The Most Common Types of Bicycle Accidents

Learning to ride a bicycle is one of the hallmarks of growing up. It offers writers, whether children or adults, a sense of adventure, freedom, exploration, and fun. Riding a bicycle as an adult can also be a healthy form of exercise and an affordable way to commute to and from work and school. More people than ever have begun enjoying bicycle riding for recreation and exercise.

Approximately 96% of cities in the U.S. have reported an increase in bicycling during and after the pandemic. Unfortunately, as many people have taken up indoor cycling and outdoor bicycling, the number of bicycle accidents has increased. There are many causes of bicycle accidents, but some are more common than others.

A significant number of bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles happen when a bicyclist is riding against oncoming traffic and an oncoming vehicle makes a right-hand turn in front of the bicyclist. Bicyclists are more challenging to see, and motorists sometimes expect writers to travel against the traffic flow. Riding a bicycle on the right side of the road and traveling in the same direction as road traffic help protect bicyclists.

Bicycles on the road are treated like any other motor vehicle. Drivers of passenger vehicles are required to yield the right-of-way to bicycles riding with traffic flow. A right cross collision occurs when a bicyclist is moving with traffic on the right side of the road, and a driver pulls out of the driveway or side street from the bicyclist's right side. The motorists may strike the bicyclist or pull out in front of the bicyclist, who collides with the left side of the motorist. These types of collisions are most common in residential areas.

Rear-end collisions happen when bicyclists fail to brake when approaching a vehicle from behind at a red light or a stop sign. They can also happen when a bicyclist is riding on the right side of the road and swerves left to avoid debris or other road hazards. After the bicyclist swerves, a motorist hits the bicyclist from behind.

Left cross bicycle accidents happen when bicyclists are traveling with the flow of traffic, and an oncoming motorist makes a left-hand turn in front of the bicyclist. Left cross collisions cause a significant number of bicycle accidents.

When a bicyclist is writing on the right side of the road, and a driver passes the bicyclist on the left but makes a right-hand turn into the path of a bicyclist, a right-hook collision will occur. In these cases, negligent drivers may forget that a bicyclist is in their blind spot, never see the bicyclist in the first place, or think they have already cleared the bicyclist when making the turn.

Sometimes, a motor vehicle driver will overtake a bicyclist on the left, sideswipe the bicyclist, or collide with the bicyclist. These accidents are most common at night when it is even more difficult for drivers to see bicyclists. Many of these accidents result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities of bicyclists.

Accidents are also extremely dangerous for a bicyclist. These accidents occur when a bicyclist travels with traffic on the right side of the road and there is a line of parked vehicles to the right of the bicyclist. A motorist opens the left side door while the bicyclist is driving, causing serious injuries.

When there are no signals are stop signs at an intersection, and a motorist and bicyclist cannot determine who has the right of way, uncontrolled intersection accidents are more likely to occur. When the driver and bicyclist move into the intersection simultaneously, they can collide with each other in the intersection.

Another common type of bicycle accident occurs when a bicyclist collides with or sideswipes a pedestrian. In other cases, a pedestrian may unlawfully dark out into the path of a bicyclist, resulting in a collision.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Charlotte, North Carolina, or the surrounding area, you are not alone. The aggressive personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are here to help. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about how we can fight to protect your rights.