Bicycles are a fun and healthy way to get around the city. Many use bikes for their morning exercise, while others use them as their main mode of transportation. Bicycle accidents are not as common as car accidents. However, when an accident does happen, it causes severe injuries to the bicyclist.
Take Houston, for instance. 2023 isn’t over yet but there are over 200 crashes in Houston. The victims of 20 of them suffered some kind of serious injury as well.
Negligence is one of the most common reasons for bicycle accidents, not just in Houston, but across the US. Victims of bicycle accidents should take action against the person or entity who caused the accident. Personal injury law exists for this reason. If you have been hurt as a result of a bicycle accident, hire a Houston bike accident lawyer and file a claim.
A pro tip: never speak with insurance adjusters without the presence of your lawyer.
An important thing you need to know about personal injury law is that you (the victim) bear the burden of proof, which means you have to prove your case.
Before thinking about proving your case, you need to determine liability. Without a liable party, there is no case.
Knowing the common causes of bicycle accidents can help you zero in on the liable party. The following are the common reasons for bicycle accidents:
- Reckless motorists
- Drunk drivers
- Failure to yield
- Dooring
- Street hazards
Many seem to ignore the massive problem of street hazards. Bicyclists who get injured as a result of a street hazard fail to take proper action. You need to sue the city if you are injured due to a street hazard.
The following are some of the common street hazards that are found in most cities in the US:
- Potholes
- Sewage grates
- Lack of signage
- Railroad tracks
Potholes
Potholes are a nightmare for bicyclists. A pothole might sound like a minor inconvenience to car drivers but a major problem to bicyclists.
Potholes can do serious damage to bicyclists. Potholes are more dangerous at night. Bicyclists don’t have the convenience of huge lights like cars.
Another thing is that bicycles don’t have big tires to cross potholes easily. They will fall if they run over a pothole. Roads should be free of potholes. Sue the city if you have been injured because of a pothole.
Sewage grates
Yes, in most cities, they are replacing the sewage grate. But it is still present in many cities. When the sewage grates are constructed parallel to the traffic, bicycle tires can get stuck.
Other vehicles don’t have a problem with sewage grates since the tires are big enough to cross them easily.
Lack of Signage
The lack of signs is a safety hazard not only to bicyclists but also to other motorists.
Signs play an important role in keeping the roads a safe place for everyone. When there is a lack of signs, people don’t see the danger that lies ahead. So they can’t make an informed decision.
Railroad track
Railroads or trolley tracks pose the same threat as sewage grates. When it is parallel to the traffic, bicycle tires get stuck, which makes them fall.
In this case, you can sue the city for not removing an unused trolley track or not keeping proper signs.
Final Thoughts
Bicycles are eco-friendly modes of transportation. The government should encourage people to use bicycles as much as possible. For that, the government should make the roads safe for bicyclists. When people feel safe, they will start using bicycles.
Also, remember that you can take action against the negligent party for an accident, even if the negligent party is the government. Speak with a bicycle accident attorney to know your rights if you have been injured in an accident.
