Bicyclists stand little chance against even the smallest of automobiles. With riders exposed to the full brunt of an accident, as opposed to motorists who have the luxury of being confined within the framework of an automobile, those who ride bicycles do not do well even in minor accidents. Injuries can range from minor scrapes and bruises to catastrophic, life-altering conditions, such as spinal damage or traumatic brain injury.
Negligent Drivers and Injured Bicyclists
In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded a total of 716 fatalities attributed to bicyclists/pedalcyclists. Since 1932, a total of more than 47,000 bicyclists have lost their lives in traffic accidents. Although the number of fatalities involving bicyclists in recent years has failed to top more than 1,000, thousands of individuals on bikes are injured each year in traffic accidents, often through no fault of their own. In fact, while the highest number of bicycle fatalities ever recorded by the NHSTA using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System was 1,003 in 1975, the year 2002, for instance, saw a total of 48,000 pedalcyclists injured.
Such action can be deemed negligent, and those liable for negligent actions that lead to the personal injury of another can be held financially accountable for injuries. Put simply, if a motorist in some way chooses to disregard the rules of the road and a bicyclist is injured as a result, then that bicyclist has the right to seek compensatory damages from the reckless driver in a court of law.
The Devastating Toll of Bike Accidents
Just about 33% of bicycle accidents involve collisions with automobiles, although the majority of these accidents result in catastrophic injury of some kind. Injuries to the head and brain account for 75% of catastrophic injury and fatalities amongst bicyclists. However, regardless of the outcome of the accident, all details that led up to the incident need to be carefully examined and taken into consideration in order to determine exactly where negligent action may have played a contributing factor in causing injury or wrongful death. In Maryland, the best course of action an injured bicyclist can take is to retain the services of an experienced bicycle accident attorney, such as a Baltimore wrongful death attorney, who will examine the details of the incident and ensure that the victim’s rights are protected in a court of law.
Contact Baltimore Bicycle Accident Lawyer Steven H. Heisler
If you have been injured or have lost a family member in a bicycle accident, don’t hesitate to contact Batimore bicycle accident attorney Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” today for more information about personal injury and accident victims’ rights. Steven H. Heisler has dedicated many years to helping injury victims and surviving family members of wrongful death victims receive the compensation that they deserve. To protect your rights, please call today for a free consultation of your case.
Attorney Steve Heisler
Steve Heisler decided in 1996 that he was going to focus his law practice exclusively on injury cases. Since then, he has been representing injured people against insurance companies, disreputable medical practitioners and Big Pharma, and doing it with compassion, honesty and level-headed rationality. [ Attorney Bio ]
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