The necessity to share the road with bicycles is constantly increasing. Whether for health reasons or to save money on gas prices, more and more people are turning to their bicycles for both exercise and to commute to and from work. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that the amount of Americans traveling by bicycle to work increased from 488,000 to 786,000 between 2000 and 2012. Unfortunately, the NHTSA also reported in 2010 that 620 bicyclists were killed and 52,000 were reported injured.
Effective July 1, 2024 in Virginia SB781 allows cars to cross the double yellow line to pass bicyclists, with the required three foot safety distance and SB882 now allows cyclists to be compensated after being injured by dooring. For more information visit the Virginia Bicycling Federation for regular updates.
Having more and more bicycles on the roads means that there are an increasing number of vehicle-bicycle accidents as well. Bicycle-vehicle injuries can be caused by a variety of reasons, and, oftentimes, either the rider or driver was under the influence. It is the responsibility of both the automobile driver and the bicycle rider to practice safety protocols. In fact, as of February 2012, 21 states and the District of Columbia require bicyclists to wear helmets.
Here is a video from our Norfolk accident attorney about bicycle safety:
If you need help from our Newport News personal injury attorneys because you were involved in a bicycle accident, please contact Kalfus & Nachman by calling (800) 361-0430.
Bike Accident Injuries
Due to the ratio of weight and speed when you compare a vehicle to a bicycle there will undoubtedly be injuries if there is a vehicle-bicycle accident. Oftentimes, these can be severe injuries, including the following:
Fractured bones- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Wrongful death
If your bicycle accident was caused by the negligence of a driver, you have the right to file a lawsuit for compensation. There may be many factors involved in your accident, however, if the driver did any of the following, they can most likely be found negligent:
- Purposefully followed too close to you
- Purposefully cut you off
- Speeding
- Driving while under the influence
- Drive while distracted
- Didn't follow road signs
Protect Yourself While Riding Your Bike
Our Norfolk injury attorneys have seen far too many injuries from a bicycle and vehicle colliding, and wish to offer the following safety recommendations to keep yourself safe while enjoying a bike ride. The NHTSA suggests these tips for bike safety:
- Follow road signs and signals
- Always ride with traffic; never against it
- Wear a helmet
- Wear reflective clothing if riding during dark hours
- Don't ride your bike while under the influence
- Don't use your phone or electronic devices while riding your bike
- Be aware of where you are and ARE NOT visible
- Use hand signals to make drivers aware of your intentions
While our attorneys sincerely hope that none of our community ever experience the trauma of a bicycle accident, should you need our help, we are here! Our team of bicycle accident attorneys have helped multitudes seek damages when injured in an accident. If you are in need of our help, please call Kalfus & Nachman at (800) 361-0430.
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