Top 3 Causes of Bicycle Accidents in WNC

 

What Causes Bicycle Accidents in WNC?

The mountains of western North Carolina are full of breath-taking views and great biking trails. It also is full of winding roads and tight turns. These mountain roads can cause bicycle accidents due to negligent drivers. In this article we will point out the main causes of bicycle accidents and explain what motorists can do to help prevent them.

At Fisher Stark, P.A., we know that most bicycle and pedestrian accidents are caused by cars and other vehicles. And, there’s limited protection afforded to those who use their feet to get around. So, injuries sustained when struck by a vehicle like a car, bus or truck, can have traumatic, long-lasting effects.

Are you or someone you know been hurt in a bicycle accident and you’re not sure what to do next?  We invite you to give us a call at 1-828-505-4300 to schedule a free consultation.

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3 Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents & Injuries

“Motorist Attempting to Pass Bicyclists”

One of the major causes of bicycling accidents are cars getting too close and sideswiping bicyclists. This can be due to motorists trying to overtake a bicyclist and having to quickly merge back into their lane to avoid hitting oncoming vehicles.

In order to avoid an accident when passing a bicyclist, a motorist should:

• Always keep at least 3 feet of space between the bicycle and their vehicle
• Be aware of the bicyclist and their surroundings
• Make sure that they have enough time and space to pass the bicyclist before attempting to overtake them

 

“Dooring”

Dooring happens when a driver opens their vehicle door and a bicyclist can’t stop their bike in time. This causes them to either collide with the door or swerve into another lane and possibly out into traffic.

To avoid this, you as a driver should:

• Check your mirrors and blind spots before opening your door
• Ease your door open slowly … don’t suddenly fling them wide open
• Close your door quickly after exiting your vehicle

 

“Intersections”

Intersections can be especially dangerous for bicyclists when vehicle drivers don’t follow the rules of the road. Some drivers wrongly believe that bicyclist don’t have the right of way in intersections.

To help minimize the risk of an accident, drivers should:

• Pay attention to traffic signals
• Slow down when approaching intersections
• Check carefully for traffic, motorcycles, or bikes
• Yield to bicyclist when they have the right of way
• Scan for pedestrians or cyclists making their way onto crosswalks

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Types of Traumatic Injuries Due to Bicycle Accidents

Bicycles provide limited protection compared to other types of vehicles. So, injuries sustained when struck by a vehicle like a car, bus, or truck can have traumatic, long-lasting effects.

Some of the most common traumatic injuries in bike accidents are traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, facial fractures, cranial hemorrhaging, concussions, and contusions.

These injuries can prevent you from being able to work, create ongoing medical needs, run up medical expenses and sometimes even require around the clock care.

Head Injuries are a Common Result of Biking Accidents

One of the most common types of injuries as a result of a collision between a bicycle and motor vehicle are head injuries. Head injuries are very serious and may result in permanent disabilities. Brain injury symptoms do not always immediately appear.

If you have been in an accident and you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have a brain injury:

• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating or recalling information
• Difficulty speaking or comprehending speech
• Loss of coordination
• Impaired vision or depth perception
• Emotional instability

Asheville Bicycle Accident & Injury Attorneys

When a catastrophic bicycle injury is caused by someone else, proving the carelessness, negligence, or recklessness of the at-fault driver is required.

As an experienced legal team, we here at Fisher Stark, P.A., know how and where to gather the evidence a jury needs to evaluate your case, and insurance companies know our willingness and readiness to take your case to trial We’ve earned this aggressive reputation with more than 50 years of combined court experience and more than 170 jury verdicts.

If you or a loved one has been injured and would like more information regarding your rights as a Buncombe County bicycle accident victim, call the attorneys at Fisher Stark today at 828-505-4300 to set up a free consultation or contact us via our online email form.

Let us help you get back to the most important job you have… getting better and living your life to the fullest.