorney.
Dangers of the Road for Pedestrians
If there is one thing every American has in common, it’s the fact that every single person is a pedestrian at some point in time. We all utilize public roadways, parking lots, sidewalks and the like to travel by foot and have an expectation of doing so safely. Unfortunately, accidents happen all too often involving motor vehicles and pedestrians and the results aren’t pretty. In 2012, 4,743 individuals lost their lives in pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes, which accounts for more than 12 people a day in the United States (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts).
Who is at risk?
Of course, anyone traveling by foot is a pedestrian, but statistics show there are some people who are more at risk of injury than others. A comprehensive analysis of the age, gender, and site of pedestrian collision victims is available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) fact sheets. The following show which populations are losing their lives in accidents involving motor vehicles:
- 69% are males
- 32% of pedestrian fatalities took place in the evening between 8pm-12am
- 35-42 is the average age range of those injured or killed in 2012.
- 34% of those killed had a high blood alcohol content.
With offices in Sacramento and Santa Rosa, the lawyers of Teal & Montgomery have decades of experience serving injured people throughout Northern California and beyond. We will take a close look at the circumstances surrounding your accident and identify every responsible party. In addition to the negligent driver, there may have been defective roads, inadequate signage, or other factors that contributed to your injuries. Once we have identified these parties, we will work diligently to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Although most cases do settle prior to trial, our law firm will prepare every case as though trial will be necessary.
Contact Teal & Montgomery Today
We welcome you to contact us or call 916-448-1010 to schedule a free initial consultation at your convenience. We will not charge attorney’s fees unless we recover damages for your injuries.