Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle accidents stem from a variety of factors. The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes data about fatal bicycle accidents around the country annually. The latest report reveals insights about the dangers faced by cyclists everywhere, including on Kentucky roads.

For example:

• Crash locations. The NHTSA found that most deaths in bicycling accidents happen in urban areas on stretches of roads other than intersections. The official Kentucky data linked above, however, reflects that most cycling accidents in one recent year happened in more-densely populated areas. However, more than half of the accidents resulting in injury occurred when a vehicle struck a cyclist in an intersection.
• Time of day. National-level data reflect that fatal cycling accidents happen just as often during daylight hours as at night. The most dangerous times for cyclists being from 3 p.m. to midnight.
• Contributing factors. The NHTSA data linked above does not classify all circumstances leading to cycling accidents. However, it is noted that alcohol was involved in 37 percent of cycling fatalities that year. Official Kentucky data, however, gives a clear indication of how accidents unfold in the Bluegrass State. Of the 376 cycling collisions in one recent year, 99 (or more than one-quarter) occurred because of driver inattention. Today, drivers are often distracted by texting and driving or other similar tech-related distractions. Forty-three accidents (or about 12.5 percent) involved failure to yield the right-of-way. Ten accidents (3 percent) involved disregarding traffic controls. Other factors also contributed to these accidents. According to the Kentucky data, speeding, loss of control, and other factors common to motor vehicle accidents contribute to bicycle accidents.

We expect that the above statistics will not surprise cyclists. Riding in an urban/populated area comes with well-known risks. Narrow corridors leave little space between bicycles and cars. Often, the space is far less than the three-foot distance recommended to separate vehicles and bicycles on Kentucky streets. Narrow roads lead to sideswipes and drivers’ inability to observe cyclists in their blind spots as they turn.

Kentucky cyclists are all too familiar with the collision phenomenon known as “dooring” or “getting doored.” A dooring occurs when a vehicle occupant opens a car or truck door directly into the path of a cyclist without warning. The bicycle collides with the open door, sending the rider flying and causing severe injuries.

We recommend that all drivers follow a simple tip to avoid “dooring.” Reaching across your body to access the door handle can prevent “dooring” an unsuspecting cyclist. Known as the “Dutch Reach,” this technique is taught to all drivers in cycling-obsessed Holland. Reaching across your body to open the door forces occupants to turn their bodies when getting out of a car. By turning your body in this way, you increase the likelihood that they will see a cyclist approaching from behind.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

Kentucky has escaped the ultimate tragedy of cycling accidents two years in a row. However, the unfortunate reality is that collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles often end in fatality. With the exception of a helmet (which a cyclist should always wear), cyclists are greatly unprotected. The lack of protection leaves riders vulnerable to a violent impact with a road surface, vehicle, or roadside object.

Even if a rider survives the impact of a collision, he or she will ultimately face additional challenges. Serious, sometimes life-altering, injuries accompany most cycling accidents. Some common serious injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can happen anytime a cyclist’s head absorbs a blow, jolt, or penetrating injury. Helmet-use is the most reliable way to avoid sustaining TBI in a cycling accident. TBIs can cause permanent, debilitating cognitive, motor, and emotional deficits causing cycling accident victims and their families immense strain.
• Spinal cord injuries, resulting from violent and awkward falls can result in a cyclist facing temporary or permanent paralysis. Victims’ lives will undoubtedly be transformed and they will likely face millions of dollars in unexpected expenses.
• Crushed or traumatically amputated limbs may occur when a vehicle runs over a cyclist. The loss of a limb or its functioning will necessarily cause permanent disability and lasting pain.
• Extreme road rash, a burn-like condition that shreds skin and muscle tissue, embeds dirt and debris in a wound. Road rash can take months of painful surgeries and rehabilitation to heal (and even then leaves disfiguring scars).
• Orthopedic injuries, including broken bones and dislocated joints, will likely take the cyclist out of commission for an entire cycling season at least. In addition, serious orthopedic injuries can lead to chronic pain and permanently limited range-of-motion.
• Internal injuries to major organs often lead to long-lasting secondary health complications and large, unplanned-for healthcare expenses.

Of course, this list of injuries is not exhaustive. Bicycle accidents have the potential to inflict every type of injury imaginable. For any injury sustained in a Kentucky bicycle accident, Attorney Flora Templeton Stuart and her team are ready to help. They are committed to helping you recover the compensation you deserve.