What Causes Bicycle Accidents in Seattle?

Driver error, mostly the two kinds of driver error discussed below, causes over 98 percent of the bicycle wrecks in King County. These collisions often cause catastrophic injuries, such as head injuries. Helmets only prevent a handful of these injuries. When riders fall off their bikes and hit the ground, their brains violently slam against the insides of their skulls. No helmet prevents a motion-related head injury.

Head injuries can be permanent. If that’s the case, doctors can only manage the symptoms. As a result, a Seattle personal injury lawyer can usually obtain compensation for these victims in court. This compensation normally includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Driver Impairment

Frequently, tortfeasors (negligent drivers) make poor choices several hours before they get behind the wheel, even though the duty of care requires motorists to be at their best, physically, emotionally, and otherwise, before driving. Common causes of driver impairment are alcohol, drugs, and fatigue.

Aggressive Driving

Speed is the most common and most dangerous form of aggressive driving. Velocity decreases reaction time and increases the risk of a wreck. Velocity also multiplies the force in a wreck. Bicycle wreck victims already absorb a tremendous amount of force. Excessive speed makes things much, much worse, especially in terms of head injuries.

Other kinds of aggressive driving include turning illegally and running a stop sign. Bicycles are so small and slow compared to motor vehicles that they cannot possibly avoid these tortfeasors.

Safety laws sometime enter the mix as well. We’ve mentioned head injuries and bicycle helmets several times. Interestingly, according to some research, bicycle helmets increase the risk of bicycle crashes. Subconsciously, drivers believe riders with helmets could survive crashes. Therefore, these tortfeasors take unnecessary chances.

Reach Out to a Thorough King County Lawyer

Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Seattle, contact the Emerald Law Group.

Source:

drivethru.gsa.gov/DRIVERSAFETY/DistractedDrivingPosterA.pdf