Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Columbus

While bicycle accidents do not happen as often as motor vehicle crashes, bicyclists are far more likely to suffer serious injuries in wrecks than motor vehicle occupants, who are protected by safety measures such as airbags and seatbelts. Unfortunately, many bicycle crashes also happen not due to the misconduct of the bicyclist but because of the reckless or careless actions of someone else near them.

If you can trace your recent bike wreck back to a specific negligent act of another, you may be able to recover substantial compensation from the at-fault party with the help of an experienced bicycle accident attorney such as David Bence. Here are some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in Columbus, around which our team has built successful civil claims.

Why Do Drivers Collide With Bicyclists?

There are many ways in which an irresponsible act behind the wheel of a commuter car or truck could lead to a high-speed collision with a nearby bicyclist. The causes our Columbus team most commonly sees for bicycle wrecks include:

• Distracted driving, particularly involving cell phones or smartphones
• Failure to yield the right-of-way correctly
• Blind spot accidents, where drivers fail to check their side mirrors before turning into the path of oncoming bicyclists
• Dooring accidents, where someone in a stationary vehicle opens their door into an approaching bicyclist’s path
• Speeding and other forms of reckless driving
• Driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or extreme fatigue

All these forms of misconduct can qualify as legally actionable negligence if they are the main and direct cause of an otherwise avoidable accident. A member of our team could discuss whether your circumstances could justify a civil lawsuit during a private initial consultation.

Other Potential Sources of Bicycle Wrecks

While motor vehicle drivers are often the parties primarily to blame for bicycle crashes, they are far from the only people who could hold civil liability for this type of incident. A significant number of bicycle crashes result, at least in part, from the indirect negligence of a third party who was not present when the crash occurred.

For example, road defects are a deceptively common source of high-speed bike wrecks in Columbus. If you were hurt because—for example—you crashed after hitting a large pothole in a bike lane, a local government body may hold civil liability for your injuries because it failed to maintain public infrastructure in a sufficiently safe condition. Likewise, if a mechanical problem with your bike contributed to causing an accident, you may be able to seek restitution from a mechanic who failed to repair your bike correctly or from the bike’s manufacturer for selling a defective product.

Contact a Columbus Attorney About Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Riding a bicycle around moving motor vehicles is by no means a risk-free endeavor, even if you act responsibly at all times. However, people who drive near and around bicyclists have a duty of care to avoid causing wrecks whenever possible, and if they injure you by violating that duty, they can be held legally liable for the consequences of their misconduct.

David Bence could help you take proactive legal action over these and other common causes of bicycle accidents in Columbus, fighting aggressively on your behalf throughout your legal proceedings to get you paid fairly. Learn more by calling today.