Cycling is an incredible way to stay fit, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the outdoors. However, it's also important to be aware of the risks involved. In this blog, we discuss the seven most common types of bicycle accidents and provide you with some useful tips on how to avoid them.
1. Dooring Accidents
A dooring accident occurs when a driver opens their car door into the cyclist's path without checking for incoming traffic. To avoid this, try to maintain a safe distance from parked cars and always be vigilant of the potential for opening doors.
2. Right Hook Accidents
This happens when a car makes a right turn without noticing a cyclist coming from behind on the right side. To prevent this, make sure you're visible to drivers by using lights and reflective gear, especially at night or in poor visibility conditions.
3. Left Cross Accidents
When a car turning left crosses the path of an oncoming cyclist, it's referred to as a left cross accident. Always make eye contact with drivers whenever possible, and slow down at intersections where such accidents are likely to occur.
4. Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions often occur when a vehicle hits a cyclist from behind. To avoid this, use a rear-view mirror to keep an eye on the traffic behind you and wear high-visibility clothing.
5. Sideswipe Accidents
These accidents happen when a car passing a cyclist doesn't give enough space and ends up hitting them. It's recommended to take the entire lane if it's not wide enough for a car to pass safely.
6. Bicycle-Pedestrian Accidents
Sometimes, cyclists can collide with pedestrians, especially in crowded areas. Always reduce your speed in pedestrian zones and use a bell to alert people of your presence.
7. Pothole Accidents
Potholes can cause serious accidents if a cyclist fails to notice them in time. To avoid this, keep an eye on the road ahead and report any dangerous potholes to your local city council.
General Safety Tips
To further enhance your safety, always wear a helmet, use hand signals to communicate your intentions to drivers, follow traffic laws, and consider taking a bicycle safety course. Regular bike maintenance is also crucial for ensuring a safe ride.
Read our blog, “How to Share the Road,” to learn more about staying safe as a cyclist.
Talk with Our Attorney
If you've been involved in a bicycle accident that wasn't your fault, it's important to know that you have the right to pursue legal action and potentially receive compensation for your injuries and damages. Everyone on the road—cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians alike—has a legal responsibility to act in a manner that ensures the safety of others.
For instance, drivers are required to check for cyclists before opening their car doors or making turns, while cyclists must adhere to traffic signals and use bike lanes where available. Pedestrians, too, have a duty to use crosswalks and avoid jaywalking.
Negligence plays a key role in determining liability in bike accidents. If a driver fails to yield the right of way to a cyclist, opens a car door without checking, or if a cyclist rides recklessly without regard for traffic laws, this could be considered negligent behavior. Similarly, a pedestrian stepping onto the road without checking for oncoming cyclists could be found negligent.
Should you or a loved one be injured in a negligence-related accident, the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli can help you understand your legal rights and options, calculate your damages, and handle case negotiations or litigation. Backed by over two decades of experience, our attorney offers clients personalized attention and counsel, and you can trust us to act in your best interest if you retain our services.
Call (516) 628-6402 to schedule an initial consultation with our bicycle accident attorney.