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THE SIMPLE FACTSTM...Bicycle accident cases can be more complex than typical auto accident cases or pedestrian accident cases, because the right-of-way is so often in question. In many cases, a bicycle accident results from a motorist's negligence or inattentiveness while operating his or her vehicle.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 698 pedalcyclists were killed and an additional 44,000 were injured in traffic crashes in 2007. Pedalcyclist deaths accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities, and pedalcyclists made up 2 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. Alcohol involvement — either for the driver or the pedalcyclist — was reported in more than one-third of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedalcyclist fatalities in 2007.
The following are some common types of collisions that a cyclist may possibly be injured in:
- A motor vehicle driver turning directly in front of a bicyclist
- An automobile driver entering the street from a driveway or parking spot and pulls out into traffic in front of the bicyclist
- A motorist's failure to yield at an intersection or running a stop sign or red light
- A vehicle driver's inattention while driving past a bicyclist
- An automobile driver's failure to look both ways when resuming travel after stopping at a stop sign
- An automobile driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Liability in the event that potholes and other road defect or maintenance issuescontributed to a bicycle injury
- Dog attacks of bicyclists
- Slippery conditions on bike paths
There are other types of negligence that may have contributed to your bicycle accident, such as:
- defective products and negligent manufacturing or assembly
And some of the issues that you may face after your accident may include:
- Insurance coverage that may apply, possibly including homeowner's insurance
- Legal procedures that become necessary when an injured bicyclist is physically incapacitated and faces short to long term partial or total disability (powers of attorney, guardianships, special needs trusts, interaction with creditors)
- Uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage issues
If you are a bicyclist injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, your own automobile insurance policy may cover your injuries, despite the fact that you were not in your car at the time of the accident. The circumstances of each case differ, including the insurance policies involved.
We are here to help you protect your legal rights and the legal rights of your loved ones.
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